High-temperature superconducting materials: Requirements for magnet conductors—-A magnet designer's view

This paper discusses important superconducting magnet issues that impact conductors and shows that it is a long journey for any superconducting material, low temperature or high temperature, to become a magnet conductor. Design issues unique to NMR magnets are also discussed. Coil parameters are presented for a 1-GHz NMR magnet based entirely on low-temperature superconductor (LTS). The parameters show that in such 1-GHz NMR magnets, the axial length of the longest winding section can approach 3 meters. The paper concludes with discussion of conductor-related design issues and areas for further research and development for high-temperature superconductors (HTS) for use in 1-GHz NMR magnets.