Lectures

This course provides students with an approach to the fundamental understanding of the physical properties required for the practical implementation of superconducting materials. It includes

• an introduction to electrodynamics of superconductors
• a theoretical description of the interactions in the vortex line system, focused on pinning phenomena, critical state and thermal effects on vortex dynamics
• an overview of the superconducting materials, addressing also the superconducting wires and cables
• a final part describing the basic design and operation issues of superconducting device technology

Lecture 1 Introduction, Phenomenology, Thermodynamics and London equations

Lecture 2  The Ginzburg-Landau Theory, Domain-wall energy, Flux quantization

Lecture 3  Upper critical field, Lower critical field and Abrikosov vortex lattice

Lecture 4  Vortex motion, Vortex pinning, Critical State and Flux creep

Lecture 5  Thermal instabilities, Filament coupling, Materials: Intro, NbTi and Nb₃Sn

Lecture 6  Nb₃Sn and Nb₃Al wire technology

Lecture 7  MgB₂, Introduction to HTS

Lecture 8  Intro to HTS (2), Bi2223, Bi2212 and YBCO

Lecture 9  YBCO (2), Intro to magnet design: Solenoids

Lecture 10  Intro to magnet design: Multipoles and toroids, Magnetic stresses, Effects of stress on a superconducting wire

Lecture 11  Effects of stress on a superconducting wire (2), Stability, Propagation of the normal zone, Quench detection and protection

Summary