Inconsistencies between extrapolated and actual critical fields in Nb3 Sn wires as demonstrated by direct measurements of Hc2, H* and Tc

A. Godeke*, M.C. Jewell, A.A. Golubov, B. ten Haken, D.C. Larbalestier

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalConference articleAcademicpeer-review

    29 Citations (Scopus)
    11 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Scaling of the pinning force (Fp ) with temperature, field and strain for Nb 3 Sn wires is widely discussed but important issues are still unresolved, for example whether empirical engineering-oriented scaling functions can be replaced by more microscopic, physics-based models, which take account of the fact that Fp becomes zero at an irreversibility field (H*) less than the upper critical field (Hc2). In the present work we compare earlier extensive measurements of the critical current density (Jc ) of an ITER-benchmark bronze wire to new measurements of H* and Hc2 . Our study was also made in different strain states. We observe that the Kramer extrapolations, which are based on transport data taken up to 13 T, significantly overestimate the low temperature, high field behaviour and also underestimate the critical temperature (Tc ) at zero field. An attempt is made to connect measured Hc2 (T, ε) data on this practical conductor to microscopic theory. We also discuss the inevitable differences that occur between fully penetrated Jc data which average over all the A15 layers and small current-density probes of the Hc2 transition which are characteristics of the best part of the layer. We connect in this way the large-scale 'average' characteristics Jc (H, T, ε) to small current 'best' characteristics of Hc2 (T, ε).

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1019-1025
    Number of pages7
    JournalSuperconductor science and technology
    Volume16
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2003
    Event2nd International Workshop on Mechano-Electromagetic Properties of Composite Superconductors, MEM 2003 - Kyoto, Japan
    Duration: 3 Mar 20035 Mar 2003
    Conference number: 2

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