High current transport test of a YBCO bulk conductor up to 25 kA

A melt-textured YBCO bulk material was employed to obtain high current transport characteristics of a bulk high temperature superconductor. A disk-shaped YBCO bulk material 65 mm in diameter and 15 mm thick was fabricated by a modified quench and melt growth (QMG) process. An "H" shaped bulk conductor was cut from the YBCO disk. The cross sectional area and length of the conductor were 7 mm/spl times/7 mm and 20 mm, respectively. The bulk conductor was mounted in a high current bus line with a conductor-holder which allows high current feed and mechanical support against the thermal stress and electromagnetic force. Both ends of the conductor were soldered to electrodes of the conductor-holder. At 4.2 K, high current transport experiments were carried out up to 25 kA.