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Improvement of High Field Performance and Reliability of Nb3Sn Conductor by Power-In-Tube Method--Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545-3301; 508-842-0174
Mr. Terrence Wong, Principal Investigator
Mrs. Elaine Tarkiainen, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-99ER82896
Amount: $100,000
In order for the next generation high energy physics particle accelerators to reach higher collision energy levels, there is a need for higher field dipole magnets. This in turn demands superconductors that have higher critical current densities at higher fields than can typically be reached with NbTi. Thus Nb3Sn conductors are the conductor of choice for the next generation dipole magnets (>15 Tesla). This project will develop a high critical current density Nb3Sn conductor produced by the powder-in-tube method with Ta and Ti elemental additions to the A15 phase. These additions have been shown to improve the upper critical field and high field critical current density. In Phase I, a Nb3Sn conductor will be fabricated by the powder-in-tube (PIT) method with Ta and Ti added as dopants to improve high field performance. A multifilamentary assembly will be drawn to sample size, heat treated, and then tested for superconducting properties. Comparison of the Ta and Ti additions with a control sample will allow the PIT method to be evaluated as a means of improving Nb3Sn conductor performance.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the applicant: The principal application of a higher performing Nb3Sn conductor would be in high field dipole magnets for high energy physics. However, other uses would be found in magnetic confinement systems for fusion reactors and nuclear magnetic resonance systems for chemical analysis.