In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Nb alloys or Nb—Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Nb alloys or Nb—Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

A round superconductor wire, method for fabricating same, and method for detecting quench in same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a round superconductor wire including a superconductor wire former and at least one superconductor tape wound on the superconductor wire former. Each superconductor tape includes: a substrate; a buffer film stack overlying the substrate; and a superconductor film overlying the buffer film stack. These and other embodiments achieve a round superconductor wire having improved engineering current density in high magnetic field applications when made in small diameters.

A round superconductor wire, method for fabricating same, and method for detecting quench in same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a round superconductor wire including a superconductor wire former and at least one superconductor tape wound on the superconductor wire former. Each superconductor tape includes: a substrate; a buffer film stack overlying the substrate; and a superconductor film overlying the buffer film stack. These and other embodiments achieve a round superconductor wire having improved engineering current density in high magnetic field applications when made in small diameters.

In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

In various embodiments, superconducting wires incorporate diffusion barriers composed of Ta alloys that resist internal diffusion and provide superior mechanical strength to the wires.

The invention relates to electrical engineering, in particular, to the manufacturing technology of flexible high-temperature superconductors (HTS) with high critical current density in external magnetic field and to the method of manufacturing of said superconductors (tapes). The invention is applicable to industrial manufacturing of HTS wires with very high values of critical current density in magnetic fields over 1 Tesla at temperatures below 50 Kelvin, in particular, to industrial manufacturing of HTS wires intended for application in compact fusion reactors. Flexible high temperature superconductor is comprised of a substrate and a superconductor layer with RE.sub.1+2xBa.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.7+3x overall composition comprised of a superconductor matrix of REBa.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.7 composition and non-superconducting nanoparticles of RE.sub.2O.sub.3 composition, where x=0.05-0.15, RE is a rare earth element from the Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu group, whereas the concentration density of the said nanoparticles is at least 10.sup.16 nanoparticles/cm.sup.3. Method of manufacturing of the superconductor is comprised of pulsed laser deposition of superconductor material with RE.sub.1+2xBa.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.7+3x overall composition, where x=0.05-0.15, RE is rare earth element from the Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu group, onto a substrate moving through the deposition zone and heated to a temperature of at least 800° C., whereas the deposition is performed using an ablated target made from multiphase sintered ceramics comprised of chemical elements that compose the superconductor material, at a deposition rate greater than 100 nm/s and at a temperature gradient in the deposition zone that ensures the deposition of the superconductor material without the formation of liquid phase. The invention allows for improvement of the properties of flexible high temperature superconductor by increasing its critical current in high magnetic fields and ensures simple and economic large scale production of said HTS conductor with improved properties.

A superconducting wire holding structure includes a holding member made of a first material, a superconducting wire disposed inside the holding member, and a filler made of a second material different from the first material. The superconducting wire includes a substrate, an intermediate layer formed on the substrate, a superconducting layer formed on the intermediate layer, and a first protective layer and a second protective layer that are formed on the superconducting layer. The superconducting layer includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion along a longitudinal direction of the superconducting wire. The first protective layer is formed on the first portion, and the second protective layer is formed on the second portion. The filler is filled between the third portion and the holding member.

A persistent current switch includes a superconducting wire including a substrate and a superconducting layer disposed on the substrate, and a heater. The superconducting wire includes a surface including a first portion and a second portion that are disposed apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the superconducting wire. The first portion and the second portion face each other. The heater is sandwiched between the first portion and the second portion.

A persistent current switch includes a superconducting wire including a substrate and a superconducting layer disposed on the substrate, and a heater. The superconducting wire includes a surface including a first portion and a second portion that are disposed apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the superconducting wire. The first portion and the second portion face each other. The heater is sandwiched between the first portion and the second portion.