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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Resonators
Published on: May 21, 2016
Superconducting YBCO Foams as Trapped Field Magnets.
Michael R Koblischka1, Sugali Pavan Kumar Naik2, Anjela Koblischka-Veneva3
1Superconducting Materials Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo 135-8548, Japan. m.koblischka@gmail.com.
Superconducting Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) foams demonstrate potential as powerful, lightweight trapped field magnets. These novel materials exhibit promising magnetic field trapping capabilities for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Superconducting foams made from Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) offer a unique combination of properties.
- Their open-porous structure results in lightweight yet mechanically robust materials suitable for large-scale fabrication.
- These properties make them candidates for advanced magnetic applications, including trapped field magnets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trapped magnetic field properties of YBCO superconducting foams.
- To assess the feasibility of using these foams as supermagnets.
- To explore potential applications in space, such as flux-pinning docking interfaces and debris collection.
Main Methods:
- Field-cooling of YBCO foam samples in a 0.5 T magnetic field generated by a square Neodymium-Iron-Boron (Nd-Fe-B) permanent magnet.
- Measurement of trapped field distributions using a scanning Hall probe.
- Analysis of current flow and field distribution patterns.
Main Results:
- A maximum trapped field (TF) of approximately 400 Gauss (G) was measured at 77 Kelvin (K) at the bottom of the YBCO foam sample.
- Detailed mapping of the trapped field distribution across various sample surfaces was achieved.
- The study provides insights into the current flow responsible for the trapped magnetic fields.
Conclusions:
- YBCO superconducting foams exhibit significant potential as effective trapped field magnets.
- The measured trapped fields support their consideration for demanding applications.
- Potential space applications, including flux-pinning docking interfaces and portable strong magnets for debris management, are highlighted.
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