Niobium-tin for fusion, high energy physics and other applications

If internal-tin conductors are to be used to their best advantage they should be designed for a specific application. Some applications emphasize the current density almost exclusively while others require a combination of properties where hysteresis losses are low while the J/sub c/ is maintained at as high a level as possible. Absence of flux jumps and instabilities is always desirable but more difficult to maintain as the J/sub c/ is raised. The progress made by the authors recently in the production of material for fusion, high energy physics (HEP) and other applications is described. Materials with J/sub c/s above 900 A/mm/sup 2/ at 12 T and losses below 200 mJ/cm/sup 3/ (/spl plusmn/3 T cycle) in the non-Cu area, have been made for fusion applications. Instabilities previously reported in material with higher J/sub c/s have been reduced so that more stable materials with high J/sub c/s over 2,000 A/mm/sup 2/ at 12 T have been manufactured. Recent properties in this higher J/sub c/ area are reported.