Study of Nb3Al Wires for High-Field Accelerator Magnet Applications.

Rapid heating, quenching and transformation (RHQT)-processed Nb3Al wires possess better strain tolerance than Nb3Sn wires. However, RHQT-processed Nb3Al wires so far developed show lower non-copper critical current density (Jc) than recently developed high-(Jc) Nb3Sn wires in the field range of 12-15 T. Therefore, the development of Nb3Al wires having enhancing Jc in this field range is a major concern for accelerator magnet designers. Among a number of fabrication parameters that might affect properties, we analysed the effect of thickness of Al and Nb foils in the jelly-roll-shaped filaments embedded in the precursor wires. Mechanical and superconducting properties of these wires with various Al-foil thicknesses in the filaments were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]