Investigation of three-dimensional current distribution at silver diffusion joint of RE-123 coated conductors based on magnetic microscopy combined with finite element method

Combining scanning Hall-probe microscopy (SHPM) with finite element method (FEM), we have investigated three-dimensional current distribution at a silver diffusion joint of RE-123 coated conductor (CC). This research aims at the understanding of electromagnetic behaviors in a jointed CC and at the establishment of an analysis model for it. Two-dimensional distribution of sheet current density in a jointed sample was visualized by a SHPM measurement with a spatial resolution of a few hundred micrometers. Then, it was found that such a distribution included information about current transfer between the jointed pieces. Furthermore, the experimental results were successfully reconstructed by a three-dimensional FEM analysis. We believe that these will be very important findings for the establishment of jointing processes on CCs and for the designs of practical applications which need such processes.