Critical currents of high-temperature superconductors in homogeneous magnetic fields

In this paper we report on the measurements of the critical current of a tape-formed high-temperature superconductor in a magnetic field corresponding to the field at different positions in a (transformer, reactor or magnet) winding. An, applied magnetic field reduced the perpendicular component of the self-field of the sample. The measurements were performed in liquid nitrogen on a silver-sheathed Bi-2223 conductor. The results show a significant increase of the critical current with reduction of the perpendicular component of the self-field.