Low-loss HTS current leads for magnet applications

Current leads incorporating high-temperature superconductors (HTS) have the potential to greatly reduce the refrigeration requirements with respect to conventional leads. However, lead-design considerations include not only electrical and thermal performances of the HTS section, but also its structural integrity and reliability. In this paper, characteristics of low-loss AFM BSCCO-2223/AgAu composite conductors and the influence of thermal cycling between room temperature and 77 K on their critical current are presented and discussed.