Superconducting Magnets

Superconducting devices, which can carry huge currents and generate strong magnetic fields without losing energy, are improving at a tremendous pace. This book provides a modern, up-to-date reference on both the physics and the technology of superconducting magnets. It is unique in combining the theoretical aspects of superconductivity, electromagnetic field theory, and the thermodynamics of helium cooling with the technological details of producing and engineering high performance superconducting materials. The book provides the reliable, expert advice for designing, manufacturing, and testing complex high field superconducting magnets of predictable performance, and it places particular emphasis on beam transport and accelerator magnets in high energy particle physics.

The 2nd edition emphasizes two areas not emphasized in the 1st edition: 1) high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets; 2) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) magnets. Despite nearly 40 years of R and D on superconducting magnet technology, most areas, notably fusion and electric power applications, are still in the R and D stage. One exception is in the area of NMR and MRI. NMR magnets are very popular among chemists, biologists, genome scientists, and most of all, by drug manufacturers for drug discovery and development. MRI and NMR magnets have become the most successful application of superconducting magnet technology and this trend should continue. The 2nd edition will have new materials never treated formally in any other book of this kind. As with the 1st, most subjects will be presented through problem format to educate and train the designer.

The 2nd edition emphasizes two areas not emphasized in the 1st edition: 1) high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnets; 2) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) magnets. Despite nearly 40 years of R and D on superconducting magnet technology, most areas, notably fusion and electric power applications, are still in the R and D stage. One exception is in the area of NMR and MRI. NMR magnets are very popular among chemists, biologists, genome scientists, and most of all, by drug manufacturers for drug discovery and development. MRI and NMR magnets have become the most successful application of superconducting magnet technology and this trend should continue. The 2nd edition will have new materials never treated formally in any other book of this kind. As with the 1st, most subjects will be presented through problem format to educate and train the designer.

This book presents the basics and applications of superconducting magnets. It explains the phenomenon of superconductivity, theories of superconductivity, type II superconductors and high-temperature cuprate superconductors. The main focus of the book is on the application to superconducting magnets to accelerators and fusion reactors and other applications of superconducting magnets. The thermal and electromagnetic stability criteria of the conductors and the present status of the fabrication techniques for future magnet applications are addressed. The book is based on the long experience of the author in studying superconducting materials, building magnets and numerous lectures delivered to scholars. A researcher and graduate student will enjoy reading the book to learn various aspects of magnet applications of superconductivity. The book provides the knowledge in the field of applied superconductivity in a comprehensive way.

The renaissance of magnet technology started in the early 1950s with the establishment of high-energy accelerators. About a decade later in 1961, or fifty years after the discovery of superconductivity, high-field superconducting laboratory magnets became a reality. Conventional still the major beam-handling and experimen electromagnets, which are tal devices used in laboratories, operate at zero efficiency. To generate high magnetic fields in a useful volume, considerable amounts of power are needed. Superconducting d. c. magnets do not require any power at all. It is somewhat depressing to note that, sixty years after the first superconductor was tested, the experimental d. c. superconducting mag net is still the only large-scale equipment operated in laboratories. Al though there has been considerable activity in the area of superconduc tivity, superconductors are used on quite a modest scale in electronic and quantum devices, in medicine and biology, and in physical experi ments where high magnetic fields are essential. It is only recently that Type II superconductors have been introduced in power engineering (power generation, storage and transport) to replace pulsed accelerator magnets; for fast and economical transportation vehicles (levitated trains) where superconductors may ultimately replace the wheel; to make new means of en~rgy generation economically feasible, such as in magneto hydrodynamics and in fusion reactors; and for high-efficiency electric motors. High-field superconducting magnets are being proposed for de salination of seawater, for magnetic separation in the mining industry, for cleaning polluted water, and for sewage treatment.

Designed for graduate students in mechanical engineering, this textbook discusses the basic concepts of superconducting magnet technology. Important topics covered include field distribution, magnets, force, thermal stability, dissipation, and protection. To help the students excel in the field, each chapter contains tutorial problems, accompanied by solutions, utilizing solenoidal magnets as examples.