Doped MgB2 Doubles Critical Field Tolerance *

sanman

2nd May 2004 - 06:14 PM

I just read this:

http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/2004/split/683-2.html

So with some carbon doping, MgB2 is able to tolerate stronger magnetic
fields before losing superconductivity.

Could this used to make a more powerful tokamak, like for ITER? What
material is ITER using for its superconductive coils?

Joseph.D.Warner

2nd May 2004 - 06:15 PM

I assume by more powerful you mean higher density of reactive particles
confined to a smaller space. If so the answer is yes. But just because
the MgB2-doped has a higher critical field it may not have the tensile
strength to with stand the forces a higher field may entail.

I don't know the material ITER uses for is superconductive coils, I
would suspect NbSn3.

I would think that in the future MgB2 will have to compete with the CuO
based superconductors for superconducting magnets.

Gordon D. Pusch

2nd May 2004 - 06:15 PM

There will be little competition between the two unless the T_c of MgB2 can
be brought up past LN2 temperatures. A T_c of 40 K is still too cold to make
operating a superconducting device "cheap," since the only cryogens that have
boiling points colder than 40 K @ 1 atm are Helium, Hydrogen, and Neon, all
three of which are expensive and/or difficult to handle...

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