Electromechanical Characterization of the MgB2 Wire for Transmission Line Magnet System

With a high transition temperature (39 K) and as a possible cheaper alternative of Niobium-based superconductors in terms of manufacturing, operation temperature, and cost, MgB
₂
seems to be a promising candidate in the accelerator and electric power industry. Looking for the feasibility and future scopes of the MgB
₂
conductor, for the transmission line magnet and as a candidate in upgrading accelerator facility at J-PARC, several critical parameters were analyzed. Here we are presenting two studies that were carried out at KEK on the MgB
₂
wire developed by HITACHI Ltd. 1) Electromechanical characterization of the MgB
₂
wire was performed, to determine the effects on the critical current (
$I_{c}$
) of MgB
₂
wire when subjected to tensile stress and magnetic field. 2) For the quench protection of the MgB
₂
cable to handle the large current, it needs appropriate material composition. Millions of amp squared seconds (MIITs) value was determined to estimate the copper to superconductor (Cu:SC) ratio, for the safer operation of the magnet system which gives the final cable composition for the transmission line.