Optimization of the intercept temperature for high temperature superconducting current lead

Current leads containing high temperature superconducting (HTS) components have the potential to greatly reduce the heat leak to liquid helium environment. However, significant heat leak reduction can only be achieved by intercepting heat at the joint between the upper (copper) and the lower (high temperature superconducting) sections of current leads. An optimization analysis has been performed to minimize the net room temperature refrigeration power required for operating HTS current leads. The analysis shows that competing factors of cryocooler efficiencies and the influence of HTS material properties on the required helium liquefaction power determine an optimum intercept temperature in the range between 70 and 80 K