Critical current, stability and AC-loss measurement on the Euratom LCT conductor

An integral test of the LCT cable conductor was performed in a test facility where a short-circuited loop of conductor was placed in an external 5 T field. The transport current was induced in the loop by variation of the external field. Measured I
c
values agree with single-strand measurements. Stability measurements were performed using an inductive heater. The instantaneous point source energy inducing a quench can be fitted by the empirical expression
E \propto I^{-3} B^{-2}
. In a separate experiment the ac-losses of the cable were measured and found to be a factor of 6 - 10 higher than expected from theoretical calculations, due to low resistance contacts between strands. The conductor is, however, still within the LCT specifications.