In the connection portion for a superconducting wire, a plurality of superconducting wires are integrated by a sintered body containing MgB.sub.2, end portions of the superconducting wires each having an outer peripheral surface of a superconducting filament exposed are inserted into a container in parallel. The container has an opening having a diameter larger than a wire diameter of the superconducting wires on at least one side in a longitudinal direction of the superconducting wires, and the sintered body is in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the superconducting filaments. The method for connecting a superconducting wire includes: exposing the outer peripheral surfaces of the superconducting filaments; inserting the superconducting wires into the container; filling the container with a raw material; and heat-treating the raw material to generate the sintered body. The raw material is pressurized in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the superconducting wires and then heat-treated.

In the connection portion for a superconducting wire, a plurality of superconducting wires are integrated by a sintered body containing MgB.sub.2, end portions of the superconducting wires each having an outer peripheral surface of a superconducting filament exposed are inserted into a container in parallel. The container has an opening having a diameter larger than a wire diameter of the superconducting wires on at least one side in a longitudinal direction of the superconducting wires, and the sintered body is in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the superconducting filaments. The method for connecting a superconducting wire includes: exposing the outer peripheral surfaces of the superconducting filaments; inserting the superconducting wires into the container; filling the container with a raw material; and heat-treating the raw material to generate the sintered body. The raw material is pressurized in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the superconducting wires and then heat-treated.

A hybrid cable generally comprising a superconducting material and a material consisting at least partially of a conventional conductor. In operation, the hybrid cable is chilled to superconducting temperatures, wherein current primarily passes through the superconducting material. If the superconducting material loses performance, e.g., is quenched, current will flow primarily through the chilled conventional conductor. In the event hybrid cable temperature further increases, the current will travel through the conventional conductor at its normal capacity.

A hybrid cable generally comprising a superconducting material and a material consisting at least partially of a conventional conductor. In operation, the hybrid cable is chilled to superconducting temperatures, wherein current primarily passes through the superconducting material. If the superconducting material loses performance, e.g., is quenched, current will flow primarily through the chilled conventional conductor. In the event hybrid cable temperature further increases, the current will travel through the conventional conductor at its normal capacity.

A round superconductor wire, method for fabricating same, and method for detecting quench in the same are disclosed. A round superconductor wire includes 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.

A round superconductor wire, method for fabricating same, and method for detecting quench in the same are disclosed. A round superconductor wire includes 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.

This compound superconducting precursor wire includes: a compound superconducting precursor portion including a plurality of compound superconducting precursor filaments, and a first matrix precursor having the plurality of compound superconducting precursor filaments embedded therein and including a first stabilizing material; a reinforcing material portion disposed on an outer peripheral side of the compound superconducting precursor portion; and a stabilizing material portion which is disposed on at least one of an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of the reinforcing material portion, and consisting of a second stabilizing material, in which a Vickers hardness (HV) of the stabilizing material portion is 90 or less, and a 0.2% tensile strength of the compound superconducting precursor wire is 200 MPa or more.

This compound superconducting precursor wire includes: a compound superconducting precursor portion including a plurality of compound superconducting precursor filaments, and a first matrix precursor having the plurality of compound superconducting precursor filaments embedded therein and including a first stabilizing material; a reinforcing material portion disposed on an outer peripheral side of the compound superconducting precursor portion; and a stabilizing material portion which is disposed on at least one of an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of the reinforcing material portion, and consisting of a second stabilizing material, in which a Vickers hardness (HV) of the stabilizing material portion is 90 or less, and a 0.2% tensile strength of the compound superconducting precursor wire is 200 MPa or more.

Cables comprising a flexible core and formed of wound superconducting tape wrapped helically around the flexible core, as well as methods of producing such cables are disclosed. The superconducting tape is wrapped around a conductive layer comprising conductive material, providing mechanical cushioning and electrical stabilization for the superconducting material. When producing such cables, tension control techniques support the protection of the superconducting tape and hence degradation of the superconducting material is largely or entirely avoided.

Cables comprising a flexible core and formed of wound superconducting tape wrapped helically around the flexible core, as well as methods of producing such cables are disclosed. The superconducting tape is wrapped around a conductive layer comprising conductive material, providing mechanical cushioning and electrical stabilization for the superconducting material. When producing such cables, tension control techniques support the protection of the superconducting tape and hence degradation of the superconducting material is largely or entirely avoided.