Calculation of magnetization, hysteresis and power dissipation in a superconductor during bipolar field cycles

A method for the calculation of the hysteresis loss in a superconducting slab for large, bipolar changes of the applied magnetic field is presented. The method is purely analytical and uses the Kim model for the critical current density J/sub c/. Arbitrary change in the external magnetic field can be handled, before or after full penetration. Magnetization, dissipated power and energy are computed as a function of time, independent of the presence of closed loops in the magnetic field change. Scaling relations are given to extend the results to the hysteresis loss in a superconducting cylinder in a changing transverse field. An example of an application shows excellent agreement between measured and computed dissipated energy.<>