Development of Superconducting Subcables for High-Current Cables

Creating large scale magnet systems for thermonuclear fusion devices requires new approaches for development of superconducting cables. Owing to a number of specific properties of high-temperature superconductors, such superconducting cables cannot be based on the well-developed template of low-temperature cables. In this paper, we describe the concept of so called subcables—prefabricated stabilized stacks of HTS tapes. The process of development is described, as well as experimental properties of different samples of subcables: the paper shows different designs of subcables as well as the means for their production; critical current measurements at liquid nitrogen temperature for different bending diameters are described. The paper discusses the results and gives conclusions on future usage of subcables for high-current cables.