A superconducting wire according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a first region provided on the substrate and containing a first rare earth element, Ba, Cu, and O; a second region provided on the substrate and containing a second rare earth element, Ba, Cu, and O; and a third region provided on the substrate, provided between the first region and the second region, and containing a third rare earth element, Pr, Ba, Cu, and O. A surface density of particles having an aspect ratio of 3 or more present on a surface of the third region is larger than a surface density of particles having an aspect ratio of 3 or more present on surfaces of the first region and the second region.

A system for generating magnetic fields in one or more axis, the system comprising a primary electromagnet comprising a first coil having a first axis wherein the first coil is formed of a superconductor, a cooling element configured to cool the first coil below the critical temperature of the superconductor, a power source configured to energise the primary and secondary and electromagnets, wherein the primary electromagnet comprises a frame member, and wherein the frame member is suspended from at least one bracket by a thermally insulating structural member and/or a thermally insulating spring.

Superconducting joints and methods of forming the same are described. A particular method includes arranging two or more terminals relative to one another and to one or more interconnect layers, wherein each terminal includes bulk high-temperature superconductive material and each terminal is coupled to at least one end of one or more high-temperature superconductive tapes. The method also includes heating the one or more interconnect layers to form a high-temperature superconductive electrical connection between the two or more terminals.

Superconducting joints and methods of forming the same are described. A particular method includes arranging two or more terminals relative to one another and to one or more interconnect layers, wherein each terminal includes bulk high-temperature superconductive material and each terminal is coupled to at least one end of one or more high-temperature superconductive tapes. The method also includes heating the one or more interconnect layers to form a high-temperature superconductive electrical connection between the two or more terminals.

Cooling architecture for a cryogenic and superconducting powertrain using liquid hydrogen on board and method for managing the cooling temperature of the powertrain components. The cooling architecture comprises at least one heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a first fluid to a second fluid. The first fluid of each heat exchanger may be liquid hydrogen (H.sub.2), and the second fluid of each heat exchanger may be gaseous helium (He), liquid Neon or liquid Nitrogen (N.sub.2).

Cooling architecture for a cryogenic and superconducting powertrain using liquid hydrogen on board and method for managing the cooling temperature of the powertrain components. The cooling architecture comprises at least one heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a first fluid to a second fluid. The first fluid of each heat exchanger may be liquid hydrogen (H.sub.2), and the second fluid of each heat exchanger may be gaseous helium (He), liquid Neon or liquid Nitrogen (N.sub.2).

An apparatus and method for charging a superconductor, such as a high temperature superconductor (HTS), in-situ, including a superconductor that is magnetized by a magnet. A surface area of the magnet is smaller than a surface area of the superconductor and the magnet scans the surface area of the superconductor to magnetize the superconductor one portion at a time. An additional compression superconductor may be used to compress the magnetic flux from the magnet such that the magnetic flux exits the compression superconductor via an aperture on the surface of the compression superconductor and then impinges the surface of the superconductor being charged. The superconductor is assembled in a machine prior to being magnetized and may be cooled prior to magnetization.

An apparatus and method for charging a superconductor, such as a high temperature superconductor (HTS), in-situ, including a superconductor that is magnetized by a magnet. A surface area of the magnet is smaller than a surface area of the superconductor and the magnet scans the surface area of the superconductor to magnetize the superconductor one portion at a time. An additional compression superconductor may be used to compress the magnetic flux from the magnet such that the magnetic flux exits the compression superconductor via an aperture on the surface of the compression superconductor and then impinges the surface of the superconductor being charged. The superconductor is assembled in a machine prior to being magnetized and may be cooled prior to magnetization.

A superconducting electrical machine includes at least one re-entrant end including at least two segments. The at least two segments are continuous. At least one re-entrant end may be included in a stator of the superconducting electrical machine, the stator being disposed substantially coannular with a longitudinal axis. At least one re-entrant end may also be included in a rotor of the superconducting electrical machine, the rotor being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. A first segment is substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second segment is coannular with the longitudinal axis. Heat distal from rotor windings and/or stator windings encounters a thermal resistance provided by the at least two segments as the heat travels towards the rotor windings and/or stator windings.

The motors/generators of the preferred embodiments include a rotating part (rotor) and a stationary part (stator). In the devices disclosed, the primary function of the stator is to provide a high strength background magnetic field in which the rotor rotates. The rotor can be powered with a current that changes direction in concert with the relative change in magnetic field direction of the background field (that is, as the rotor moves from one magnetic pole to the next) in the case of a motor. In the case of a generator, the movement of the rotor generally results in the generation of an alternating voltage and current.