Yttrium-Barium-Copper Oxide High-temperature Superconducting Magnet Technology

Abstract

As Yttrium-Barium-Copper Oxide (YBCO) high-temperature superconductors have a high critical current density at high magnetic fields and high mechanical strength, they are applicable to broad areas of electric machinery. However, the YBCO magnet technology is still insufficiently developed, as the YBCO conductors are only recently commercialized. From this point of view, the “Investigation Committee of YBCO High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Magnet Technology” was founded in 2013 to investigate the YBCO-HTS magnet technology. This report summarizes their findings as follows: (a) basic research results on “magnet degradation on cooling”, “screening-current induced magnetic field”, “magnet protection”, and “persistent joints”; (b) technical problems being encountered during magnet fabrication; (c) developments of YBCO superconducting apparatus. The authors are confident that the report has highly original aspects and will arouse much interest among researchers in this field.