Boundary-induced coupling currents in a 1.3 m Rutherford-type cable due to a locally applied field change

In this paper the existence of so called Boundary Induced Coupling Currents (BICCs) is experimentally demonstrated in a 1.3 m long Rutherford-type cable. These BICCs are induced by applying a field change locally onto the cable and can be represented by a non-uniform current distribution between the strands of the cable during and after the field sweep. In order to better understand the characteristic time, amplitude and characteristic length of these coupling currents and the parameters by which they are influenced, a special set up has been built. With this set-up it is possible to scan the field induced by the BICCs along the full length of a Rutherford-type cable. Special attention is paid on the influence of the contact resistance between crossing strands on the characteristics of the BICCs and results are presented where parts of the cable are soldered, simulating the joints of a coil.