2G HTS wire with enhanced engineering current density attained through the deposition of HTS layer with increased thickness

Abstract

2G HTS wire with high engineering current density is desired for applications where compact, high power density superconducting equipment is important. We have succeeded in enhancing engineering current density of commercial SuperOx 2G HTS wire based on GdBCO by increasing the HTS layer thickness without fast degradation of the HTS film microstructure. This was possible after improving the temperature uniformity along the HTS film deposition zone. In particular, the wire engineering current density was increased from 700-770 A/mm (for a 65 μm-thick wire without stabilisation) or 430-480 A/mm (for a 105 μm-thick stabilised wire) at the beginning of this study to almost 1200 A/mm (for a 67 μm-thick wire without stabilisation) or 770 A/mm (for a 107 μm-thick stabilised wire) at completion of this study.