US Researchers Achieve Record-Breaking Superconducting Wire Performance
Researchers from the University at Buffalo have developed the world's highest-performing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wire segment. Utilizing rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO), the wire achieved the highest critical current density and pinning force reported to date for all magnetic fields and temperatures ranging from 5 kelvin to 77 kelvins. This breakthrough is significant for the future of the electric grid and commercial nuclear fusion, although large-scale applications are contingent upon achieving a price-performance metric comparable to standard copper wire.
The study, led by Amit Goyal, highlights the potential for HTS wires in various applications, including next-generation MRI for medicine, high-field magnets for physics, and defense technology for all-electric ships and airplanes. The results are expected to guide the industry in optimizing deposition and fabrication processes to enhance the commercial viability of HTS wires. The research, published in Nature Communications, underscores the importance of continued innovation to bring down costs and improve the performance of superconducting materials.
