Spatially-resolved measurement on time-dependent electromagnetic behavior in alternating current carrying coated conductor

Establishment of processing technology for multifilamentary coated conductors (CCs) is a key issue for superconducting electric power applications from the viewpoint of AC loss reduction. On the other hand, CCs sometimes have local inhomogeneity in the superconducting layers, and that will cause a current blocking in a filament or inhomogeneity of critical current among filaments in a multifilamentary CC. Therefore, we need an assessment method for local electromagnetic behavior on AC loss properties of CCs. In this study, we developed a method for visualizing time-dependent AC loss distribution in CCs by using scanning Hall probe microscopy. We succeeded in visualizing local current density, electric field and loss density simultaneously with a spatial resolution of a few hundred micrometers. The measurement system has possible scanning area of 150 × 50 mm² and current capacity of 500 A. This enables us to discuss the local electromagnetic behavior on a practical scale of CCs. We believe that this visualization method will be a very powerful tool to estimate the feasibility of processing technology for multifilamentary CCs.