The objective of this program is to prepare useful lengths of a high temperature superconducting wire and to demonstrate that the wire is a physically stable superconductor with high current carrying capability, suitable for power transmission, conditioning, and storage systems. The wire is being characterized for: resistivity, as a function of temperature and current density; physical stability; response in an rlc resonant circuit; meissner effect; and the effect an applied magnetic field has on critical current density. The gross physical characteristics of the wire are being determined by a scanning electron microscope. Auger profile analysis is used to determine the wire chemistry. The effects of moisture, repeated temperature cycles, and reoxidation are also being evaluated. The manufacturing process, if successful, will have immediate application in providing commercial superconducting wire for the fabrication of advanced high-field magnets and solenoids, electric motor windings, superconducting rotors in electric power generators, transformers, induction energy storage systems, and squids.
