Low-frequency losses at high fields in multifilamentary superconductors

Low-frequency (approx.1 Hz) ac loss measurements were made at applied fields up to 20 T with field modulation amplitudes of up to 1 T. Results for the alternative in situ and powder metallurgy (P/M) processed Nb3Sn and Nb--Al wires are presented for single-strand and multistrand geometries. Loss measurements for commercial continuous-fiber Nb3Sn wires manufactured by Holec and Supercon also are presented and show that the effective fiber size determined by these ac-loss measurements corresponds to that measured optically. The effective fiber size for alternative processed wires was intermediate between the wire size and the fiber size, and the losses (and effective fiber size) were reduced by twisting. Multistrand geometries showed further reductions in losses. The smallest effective fiber size at high field was measured for P/M processed Nb--Al. The losses were fully hysteretic and the ac losses were used to determine the critical-current density at low fields where it was difficult to measure directly