Magnetic measurement of transport AC losses in Bi-2223/Ag tapes

Magnetic nature of the losses in superconducting wire carrying AC current implies that it should be possible to determine these losses in a contactless way. Ribbon-like samples are quite favorable for such an experiment, because a notable portion of magnetic flux related to losses 'escapes' the sample volume and can be detected by an appropriate pick-up coil. In this case, a model describing the AC current penetration into the tape, based, e.g., on the critical state model, allows one to derive the losses from the pick-up coil signal. Because this signal is proportional to the number of coil turns, extension of the accessible range of measured voltages (and losses) can be achieved. We demonstrate the data obtained on a 1 cm long portion of a low-loss multifilamentary tape carrying AC current with frequency 35 Hz. The pick-up coil technique allowed us to reach loss level more than one order below the experimental limit for direct measurements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.