Optically Triggered, Superconducting Opening Switch.

Abstract

The advent of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) introduced the possibility of a new class of opening switches. (1) The switches exploit the dramatic change in material properties at the critical temperature, Tc, in the HTS materials. The transition to the normal state can form the basis of an opening switch. Since this phase transition is fully reversible, the switch can be operated repetitively. Such devices could switch currents in the range of a few kA with switching time of the order of nanoseconds. We have developed and tested two types of opening switches based on HTS materials: a photoresistive switch and an inductively coupled switch. Each switch was demonstrated at low power levels and subsequently scaled up to power levels corresponding to tens of amperes current interruption. (MM)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1994
Accession Number
ADA292642

Entities

People

  • Alan M. Kadin
  • William R. Donaldson

Organizations

  • University of Rochester

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computer Programs
  • Critical Temperature
  • Current Density
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Extraction
  • High Temperature
  • High Temperature Superconductors
  • Laser Pulses
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Nanosecond Time
  • Power
  • Superconductivity
  • Superconductors
  • Thin Films
  • Transition Temperature

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Superconducting Magnet Technology