MAGNET TECHNOLOGY AND CONDUCTOR DESIGN WITH HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS

The implications of high temperature superconductors for the design of magnets and conductors are explored. Presuming that a sufficient current density is attained in the superconductor, rules are given to obtain the amount of normal conductor and structural material, which are both essential components in a conductor for use in a magnet system. It is shown that the empirical relation j(eff)2E0 less-than-or-equal-to J A2 m-4, linking effective current density j(eff) and stored energy E0, naturally emerges from the requirements of sufficient mechanical strength as well as safe energy extraction in the case of a quench. In the superconductor a j(c) of 10(5) A cm-2 is sufficient for most purposes. As an alternative to cooling to 77 K in liquid nitrogen we also consider operation at 27 K in liquid neon.