Single-photon detectors based on superconducting nanowires (SSPDs or SNSPDs) have rapidly emerged as a highly promising photon-counting technology for infrared wavelengths. These devices offer high efficiency, low dark counts and excellent timing resolution. In this review, we consider the basic SNSPD operating principle and models of device behaviour. We give an overview of the evolution of SNSPD device design and the improvements in performance which have been achieved. We also evaluate device limitations and noise mechanisms. We survey practical refrigeration technologies and optical coupling schemes for SNSPDs. Finally we summarize promising application areas, ranging from quantum cryptography to remote sensing. Our goal is to capture a detailed snapshot of an emerging superconducting detector technology on the threshold of maturity.
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Chandra M Natarajan et al 2012 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 25 063001
Zachary S Hartwig et al 2020 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 33 11LT01
High-temperature superconductors (HTS) promise to revolutionize high-power applications like wind generators, DC power cables, particle accelerators, and fusion energy devices. A practical HTS cable must not degrade under severe mechanical, electrical, and thermal conditions; have simple, low-resistance, and manufacturable electrical joints; high thermal stability; and rapid detection of thermal runaway quench events. We have designed and experimentally qualified a vacuum pressure impregnated, insulated, partially transposed, extruded, and roll-formed (VIPER) cable that simultaneously satisfies all of these requirements for the first time. VIPER cable critical currents are stable over thousands of mechanical cycles at extreme electromechanical force levels, multiple cryogenic thermal cycles, and dozens of quench-like transient events. Electrical joints between VIPER cables are simple, robust, and demountable. Two independent, integrated fiber-optic quench detectors outperform standard quench detection approaches. VIPER cable represents a key milestone in next-step energy generation and transmission technologies and in the maturity of HTS as a technology.
Yue Wu et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 055010
In high-temperature superconducting (HTS) power devices, the presence of iron cores changes the magnetic field profile around the HTS coil windings, potentially affecting their AC loss characteristics. AC loss measurements for HTS coil windings coupled with an iron core using the electrical method can lead to a significant error, owing to the indirect estimation of the iron core loss through using a copper test coil. To investigate the cause of the experimental error and the influence of an iron core on coil AC losses, transport AC losses of REBCO double pancake coil (DPC) assemblies coupled with an iron cylinder were measured. A 40-turn 1DPC and an 80-turn 2DPC assembly wound with 4 mm SuperPower wire were employed in the measurements. To ensure the same iron core loss using the HTS coil assembly and the copper coil, 2D finite element method simulations were conducted iteratively to design the iron core and the copper coil to get the same local magnetic field distributions in the designed iron core for the two cases. The main cause of the error is due to the difference in local magnetic flux densities in the iron core generated by the HTS coil assembly and the copper coil even when the ampere-turns of the coils are identical. We showed that the simulation-guided measurement method can assure accurate AC loss measurement in the HTS coil assemblies coupled with iron cores. Compared with the AC losses in the 1DPC and 2DPC coil assemblies without the iron cylinder, the presence of the iron cylinder significantly increases the coil losses. Frequency dependence is observed in the coil AC losses of the 1DPC and 2DPC assemblies when coupled with the iron cylinder. This is due to the eddy current induced in the iron cylinder generating a magnetic field, which influences the coil AC loss.
Chukun Gao et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 065018
We present a compact 23 T no-insulation (NI) magnet that was wound with 60 m of 10 mm wide high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape. The magnet consists of only one pocket-sized double pancake (DP) coil with an inner diameter of ∼6 mm, a height of 20 mm, and an outer diameter of 41.6 mm. Another NI coil of similar size but with a larger inner diameter of 8 mm reached a slightly lower magnetic field of 21 T. We also present a smaller coil which was wound with only 20 m of HTS tape and still achieved a magnetic field of 16 T. During the experiments in liquid helium, each coil was charged to a current between 690 A and 850 A, corresponding to a high current density of 1500–1900 A mm−2. The small bore size and high current density contributed to the high fields generated by these coils. We present the fabrication details, helium tests and repeatability analysis of these 'pocket' magnets.
Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami et al 2022 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 35 123001
More than a century after the discovery of superconductors (SCs), numerous studies have been accomplished to take advantage of SCs in physics, power engineering, quantum computing, electronics, communications, aviation, healthcare, and defence-related applications. However, there are still challenges that hinder the full-scale commercialization of SCs, such as the high cost of superconducting wires/tapes, technical issues related to AC losses, the structure of superconducting devices, the complexity and high cost of the cooling systems, the critical temperature, and manufacturing-related issues. In the current century, massive advancements have been achieved in artificial intelligence (AI) techniques by offering disruptive solutions to handle engineering problems. Consequently, AI techniques can be implemented to tackle those challenges facing superconductivity and act as a shortcut towards the full commercialization of SCs and their applications. AI approaches are capable of providing fast, efficient, and accurate solutions for technical, manufacturing, and economic problems with a high level of complexity and nonlinearity in the field of superconductivity. In this paper, the concept of AI and the widely used algorithms are first given. Then a critical topical review is presented for those conducted studies that used AI methods for improvement, design, condition monitoring, fault detection and location of superconducting apparatuses in large-scale power applications, as well as the prediction of critical temperature and the structure of new SCs, and any other related applications. This topical review is presented in three main categories: AI for large-scale superconducting applications, AI for superconducting materials, and AI for the physics of SCs. In addition, the challenges of applying AI techniques to the superconductivity and its applications are given. Finally, future trends on how to integrate AI techniques with superconductivity towards commercialization are discussed.
Neil Mitchell et al 2021 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 34 103001
With the first tokamak designed for full nuclear operation now well into final assembly (ITER), and a major new research tokamak starting commissioning (JT60SA), nuclear fusion is becoming a mainstream potential energy source for the future. A critical part of the viability of magnetic confinement for fusion is superconductor technology. The experience gained and lessons learned in the application of this technology to ITER and JT60SA, together with new and improved superconducting materials, is opening multiple routes to commercial fusion reactors. The objective of this roadmap is, through a series of short articles, to outline some of these routes and the materials/technologies that go with them.
X Obradors et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 053001
In this work, we review recent progress achieved in the use of chemical solution deposition (CSD) based on fluorinated metalorganic precursors to grow superconducting REBa2Cu3O7 (REBCO) films and coated conductors (CCs). We examine, first of all, the advances in optimizing the steps related to the solutions preparation, deposition and pyrolysis based on novel low-fluorine metalorganic solutions. We show that a new type of multifunctional colloidal solutions including preformed nanoparticles (NPs), can be used to introduce artificial pinning centers (APCs). We analyze how to disentangle the complex physico-chemical transformations occurring during the pyrolysis with the purpose of maximizing the film thicknesses. Understanding the nucleation and growth mechanisms is shown to be critical to achieve a fine tuning of the final microstructure, either using the spontaneous segregation or the colloidal solution approaches, and make industrially scalable this process. Advanced nanostructural studies have deeply modified our understanding of the defect structure and its genealogy. It is remarkable the key role played by the high concentration of randomly distributed and oriented BaMO3 (M = Zr, Hf) NPs which enhance the concentration of APCs, such as stacking faults and the associated partial dislocations. Correlating the defect structure with the critical current density Jc(H,T,θ) allows to reach a tight control of the vortex pinning properties and to devise a general scheme of the vortex pinning landscape in the whole H–T phase diagram. We also refer to the outstanding recent achievements in enhancing the vortex pinning strength by shifting the carrier concentration in REBCO films towards the overdoped state, where the pinning energy is maximum and so, record values of critical current densities are achieved. This confirms the performance competitiveness of nanocomposite CCs prepared through the CSD route. We conclude with a short summary of the progress in scaling the CC manufacturing using fluorinated solutions.
Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami et al 2022 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 35 083002
Along with advancements in superconducting technology, especially in high-temperature superconductors (HTSs), the use of these materials in power system applications is gaining outstanding attention. Due to the lower weight, capability of carrying higher currents, and the lower loss characteristic of HTS cables, compared to conventional counterparts, they are among the most focused large-scale applications of superconductors in power systems and transportation units. In near future, these cables will be installed as key elements not only in power systems but also in cryo-electrified transportation units, that take advantage of both cryogenics and superconducting technology simultaneously, e.g., hydrogen-powered aircraft. Given the sensitivity of the reliable and continuous performance of HTS cables, any failures, caused by faults, could be catastrophic, if they are not designed appropriately. Thus, fault analysis of superconducting cables is crucial for ensuring their safety, reliability, and stability, and also for characterising the behaviour of HTS cables under fault currents at the design stage. Many investigations have been conducted on the fault characterisation and analysis of HTS cables in the last few years. This paper aims to provide a topical review on all of these conducted studies, and will discuss the current challenges of HTS cables and after that current developments of fault behaviour of HTS cables will be presented, and then we will discuss the future trends and future challenges of superconducting cables regarding their fault performance.
Kiruba S Haran et al 2017 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 30 123002
Superconducting technology applications in electric machines have long been pursued due to their significant advantages of higher efficiency and power density over conventional technology. However, in spite of many successful technology demonstrations, commercial adoption has been slow, presumably because the threshold for value versus cost and technology risk has not yet been crossed. One likely path for disruptive superconducting technology in commercial products could be in applications where its advantages become key enablers for systems which are not practical with conventional technology. To help systems engineers assess the viability of such future solutions, we present a technology roadmap for superconducting machines. The timeline considered was ten years to attain a Technology Readiness Level of 6+, with systems demonstrated in a relevant environment. Future projections, by definition, are based on the judgment of specialists, and can be subjective. Attempts have been made to obtain input from a broad set of organizations for an inclusive opinion. This document was generated through a series of teleconferences and in-person meetings, including meetings at the 2015 IEEE PES General meeting in Denver, CO, the 2015 ECCE in Montreal, Canada, and a final workshop in April 2016 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign that brought together a broad group of technical experts spanning the industry, government and academia.
Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami et al 2023 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 36 043501
This paper presents a roadmap to the application of AI techniques and big data (BD) for different modelling, design, monitoring, manufacturing and operation purposes of different superconducting applications. To help superconductivity researchers, engineers, and manufacturers understand the viability of using AI and BD techniques as future solutions for challenges in superconductivity, a series of short articles are presented to outline some of the potential applications and solutions. These potential futuristic routes and their materials/technologies are considered for a 10–20 yr time-frame.
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Wenwu Chen et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 075005
Although both the mass density and grain connectivity of MgB2 superconducting layers can be greatly improved via an internal Mg diffusion (IMD) process, the poor structural uniformity and low MgB2 filling factor of IMD wires limit further enhancement of their superconducting performance. Herein, we prepared 19-filament and 37-filament IMD-MgB2 superconducting wires using a combination of optimization of the component structure and the introduction of an intermediate annealing process. Microstructure analysis suggests that good structural uniformity and high layer density have been achieved in the multi-filamentary MgB2 wires, and the MgB2 filling factor reaches 9.3%–11.0%. The magnetic superconducting transition of MgB2 wires is relatively sharp, and the onset Tc is around 37 K. Remarkably, there is no magnetic flux jump for 37-filament wires in the low-field region at 5 K. At 4.2 K and 4 T, the transport layer Jc values of 19-filament and 37-filament MgB2 wires are as high as 1.5 × 105 A cm−2 and 2.2 × 105 A cm−2, respectively, with, accordingly, engineering Je values of 1.7 × 104 A cm−2 and 2.0 × 104 A cm−2. These results indicate that the performance of multi-filamentary IMD-MgB2 wires can compete with traditional powder-in-tube-MgB2 wires applied in industry.
P K Meena et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 075004
Recently, the emergence of superconductivity in kagome metals has generated significant interest due to its interaction with flat bands and topological electronic states, which exhibit a range of unusual quantum characteristics. This study thoroughly investigates largely unexplored breathing kagome structure C14 Laves phase compounds XOs2 (X = Zr, Hf) by XRD, electrical transport, magnetization, and specific heat measurements. Our analyses confirm the presence of the MgZn2-type structure in ZrOs2 and HfOs2 compounds, exhibiting type-II superconductivity with critical temperature () values of 2.90(3) K and 2.69(6) K, respectively. Furthermore, specific heat measurements and electron–phonon coupling constants for both compounds indicate weakly coupled fully gapped superconductivity.
Qing-Song Yang et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 075003
The hexagonal Mn5Si3-type compounds possess the capability to accommodate specific atoms in the interstices, thereby creating filled Mn5Si3-type structures. In Nb-based Mn5Si3-type system, interstitial atoms like carbon (C) or oxygen (O) have been identified to induce or enhance superconductivity. However, the compounds filled with nitrogen (N) are scarce, and the existence of a N-filled superconductor remains unknown. Here, we report the discovery of a novel ternary nitride superconductor, Nb5Ir3N, synthesized via incorporating N into the electride Nb5Ir3. The crystal structure of Nb5Ir3N conforms to the filled Mn5Si3-type, belonging to the P63/mcm space group (No. 193), with cell parameters a = b = 7.8398(2) Å and c = 5.1108(1) Å. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility demonstrate that Nb5Ir3N is a type-II superconductor with a Tc of 8.7 K. The estimated lower and upper critical fields are 11.0 mT and 12.16 T, respectively. Moreover, specific heat measurements confirm the bulk superconductivity with enhanced electron–phonon coupling in Nb5Ir3N, as demonstrated by the normalized specific heat jump ΔCe/γTc ∼ 1.59. First-principles calculations emphasize the strong spin–orbit coupling in Nb5Ir3N.
W Durante-Gómez et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 065021
High-temperature superconductors (HTS) are greatly appealing for the development of high efficient, and high energy density power devices. They are particularly relevant for applications requiring light and compact machines such as wind power generation. In this context, to ensure the proper design of the superconducting machines and their reliable operation in power systems, it is then important to develop models that can accurately include their physics but also can describe properly their interaction with the system. To achieve such a goal, one approach is the co-simulation. This numerical technique can bring fine geometrical and physical details of the machines through a finite element model (FEM) meanwhile dealing with the operation of the whole system that incorporates the machine and a subset of the power grid represented by an external electrical circuit. The goal of the present work is to put to use this numerical technique when superconducting components are involved. Here, a case study is proposed involving a 15 MW hybrid superconducting synchronous generator (HTS rotor and conventional stator) coupled to a direct current network via a rectifier and its associated filter. The case study related to wind power application allows grasping the technical issues when employing co-simulation dealing with HTS machines. The FEM of the generator is done in the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics, which interacts with the circuit simulator Simulink through the built-in Functional Mock-up Unit. For the present study, a new version of the latest J–A formulation combined with homogenization technique is introduced allowing an even faster computation time compared to the T–A formulation. Distributed variables and global variables such as current density, magnetic flux density, and local losses for the former and voltage, current, electromagnetic torque, and power quality for the latter are estimated and compared for both formulations. The idea is to find the best-suited combination FEM-circuit under criteria of computational speed, accuracy, and numerical stability. Thus, it is shown that all formulations generate an error of less than 5% on the machine parameters and that the J–A formulation with first order elements stands out with a significant 4-fold reduction in computational costs.
Kai Walter et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 075002
The superconducting properties of SmBa2Cu3O7−δ (SmBCO) thin films are predominantly influenced by the oxygen deficiency δ. Yet, the established methods to determine δ such as iodometric titration or thermogravimetry cannot be applied to thin films due to their very small volume. Therefore, an alternative way to determine δ for SmBCO thin film samples using x-ray diffraction (XRD) is presented. Main point of this analysis is the structural relationship between the a, b and c lattice parameters and δ. A linear relationship between c and δ is found in SmBCO powder samples for both the orthorhombic and tetragonal phase. Furthermore, an attempt is made to quantify the chemical composition using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. This attempt was inconclusive because of drastically changing ion yields due to δ influencing the valence state of the analyzed ions. The crystal structural relationship gathered from the powder samples is applied to thin film samples. Thereby, it becomes clear that thermal strain is affecting the crystal structure of the thin films. A simple correction model is used to correct for thermal strain and a good match between powder, literature, and thin film data is achieved and thus a non-destructive way for the determination of δ using XRD.
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X Obradors et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 053001
In this work, we review recent progress achieved in the use of chemical solution deposition (CSD) based on fluorinated metalorganic precursors to grow superconducting REBa2Cu3O7 (REBCO) films and coated conductors (CCs). We examine, first of all, the advances in optimizing the steps related to the solutions preparation, deposition and pyrolysis based on novel low-fluorine metalorganic solutions. We show that a new type of multifunctional colloidal solutions including preformed nanoparticles (NPs), can be used to introduce artificial pinning centers (APCs). We analyze how to disentangle the complex physico-chemical transformations occurring during the pyrolysis with the purpose of maximizing the film thicknesses. Understanding the nucleation and growth mechanisms is shown to be critical to achieve a fine tuning of the final microstructure, either using the spontaneous segregation or the colloidal solution approaches, and make industrially scalable this process. Advanced nanostructural studies have deeply modified our understanding of the defect structure and its genealogy. It is remarkable the key role played by the high concentration of randomly distributed and oriented BaMO3 (M = Zr, Hf) NPs which enhance the concentration of APCs, such as stacking faults and the associated partial dislocations. Correlating the defect structure with the critical current density Jc(H,T,θ) allows to reach a tight control of the vortex pinning properties and to devise a general scheme of the vortex pinning landscape in the whole H–T phase diagram. We also refer to the outstanding recent achievements in enhancing the vortex pinning strength by shifting the carrier concentration in REBCO films towards the overdoped state, where the pinning energy is maximum and so, record values of critical current densities are achieved. This confirms the performance competitiveness of nanocomposite CCs prepared through the CSD route. We conclude with a short summary of the progress in scaling the CC manufacturing using fluorinated solutions.
Joshua Feldman et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 033001
Construction of high-temperature superconducting magnets typically involves impregnation of a coil in a liquid medium, such as epoxy, which is then solidified. This impregnation provides mechanical integrity to the magnet and facilitates heat transfer. The choice of material used for impregnation requires careful consideration of the material properties and the performance requirements in order to ensure optimal magnet operation. This paper offers a comprehensive educational resource on this topic, reviewing the literature available on materials for magnet impregnation. A detailed explanation of considerations for selecting an impregnation material are presented, along with a review of several types of materials and their characteristics as reported in the literature. The materials are compared, and their suitability to different applications is discussed. Topics for future research are suggested.
Zhuoran Geng et al 2023 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 36 123001
We review the use of hybrid thin films composed of superconductors and ferromagnets for creating non-reciprocal electronic components and self-biased detectors of electromagnetic radiation. We begin by introducing the theory behind these effects, as well as discussing various potential materials that can be used in the fabrication of these components. We then proceed with a detailed discussion on the fabrication and characterization of Al/EuS/Cu and EuS/Al/Co-based detectors, along with their noise analysis. Additionally, we suggest some approaches for multiplexing such self-biased detectors.
Arno Godeke 2023 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 36 113001
The steadily increasing magnetic fields that can be generated with superconducting magnets are reaching the limits of what is achievable with low-temperature superconductors (LTS). At the same time, a reduction of fossil-fuel extraction will amplify the already limited availability of helium as a coolant for superconducting magnets in the near future. Hence, manufacturers of commercial applications that rely on superconducting magnets have become increasingly interested in exploring technologies that enable a move beyond the magnetic-field limitations posed by LTS conductors, and/or enable higher operating temperatures to allow for cryogen-free operation. High-temperature superconductors (HTS), such as (REBCO), (Bi-2212), and BiPbxSr2Ca2Cu3O (Bi-2223) have all matured to a certain commercial extent, and have thereby become enablers for such technologies. The emergence of various new commercial magnet-systems that utilize HTS, suggests that we are at the dawn of a wider commercial implementation. A review of which HTS properties are critical for these magnets, what is currently available, and what is missing, is therefore considered timely and appropriate in this context.
D J Gameiro Carvalho et al 2023 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 36 103001
Different electromagnetic formulations were proposed and implemented in finite element (FE) software to model high-temperature superconductors-coated conductors (HTS-CCs) and HTS tape topologies. However, their modelling can be notably demanding in computational resources, particularly computation time. Mixed formulations such as , T − A, and were proposed and used, proving to be considerably faster than conventional ones, although these formulations present different performances and characteristics depending on the modelled conditions and geometry. This paper reviews the electromagnetic formulations proposed in the literature for FE simulation of HTS-coated conductors and HTS tape topologies. Implementation aspects, which are lacking in the literature, are presented, especially for T − A and formulations developed for most relevant tape topologies, for example, HTS CC stacked (CCS) tape and HTS twisted tapes. Simulation results are analysed, alongside the consequent conclusions regarding the accuracy, as well as advantages and limitations of each formulation, all made taking into account each tape geometry and its operating conditions. Their implementation review will be straightforward in the case of formulation and formulation. In advance, the T − A formulation is shown to be the most efficient FE formulation for HTS-CC topologies, being, among the studied, the most efficient computational resource. Moreover, its inherent approximation of the HTS tape as a thin sheet has delivered accurate results, specifically regarding current density distributions in the HTS layer and AC losses when compared with the formulation. Correspondingly, FE multiphysics simulations are shown for three HTS-CC topologies: a single HTS tape, an HTS CCS tape, and an HTS twisted-stacked tape cable.
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Cuninková et al
REBCO HTS (Rare-earth barium copper oxide high-temperature superconducting) tapes, have a high potential for winding of large magnet coils. Tapes on Round Tube (TORT) cables represent a promising option for achieving a conductor suitable for the winding of magnet coils. However, certain applications, such as accelerator magnets, require the use of superconducting cables with low magnetization Alternative current (AC) losses. There are several methods to reduce AC losses in TORT cables. Our first approach was to get rid of eddy currents by replacing the copper former with dielectric materials based on polymers and composites, i.e. PETG CF (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified reinforced with carbon fibres). Additional reduction of hysteretic loss was achieved by striating of copper coated (CC) REBCO tapes. We employed chemo-mechanical striating, for these objectives. However, the superconductor is exposed during the striating process, which may lead to later moisture-related degradation. Hence multilayers based on Ti/AlN were deposited using magnetron sputtering in order to protect the superconductor immediately after the striating process from water and atmospheric moisture corrosion. Subsequently, striated tapes as well as the non-striated tapes were then wound onto formers with diameters of 10 mm, 7 mm and 5.5 mm, and then on the short TORT cables bending tests were performed. After each technological step, direct current (DC) measurements were performed on the samples and finally the AC losses were measured.
Sueyoshi et al
We attempted to improve the critical current density Jc under a longitudinal magnetic field (LMF) by using columnar defects (CDs) tilted toward the transport current, where the CDs were produced with 80 MeV Xe ions at an incident angle(s) up to φi = 87.5° relative to the c-axis of YBa2Cu3Oy thin films. The formation of CDs extending throughout the film was confirmed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The CDs tilted at φi = 87.5° weakened the magnetic field dependence of Jc under the LMF, providing a Jc higher than that of the unirradiated film in a high magnetic field. This is the first study to demonstrate that CDs and/or irradiation defects contribute to flux pinning under the LMF in high-Tc superconductors. In addition, the Jc under LMF was sensitive to the tilt angle of the CDs: the Jc was reduced by CDs tilted not only at φi = 0°, but also at a slightly larger angle relative to the ab-plane, i.e. φi = 85°. The introduction of CDs rather disturbs the LMF effect because of the large volume passing through the film thickness, unless the tilt angles of the CDs are within the narrow angular region effective for the LMF effect.
Husek et al
Effect of the interface angle and applied deformation on the transport current and structure of scarf architecture joints between single- and multi-core MgB2 wires were studied. Transport currents of joints were measured at 4.2 K and external magnetic fields 2-8 T and joint's resistances between 27 and 42 K. Resistive transitions and critical currents of prepared joints were compared with the transition and critical current of not joined MgB2wires. The interfaces structure of joined in-situ wires was analysed by optical microscopy. It was found that increased interface area between the joined wires and optimized deformation by pressing allows to enlarge the superconducting current path. In-field transport currents up to 73 % of wire's Ic were measured for joined single-core MgB2/Fe wires. In the case of 6-filament wires, the maximal transport current up to 53 % of wire's Ic was reached. Presented results show that presented joint technique could be potentially used for superconducting MgB2 coils in persistent mode.
ZHANG
This is a viewpoint on the letter by R W Taylor et al (2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 03LT01).
Shibalov et al
This paper presents the development of a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) integrated into a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) with a design center wavelength of 830 nm and a width of 200 nm. This SNSPD is made of a superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) thin film that is produced using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). The DBR is made of 15 alternating layers of silicon nitride and silicon oxide that are produced through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The reflection efficiency of the mirror is 90% at a wavelength of 830 nm. For sufficient optical coupling, an optical micro-connector optimized for multimode or single-mode optical fibers with a diameter of 128 μm was formed using two-photon polymerization techniques. The niobium nitride film was deposited onto the DBR surface in-situ in two separate reactors connected by a vacuum transfer. The in-situ technique of deposition of a superconducting niobium nitride film and a distributed Bragg reflector has allowed achieving a detection efficiency of 90% at a wavelength of 830 nm and a dark count rate of 10 s-1 at a temperature of 2.5 K. Additionally, the detector jitter was 50 ps.
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Kai Walter et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 075002
The superconducting properties of SmBa2Cu3O7−δ (SmBCO) thin films are predominantly influenced by the oxygen deficiency δ. Yet, the established methods to determine δ such as iodometric titration or thermogravimetry cannot be applied to thin films due to their very small volume. Therefore, an alternative way to determine δ for SmBCO thin film samples using x-ray diffraction (XRD) is presented. Main point of this analysis is the structural relationship between the a, b and c lattice parameters and δ. A linear relationship between c and δ is found in SmBCO powder samples for both the orthorhombic and tetragonal phase. Furthermore, an attempt is made to quantify the chemical composition using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. This attempt was inconclusive because of drastically changing ion yields due to δ influencing the valence state of the analyzed ions. The crystal structural relationship gathered from the powder samples is applied to thin film samples. Thereby, it becomes clear that thermal strain is affecting the crystal structure of the thin films. A simple correction model is used to correct for thermal strain and a good match between powder, literature, and thin film data is achieved and thus a non-destructive way for the determination of δ using XRD.
G Aubert et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 075001
Gradient-magnet interactions increase with higher field magnets and stronger gradient coils. Perhaps the most sensitive aspect is magnet quench, which can be induced by a loss of superconductivity of the main coil caused by a rise of the temperature of the He bath with gradient activity. Predicting power depositions thereby can be a very valuable tool to avoid dangerous frequency zones but also eventually correct design flaws. In this work, we report model predictions compared to measurements of power deposition in the He bath of the Iseult 11.7 T magnet for the Z gradient coil axis.
Nicholas M Strickland et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol.
Ba1-xKxFe2As2 superconductors have strong potential for magnet applications through their very high upper critical field, relatively high superconducting transition temperature and manufacturability through the powder-in-tube (PIT) route. However, the critical current density in PIT tapes is still low compared to the incumbent technologies, so a greater understanding of the limiting factors is required. We have measured in-field critical currents (Ic) of stainless steel and silver double-sheathed monofilament Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconductor tapes at elevated temperatures from 15 K to 35 K. At 20 K the critical current density is up to 140 kA/cm2 in low (optimal) field and 22 kA/cm2 in 8 T. In the low-field region we observe an anomalous and sharp suppression of Ic centred at zero field. This feature is non-hysteretic for lower temperatures and perpendicular field, but becomes hysteretic for higher temperatures in perpendicular field and all temperatures in parallel field. The low-field suppression is reflected also in the n-values which can otherwise be very high, in excess of 100, in optimal field. Magnetic-field hysteresis of Ic is generally attributed to flux exclusion / flux trapping in granular superconductors and this is likely to be the case also in the present conductors. The low-field Ic anomaly also likely has its origin in the planar granularity, while magnetic phases in grains or grain boundaries may also play a role.
Chukun Gao et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 065018
We present a compact 23 T no-insulation (NI) magnet that was wound with 60 m of 10 mm wide high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape. The magnet consists of only one pocket-sized double pancake (DP) coil with an inner diameter of ∼6 mm, a height of 20 mm, and an outer diameter of 41.6 mm. Another NI coil of similar size but with a larger inner diameter of 8 mm reached a slightly lower magnetic field of 21 T. We also present a smaller coil which was wound with only 20 m of HTS tape and still achieved a magnetic field of 16 T. During the experiments in liquid helium, each coil was charged to a current between 690 A and 850 A, corresponding to a high current density of 1500–1900 A mm−2. The small bore size and high current density contributed to the high fields generated by these coils. We present the fabrication details, helium tests and repeatability analysis of these 'pocket' magnets.
J V J Congreve et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 065019
The fabrication of large (RE)–Ba–Cu–O single grains [(RE)BCO], where RE = Y, Gd, Eu or Sm, with the complex geometries required for many practical applications is currently limited by the time intensive, complex nature of the grain growth process. In addition, the shapes achievable using established melt processing techniques, such as top seeded melt growth, are constrained significantly by the limited number of post-processing techniques readily available. Machining of these materials is also difficult given their ceramic-like mechanical properties, which makes them both brittle and hard. A potential alternative to the slow and inflexible melt growth processes is to join many small, single grains to form one large composite grain, connected by electrically and mechanically high-performance joints. A reliable joining technique would also greatly reduce the need for post-growth machining processes. In this work we extend our previous investigation of the use of single grain YBCO-Ag as an intermediate joining material to achieve effective and reliable superconducting joints between EuBCO-Ag bulk, single grain superconductors. The technique reported in the earlier studies requires limited specialist equipment and does not require tight process parameter control, since there is no need to re-grow the joining material at the intergrain interface. This technique is of particular interest given that the difference between the peritectic temperatures of the bulk superconductor and the intermediate joining material is large. We report the properties of seven joints engineered at different joining temperatures. The trapped field properties of the resulting joined samples were measured and the microstructure at the position of the joint examined. We demonstrate that this simple and the rapid joining technique makes it possible to manufacture composite grains in an industrially important (RE)BCO bulk superconductor with comparable superconducting properties to those of a single grain of similar dimensions.
Shahin Alipour Bonab et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol.
The advent of superconducting bulks, because of their compactness and performance, offers new perspectives and opportunities in many applications and sectors, such as magnetic field shielding, motors/generators, NMR/MRI, magnetic bearings, flywheel energy storage, Maglev trains, among others. The investigation and characterization of bulks typically relies on time-consuming and expensive experimental campaigns; hence the development of effective surrogate models would considerably speed up the research progress around them. In this study, we have first produced an experimental dataset with the levitation and lateral forces between different MgB2 bulks and one permanent magnet under different operating conditions. Next, we have exploited the dataset to develop surrogate models based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, namely Extremely Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support Vector Machine Regressor (SVR), and Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR). After the tuning of the hyperparameters of the AI models, the results demonstrated that SVR is the superior technique and can predict levitation and lateral forces with a worst-case accuracy scenario 99.86% in terms of goodness of fit to experimental data. Moreover, the response time of these models for prediction of new datapoints is ultra-fast.
Ermes Scarano et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol.
We study the response of several microwave resonators made from superconducting NbTiN thin-film meandering nanowires with large kinetic inductance, having different circuit topology and coupling to the transmission line. Reflection measurements reveal the parameters of the circuit and analysis of their temperature dependence in the range 1.7-6 K extract the superconducting energy gap and critical temperature. The lumped-element LC resonator, valid in our frequency range of interest, allows us to predict the quasiparticle contribution to internal loss, independent of circuit topology and characteristic impedance. Our analysis shows that the internal quality factor is limited not by thermal-equilibrium quasiparticles, but an additional temperature-dependent source of internal microwave loss.
Chiarasole Fiamozzi Zignani et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol.
The superconducting magnet system of the Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) facility, composed of 18 Toroidal Field (TF) coils, 6 Poloidal Field (PF) coils and a Central Solenoid (CS), has been designed and many procurements have been launched. Some manufacturing aspects and some conductor features require characterization under relevant close-to-operative conditions. To confirm the design choices in all details, cryogenic tests in qualified facilities have been foreseen. In this work, the results of the TF samples characterization at the SULTAN facility at the Swiss Plasma Centre (SPC, EPFL) are presented. The 3 weeks test campaign started on July the 8th, 2022. The DTT TF SULTAN sample was made of two Nb3Sn Cable-in-Conduit conductor "legs", namely "TF-A" and "TF-B", made with wires produced by Kiswire Advanced Technology (KAT), differing for the cabling twist pitch sequence only, and designed to work in DTT at 42.5 kA at 11.9 T peak field.
The extensive characterization comprised 3000 Electro-Magnetic (EM) cycles and two Warm-Up-Cool-Down (WUCD) steps, and in detail it included: AC measurements on the virgin conductors, on cyclic loaded conductors and after WUCDs; DC tests at 10.85 T / 42.5 kA with intermediate electro-magnetic (EM) cycles at 10.85 T / 45 kA before and after WUCDs; DC tests using partial Lorentz force loads, and Minimum Quench Energy (MQE) tests at 9 T / 42.5 kA after cycles and WUCDs. The results of the DC measurements analysis verified the design, in terms of current sharing temperature (Tcs) and critical current (Ic), as both samples are over the minimum acceptance values. In particular, the "TF-A" sample, characterized by a so-called "long twist pitch" cabling sequence, showed higher performance without any degradation with loading and WUCD cycles, whereas sample "TF-B" presented an initial Tcs reduction that afterwards substantially remained unchanged. In terms of strain acting at the Nb3Sn filaments level, this result can be described by a lower effective strain in the "TF-A" sample. AC losses were measured with a calorimetric method as a function of frequency for each series of AC sinusoidal pulsing measurements, and the characteristic coupling time constants were determined.
S Razmkhah et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 065011
Neural networks and neuromorphic computing represent fundamental paradigms as alternative approaches to Von-Neumann-based implementations, advancing in the applications of deep learning and machine vision. Nonetheless, conventional semiconductor circuits encounter challenges in achieving ultra-fast processing speed and low power consumption due to their dissipative properties. Conversely, single flux quantum circuits exhibit inherent spiking behavior, showcasing their characteristics as a promising candidate for spiking neural networks (SNNs). In this work, we present a compact hybrid synapse circuit to mimic the biological interconnect functionality, enabling the weighting operations for excitatory and inhibitory impulses. Additionally, the proposed structure facilitates input accumulation, which is performed before the activation function. In the experiments, our synaptic structure interfaces with a soma circuit fabricated using a commercial Nb process, underscoring its compatibility and supporting its potential for integration into efficient neural network architectures. The weight value on the synapse is configurable by utilizing cryo-CMOS circuits, providing adaptability to the inference networks. We've successfully designed, fabricated, and partially tested the JJ-Synapse within our cryocooler system, enabling high-speed inference implementation for SNNs.
Sergey L Bud'ko et al 2024 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 37 065010
In an extension of our previous work, (Bud'ko et al 2023 Supercond. Sci. Technol.36 115001) the measurements of temperature dependent magnetization associated with trapped magnetic flux in a small single crystal of CaKFe4As4, using zero—field—cooled and field—cooled protocols were performed, on the same crystal, at ambient pressure without a pressure cell and at 2.2 GPa in a commercial diamond anvil cell (DAC), showing comparable results. The data show that with a proper care and understanding, trapped flux measurements in superconductors indeed can be performed on samples in DACs under pressure, as was done on superhydrides (Minkov et al 2023 Nat. Phys.19 1293).