High-Temperature Superconductors: Materials, Properties, and Applications

This text presents an overview of the known high-Tc superconductors and their physical properties, and emphasizes aspects related to conductor fabrication and high-current applications. An introduction to high-Tc superconductivity should be based on the fundamental physical principles of normal-state electrical conductivity and the well-known characteristics of conventional superconductors. In Chapter 2, this background is provided. Crystal structures, anisotropic properties and general trends of the critical temperatures of the cuprate superconductors are described in Chapters 3 and 4. The processing of superconductor powders addressed in Chapter 5 affects considerably the current-carrying capacity of high-Tc wires. In Chapter 6 several fabrication techniques for superconducting wires are described. In addition, the factors limiting the transport critical currents of high-Tc wires are discussed. The requirements for safe and stable operation of high-current superconductors are considered in Chapter 7, where the AC loss behaviour of high-Tc superconductors is discussed. Finally, an overview of potential magnet and power applications of high-Tc superconductors is given in Chapter 8.