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This wide-ranging presentation of applied superconductivity, from fundamentals and materials right up to the latest applications, is an essential reference for physicists and engineers in academic research as well as in the field. Readers looking for a systematic overview on superconducting materials will expand their knowledge and understanding of both low and high Tc superconductors, including organic and magnetic materials. Technology, preparation and characterization are covered for several geometries, but the main benefit of this work lies in its broad coverage of significant applications in power engineering or passive devices, such as filter and antenna or magnetic shields. The reader will also find information on superconducting magnets for diverse applications in mechanical engineering, particle physics, fusion research, medicine and biomagnetism, as well as materials processing. SQUIDS and their usage in medicine or geophysics are thoroughly covered as are applications in quantum metrology, and, last but not least, superconductor digital electronics is addressed, leading readers from fundamentals to quantum computing and new devices.
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Seitenzahl: 2499
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015
Cover
Related Titles
Title Page
Copyright
Conductorart by Claus Grupen (drawing)
Preface
List of Contributors
Volume 1
Chapter 1: Fundamentals
1.1 Superconductivity
References
References
1.2 Main Related Effects
References
References
References
References
Chapter 2: Superconducting Materials
2.1 Low-Temperature Superconductors
References
References
2.2 High-Temperature Superconductors
References
References
Chapter 3: Technology, Preparation, and Characterization
3.1 Bulk Materials
References
References
References
3.2 Thin Films and Multilayers
References
3.3 Josephson Junctions and Circuits
References
References
3.4 Wires and Tapes
References
References
3.5 Cooling
References
References
References
Chapter 4: Superconducting Magnets
4.1 Bulk Superconducting Magnets for Bearings and Levitation
References
4.2 Fundamentals of Superconducting Magnets
References
4.3 Magnets for Particle Accelerators and Colliders
References
4.4 Superconducting Detector Magnets for Particle Physics
References
4.5 Magnets for NMR and MRI
References
4.6 Superconducting Magnets for Fusion
References
4.7 High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Magnets
References
4.8 Magnetic Levitation and Transportation
References
Volume 2
Chapter 5: Power Applications
5.1 Superconducting Cables
References
5.2 Practical Design of High-Temperature Superconducting Current Leads
References
5.3 Fault Current Limiters
References
Chapter 5: Power Applications
5.4 Transformers
References
5.5 Energy Storage (SMES and Flywheels)
References
5.6 Rotating Machines
References
5.7 SmartGrids: Motivations, Stakes, and Perspectives/Opportunities for Superconductivity
References
Chapter 6: Superconducting Microwave Components
6.1 Superconducting Microwave Components
References
6.2 Cavities for Accelerators
References
6.3 Superconducting Pickup Coils
References
Chapter 6: Superconducting Microwave Components
6.4 Magnetic Shields
References
Chapter 7: Applications in Quantum Metrology
7.1 Quantum Standards for Voltage
References
7.2 Single Cooper Pair Circuits and Quantum Metrology
References
Chapter 8: Superconducting Radiation and Particle Detectors
8.1 Radiation and Particle Detectors
References
8.2 Superconducting Hot Electron Bolometers and Transition Edge Sensors
References
8.3 SIS Mixers
References
8.4 Superconducting Photon Detectors
References
8.5 Applications at Terahertz Frequency
References
8.6 Detector Readout
References
Chapter 9: Superconducting Quantum Interference (SQUIDs)
9.1 Introduction
References
9.2 Types of SQUIDs
References
9.3 Magnetic Field Sensing with SQUID Devices
References
References
References
References
References
9.4 SQUID Thermometers
References
9.5 Radio Frequency Amplifiers Based on DC SQUIDs
References
9.6 SQUID-Based Cryogenic Current Comparators
References
Chapter 10: Superconductor Digital Electronics
10.1 Logic Circuits
References
10.2 Superconducting Mixed-Signal Circuits
References
10.3 Digital Processing
References
10.4 Quantum Computing
References
10.5 Advanced Superconducting Circuits and Devices
References
10.6 Digital SQUIDs
References
Chapter 11: Other Applications
11.1 Josephson Arrays as Radiation Sources (incl. Josephson Laser)
References
11.2 Tunable Microwave Devices
References
Chapter 12: Summary and Outlook
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Superconducting Materials for Applications
12.3 Superconducting Magnets and Large-Scale Applications
12.4 Superconducting Electronics
Acknowledgment
Index
End User License Agreement
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Cover
Table of Contents
Preface
Begin Reading
Figure 1.1.1.1
Figure 1.1.1.2
Figure 1.1.1.3
Figure 1.1.1.4
Figure 1.1.1.5
Figure 1.1.1.6
Figure 1.1.1.7
Figure 1.1.1.8
Figure 1.1.1.9
Figure 1.1.1.10
Figure 1.1.1.11
Figure 1.1.1.12
Figure 1.1.2.1
Figure 1.1.2.2
Figure 1.1.2.3
Figure 1.1.2.4
Figure 1.1.2.5
Figure 1.1.2.6
Figure 1.1.2.7
Figure 1.1.2.8
Figure 1.1.2.9
Figure 1.1.2.10
Figure 1.1.2.11
Figure 1.1.2.12
Figure 1.1.2.13
Figure 1.1.2.14
Figure 1.1.2.15
Figure 1.1.2.16
Figure 1.1.2.17
Figure 1.1.2.18
Figure 2.1.1.1
Figure 2.1.1.2
Figure 2.1.1.3
Figure 2.1.1.4
Figure 2.1.1.5
Figure 2.1.1.6
Figure 2.1.1.7
Figure 2.1.1.8
Figure 2.1.1.9
Figure 2.1.1.10
Figure 2.1.1.11
Figure 2.1.1.12
Figure 2.1.2.1
Figure 2.1.2.2
Figure 2.1.2.3
Figure 2.1.2.4
Figure 2.1.2.5
Figure 2.1.2.6
Figure 2.1.2.7
Figure 2.1.2.8
Figure 2.1.2.9
Figure 2.1.2.10
Figure 2.1.2.11
Figure 2.1.2.12
Figure 2.1.2.13
Figure 3.1.1.1
Figure 3.1.1.2
Figure 3.1.1.4
Figure 3.1.1.3
Figure 3.1.1.5
Figure 3.1.1.6
Figure 3.1.1.7
Figure 3.1.1.8
Figure 3.1.1.9
Figure 3.1.1.10
Figure 3.1.1.11
Figure 3.1.1.12
Figure 3.1.1.13
Figure 3.1.1.14
Figure 3.1.2.1
Figure 3.1.2.2
Figure 3.1.2.3
Figure 3.1.2.4
Figure 3.1.2.5
Figure 3.1.2.6
Figure 3.1.2.7
Figure 3.1.2.8
Figure 3.1.2.9
Figure 3.1.3.1
Figure 3.1.3.2
Figure 3.1.3.3
Figure 3.1.3.4
Figure 3.1.3.5
Figure 3.1.3.6
Figure 3.1.3.7
Figure 3.1.3.8
Figure 3.1.3.9
Figure 3.1.3.10
Figure 3.1.3.11
Figure 3.1.3.12
Figure 3.1.3.13
Figure 3.1.3.14
Figure 3.1.3.15
Figure 4.1.1
Figure 4.1.2
Figure 4.1.3
Figure 4.1.4
Figure 4.1.5
Figure 4.1.6
Figure 4.1.7
Figure 4.1.8
Figure 4.1.9
Figure 4.1.10
Figure 4.2.1
Figure 4.2.2
Figure 4.2.3
Figure 4.2.4
Figure 4.2.5
Figure 4.2.6
Figure 4.2.7
Figure 4.2.8
Figure 4.2.9
Figure 4.2.10
Figure 4.2.11
Figure 4.2.12
Figure 4.2.13
Figure 4.2.14
Figure 4.2.15
Figure 4.2.16
Figure 4.2.17
Figure 4.2.18
Figure 4.2.19
Figure 4.2.20
Figure 4.2.21
Figure 4.2.22
Figure 4.2.23
Figure 4.3.1
Figure 4.3.2
Figure 4.3.3
Figure 4.3.4
Figure 4.3.5
Figure 4.3.6
Figure 4.3.7
Figure 4.3.8
Figure 4.3.9
Figure 4.3.10
Figure 4.3.14
Figure 4.3.11
Figure 4.3.12
Figure 4.3.13
Figure 4.3.15
Figure 4.3.16
Figure 4.3.17
Figure 4.3.18
Figure 4.3.19
Figure 4.3.20
Figure 4.3.21
Figure 4.3.22
Figure 4.3.23
Figure 5.1.1
Figure 5.1.2
Figure 5.1.3
Figure 5.1.4
Figure 5.1.5
Figure 5.1.6
Figure 5.2.1
Figure 5.2.2
Figure 5.2.3
Figure 5.2.4
Figure 5.2.5
Figure 5.2.6
Figure 5.2.7
Figure 5.2.8
Figure 5.2.9
Figure 5.2.10
Figure 5.2.11
Figure 5.3.1
Figure 5.3.2
Figure 5.3.3
Figure 5.3.4
Figure 5.3.5
Figure 5.3.6
Figure 5.3.7
Figure 5.4.1
Figure 5.4.2
Figure 5.4.3
Figure 5.4.4
Figure 5.4.5
Figure 5.4.6
Figure 5.5.1
Figure 5.5.2
Figure 5.5.3
Figure 5.5.4
Figure 5.5.5
Figure 5.6.1
Figure 5.6.2
Figure 5.6.3
Figure 5.6.4
Figure 5.6.5
Figure 5.6.6
Figure 5.6.7
Figure 5.6.8
Figure 5.6.9
Figure 5.6.10
Figure 5.6.11
Figure 5.7.1
Figure 5.7.2
Figure 5.7.3
Figure 5.7.4
Figure 5.7.5
Figure 5.7.6
Figure 5.7.7
Figure 5.7.8
Figure 5.7.9
Figure 5.7.10
Figure 5.7.11
Figure 5.7.12
Figure 5.7.13
Figure 5.7.14
Figure 5.7.15
Figure 6.1.1
Figure 6.1.2
Figure 6.1.3
Figure 6.1.4
Figure 6.1.5
Figure 6.1.6
Figure 6.1.7
Figure 6.2.1
Figure 6.2.2
Figure 6.2.3
Figure 6.2.4
Figure 6.2.5
Figure 6.2.6
Figure 6.2.7
Figure 6.2.8
Figure 6.2.9
Figure 6.2.10
Figure 6.3.1
Figure 6.3.2
Figure 6.3.3
Figure 6.3.4
Figure 6.3.5
Figure 6.3.6
Figure 6.3.7
Figure 6.3.8
Figure 6.3.9
Figure 6.4.1
Figure 6.4.2
Figure 6.4.3
Figure 6.4.4
Figure 6.4.5
Figure 6.4.6
Figure 6.4.7
Figure 6.4.8
Figure 6.4.9
Figure 6.4.11
Figure 6.4.10
Figure 6.4.12
Figure 6.4.13
Figure 6.4.14
Figure 6.4.15
Figure 6.4.16
Figure 6.4.17
Figure 6.4.18
Figure 6.4.19
Figure 6.4.20
Figure 6.4.21
Figure 6.4.22
Figure 6.4.23
Figure 6.4.24
Figure 7.1.1
Figure 7.1.2
Figure 7.1.3
Figure 7.1.4
Figure 7.1.5
Figure 7.2.1
Figure 7.2.2
Figure 7.2.3
Figure 7.2.4
Figure 7.2.5
Figure 7.2.6
Figure 7.2.7
Figure 7.2.8
Figure 8.1.1
Figure 8.1.2
Figure 8.1.3
Figure 8.1.4
Figure 8.1.5
Figure 8.1.6
Figure 8.2.1
Figure 8.2.2
Figure 8.2.3
Figure 8.2.4
Figure 8.2.5
Figure 8.2.6
Figure 8.2.7
Figure 8.2.8
Figure 8.2.9
Figure 9.1.1
Figure 9.2.1
Figure 9.2.2
Figure 9.2.3
Figure 9.2.4
Figure 9.2.5
Figure 9.2.6
Figure 9.2.7
Figure 9.2.8
Figure 9.2.9
Figure 9.2.10
Figure 9.2.11
Figure 9.3.1.2
Figure 9.3.1.1
Figure 9.3.1.3
Figure 9.3.1.4
Figure 9.3.1.5
Figure 9.3.2.1
Figure 9.3.2.2
Figure 9.3.2.3
Figure 9.3.2.4
Figure 9.3.2.5
Figure 9.3.2.6
Figure 9.3.2.7
Figure 9.3.2.8
Figure 9.3.3.1
Figure 9.3.3.2
Figure 9.3.3.3
Figure 9.3.3.4
Figure 9.3.3.5
Figure 9.3.3.6
Figure 9.3.3.7
Figure 9.3.3.8
Figure 9.3.3.9
Figure 9.3.3.10
Figure 9.3.3.11
Figure 9.3.3.12
Figure 9.3.3.13
Figure 9.3.3.14
Figure 9.3.4.1
Figure 9.3.4.2
Figure 9.3.4.3
Figure 9.3.4.4
Figure 9.3.4.5
Figure 9.3.4.6
Figure 9.3.4.7
Figure 10.1.1
Figure 10.1.2
Figure 10.1.3
Figure 10.1.4
Figure 10.1.5
Figure 10.1.6
Figure 10.1.7
Figure 10.1.8
Figure 10.1.9
Figure 10.1.10
Figure 10.1.11
Figure 10.1.12
Figure 10.1.13
Figure 10.1.14
Figure 10.1.15
Figure 10.1.16
Figure 10.1.17
Figure 10.1.18
Figure 10.1.19
Figure 10.1.20
Figure 10.1.21
Figure 10.3.1
Figure 10.3.2
Figure 10.3.3
Figure 10.3.4
Figure 10.3.5
Figure 10.3.6
Figure 10.3.7
Figure 10.3.8
Figure 10.3.9
Figure 10.3.10
Figure 10.3.11
Figure 10.3.12
Figure 10.3.13
Figure 10.3.14
Figure 10.3.15
Figure 10.3.16
Figure 10.3.17
Figure 10.3.18
Figure 10.3.19
Figure 10.3.20
Figure 10.3.21
Figure 10.3.22
Figure 10.4.1
Figure 10.4.2
Figure 10.4.3
Figure 10.4.4
Figure 10.4.5
Figure 10.4.6
Figure 10.5.1
Figure 10.5.2
Figure 10.5.3
Figure 10.5.4
Figure 10.5.5
Figure 10.5.6
Figure 10.5.7
Figure 10.5.8
Figure 10.6.1
Figure 10.6.2
Figure 10.6.3
Figure 10.6.4
Figure 11.1.1
Figure 11.1.2
Figure 11.1.3
Figure 11.1.4
Figure 11.1.5
Figure 11.1.6
Figure 11.1.7
Figure 11.1.8
Figure 11.1.9
Figure 11.1.10
Figure 11.1.11
Figure 11.1.12
Figure 11.1.13
Figure 11.2.1
Figure 11.2.2
Figure 11.2.3
Table 1.1.1.1
Table 3.1.1.1
Table 3.1.1.2
Table 3.1.3.1
Table 4.3.1
Table 4.3.2
Table 4.3.3
Table 4.3.4
Table 4.3.5
Table 4.3.6
Table 4.3.7
Table 4.3.8
Table 4.3.9
Table 5.1.1
Table 5.2.1
Table 5.2.2
Table 5.2.3
Table 5.2.4
Table 5.2.5
Table 5.2.6
Table 5.4.1
Table 5.6.1
Table 5.6.2
Table 5.7.1
Table 6.4.1
Table 8.1.1
Table 9.3.1.1
Table 9.3.4.1
Table 9.3.4.2
Table 9.3.4.3
Bezryadin, A.
Superconductivity in Nanowires
Fabrication and Quantum Transport
2012
ISBN: 978-3-527-40832-0
Also available in digital formats
Buckel, W. and Kleiner, R.
Supraleitung
Grundlagen und Anwendungen7., aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage
2012
ISBN: 978-3-527-41139-9
Ireson, G.
Discovering Superconductivity – An Investigative Approach
2012
ISBN: 978-1-119-99141-0
Also available in digital formats
Waser, R. (ed.)
Nanoelectronics and Information Technology
Advanced Electronic Materials and Novel Devices; Third, Completely Revised and Enlarged Edition
2012
ISBN: 978-3-527-40927-3
Kalsi, S.S.
Applications of High Temperature Superconductors to Electric Power Equipment
2011
ISBN: 978-0-470-16768-7
Also available in digital formats
Bhattacharya, R., Paranthaman, M. (eds.)
High Temperature Superconductors
2010
ISBN: 978-3-527-40827-6
Also available in digital formats
Padamsee, H.
RF Superconductivity
Science, Technology, and Applications
2009
ISBN: 978-3-527-40572-5
Also available in digital formats
Hansen, R.C.
Electrically Small, Superdirective, and Superconducting Antennas
2006
ISBN: 978-0-471-78255-1
Also available in digital formats
Edited by Paul Seidel
Volume 1
The Editor
Prof. Dr. Paul Seidel
Friedrich–Schiller-Universität Jena
Institut für Festkörperphysik
AG Tieftemperaturphysik
Helmholtzweg 5
D-07743 Jena
Germany
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During the celebrations of the 100 years of superconductivity in 2011, many times the question came up about real applications and the commercial impact of superconducting materials. Actually, since already the Applied Superconductivity Conference 1998 themed “Superconductivity coming to market” had promised a positive answer to this long-standing question, we felt that the present situation should be evaluated and summarized. There exist a lot of very good textbooks on basics of superconductivity as well as some monographs concerning special applications for specialists in detail like the The SQUID Handbook edited by John Clarke and Alex Braginski. The collections of articles like “Engineering Superconductivity” edited by Peter Lee in 2001, reflecting the status up to 1999, and “Applied Superconductivity” edited by Bernhard Seeber, already published in 1998, were first steps in the direction to discuss and introduce the applications for a wider audience. Nevertheless, today, they no longer represent the topical situation and latest developments. Thus, the immense progress in applications of superconductivity will be demonstrated within this new handbook on a level which covers the range from popular aspects for students and beginners till details for specialists. Because of the finite size for a two-volume book, the basic knowledge on superconductivity had to be reduced to a minimum required for understanding the main part on applications. The historical development is not reflected in detail but sometimes with respect to the actual status in order to demonstrate the speed of progress. For historic details, we refer the reader to the book 100 Years of Superconductivity edited by Horst Rogalla and Peter H. Kes, which also covers many historic aspects of applications.
This handbook wants to demonstrate that applied superconductivity has a rising impact in science and industry. The breathtaking development within the last 20 years involved a large number of different fields, for example, in medicine, geophysics, high-energy physics, and power engineering. Thus, not all examples and details can be given here, but the references will guide the reader to additional sources. The dynamics of the development of superconductivity, especially in materials and technologies toward applications is astonishing. Applications even in niches like radio frequency (RF) filters for mobile communication are a strong forcing mechanism in this development. As one example for the rapid development, the rise in critical current densities in high-Tc superconductors from 103 A cm−2 in the beginning about 20 years ago till today's second generation of YBCO-coated conductors with some 106 A cm−2 should be mentioned. This progress is the basis for many magnet or power applications. But this example also illustrates the problem of production and availability of big amounts of superconducting materials adapted to the requirements needed for all the possible projects. A production of the coated conductors fixed by pre-contracts between producers and costumers as has been done for low-Tc superconducting cables for accelerators like CERN or fusion reactors like International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) may be a good practical way to cope with this problem. There will be a rising importance of superconducting materials, technologies, and devices due to their superior properties in comparison with well-established commercial standards. The aspects of saving of energy and reduction of pollution open new possibilities for applied superconductivity as expressed in the topic of the ASC 2014 “Race to energy efficiency.”
In future, there will be many systems where the user or costumer takes the advantages of superconductivity sometimes even without knowing that there is some superconducting component like in medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (MRT in German). The applications of superconductors will be additionally forced by the progress in cooling technologies with cryogen-free or cryocooler solutions. I hope that this handbook will help to enhance the understanding of the immense potential of superconductivity for applications in many fields.
The handbook is organized in the following parts:
Fundamentals of superconductivity and main related effects will be given only in a way to understand the main part of the book.
Superconducting materials will be introduced, but besides some overview in the fundamentals, there will be detailed contributions only on materials relevant for applications now and in near future.
Technology, preparation, and characterization concerning bulk materials, single crystals, thin films, Josephson junctions, wires and tapes, as well as cooling technology will be discussed with respect to the parameters and conditions needed for applications.
The main part consists of eight extended chapters on different application fields, including engineering aspects as well as main important parameters and interesting details up to examples for real applications.
In the summary and outlook, we try to forecast the development of the present main applications within the next 20 years.
Finally, I like to thank all contributors, the referees, and the staff of Wiley-VCH, especially Vera Palmer, Ulrike Werner, and Nina Stadthaus, as well the staff of Laserwords, especially Madhubala Venkatesan, for their excellent contributions and stimulating cooperation.
Jena
September 15, 2014
Paul Seidel
Marie-Cécile Alvarez-Hérault
Domaine Universitaire
G2ELAB (Grenoble Institute of Technology, UJF, CNRS)
Ense3, 11, rue des Mathématiques - BP 46
Saint Martin d'Hères
Cedex
France
Solveig Anders
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
Department Quantum Detection
Albert-Einstein-Street 9
D-07745 Jena
Germany
Tolga Aytug
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Chemical Sciences Division
PO Box 2008 MS6100
Oak Ridge
TN 37831-6100
USA
Robert Bach
University of Applied Science
South Westphalia
Department of Electrical Engineering
Lübecker Ring 2
D-59494 Soest
Germany
Mikhail Belogolovskii
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering
Department of the Theory of Dynamic Properties of Complex Systems
Street R. Luxemburg 72
Donetsk
Ukraine
Sergey A. Belomestnykh
Collider-Accelerator Department
Bldg 911B, Brookhaven National Laboratory
P.O Box 5000
Upton
NY 11973-5000
USA
and
Stony Brook University
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Stony Brook
NY 11794
USA
Jörn Beyer
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
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Joachim Bock
Nexans SuperConductors GmbH
Chemiepark Knapsack
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Germany
Luca Bottura
CERN TE-MSC, M24500
CH-1211 Geneva, 23
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Audrius Brazdeikis
University of Houston
Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity
Houston
TX 77004
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Technische Universität Braunschweig
Institut für Elektrische Maschinen
Antriebe und Bahnen
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Claudia Cantoni
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Houston Baptist University
Department of Mathematics and Physics
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CNR Istituto SPIN - Superconductors
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UOS - Napoli
Napoli
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LeTourneau University
School of Engineering and Engineering Technology
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CEA/IRFM
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Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
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Quasar Federal Systems
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USA
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University of Savoie
IMEP-LAHC
Campus Scientifique
Le Bourget du Lac Cedex
France
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University of Houston
Texas Center for Superconductivity
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Houston
TX 77204-5002
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Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
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Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper-und Werkstoffforschung (IFW) Dresden
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D-01171 Dresden
Germany
Camille Gandioli
Domaine Universitaire
G2ELAB (Grenoble Institute of Technology, UJF, CNRS)
ENSE3
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Flavio Gatti
INFN and Università di Genova
Dipartimento di Fisica
Via Dodecaneso 33
Genova
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Helmholtz Institute Jena
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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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Berkeley
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and
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48824
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Institute for Technical Physics
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Siegen University
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Domaine Universitaire
G2ELAB (Grenoble Institute of Technology, UJF, CNRS)
ENSE3
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Florida State University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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Boeing
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Los Alamos National Laboratory
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National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
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Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH
ILK Dresden
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Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH
ILK Dresden
Institut für Luft- und Kältetechnik
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Consulting Engineer
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Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Physics Department
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India
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Stanford University
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Universität Tübingen
Physikalisches Institut and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena in LISA$^+$
Auf der Morgenstelle 14
D-72076 Tübingen
Germany
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Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Quantum Electronics
Bundesallee 100
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Germany
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Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper-und Werkstoffforschung (IFW) Dresden
Department Superconducting Materials
Postfach 270116
D-01171 Dresden
Germany
Hans-Joachim Krause
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Institute of Bioelectronics, Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-8)
Wilhelm-Johnen-Str.
D-52425 Jülich
Germany
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Bruker EAS
Ehrichstraße 10
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Germany
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Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
Department Quantum Detection
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Germany
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Physikalisches Institut
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Jefferson Laboratory
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VA 23606
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Institut de RadioAstronomie
IRAM
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University of Wisconsin
Department of Physics
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Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
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MD 21203
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University of Bologna
Department of Electrical
Electronic and Information Engineering
Viale Risorgimento 2
Bologna
Italy
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ez SQUID Mess- und Analysegeräte
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D-35764 Sinn
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HYPRES Inc.
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JenaSQUID GmbH & Co. KG
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Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
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Germany
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CiS Research Institute for Microsensor Systems and Photovoltaics GmbH
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Germany
and
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Microelectronics and nanoelectronic systems
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Cornell University
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and
Fermilab
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Dipartimento di Fisica
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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UOS - Napoli
Napoli
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Naples
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CNR-SPIN and University of Genova
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CERN—European Organization for Nuclear Research
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Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
Physikalisches Institut
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University of Notre Dame
Department of Physics
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Domaine Universitaire
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Bruker EAS
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Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
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Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
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Friedrich Schiller University Jena
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Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
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Germany
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Polytechnique Montreal
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Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Los Alamos
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and
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Argonne
IL 60439-4806
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Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
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Germany
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International Superconductivity Technology Center
Superconductivity Research Laboratory
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Yokohama
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Toyohashi University of Technology
Tempaku-cho
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Japan
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Domaine Universitaire
G2ELAB (Grenoble Institute of Technology, UJF, CNRS), ENSE3
Saint Martin d'Heres
France
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Technische Universität Ilmenau
Theoretische Elektrotechnik
PF 10 05 65
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Germany
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Osaka University
Institute of Laser Engineering
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Suita-city
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Japan
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Columbus Superconductors, S.p.A.
Via delle Terre Rosse 30
Genova
Italy
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Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Institute of Solid State Physics
Helmholtzweg 5
D-07743 Jena
Germany
and
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Fröbelstieg 3
D-07743 Jena
Germany
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National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Superconducting Properties Unit
1-2-1 Sengen
Tsukuba 3050047
Japan
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Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
Physikalisches Institut
Wolfgang-Gaede-Straße 1
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Germany
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Adelwitz Technologiezentrum GmbH (ATZ)
Naundorfer Street 29
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Germany
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Lower Radley
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United Kingdom
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Victoria University of Wellington
Robinson Research Institute
PO Box 600
Gracefield Road Lower Hutt 5010
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Institute of Solid State Physics
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D-76021 Karlsruhe
Germany
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Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
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Leo-Brandt-Straße
D-52425 Jülich
Germany
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University of Houston
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Texas Center for Superconductivity
Houston
TX 77004
USA
Alexander B. Zorin
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
Quantenelektronik
Bundesallee 100
D-38116 Braunschweig
Germany
and
Moscow State University
Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics
Moscow
Russia
Gertrud Zwicknagl
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Institut für Mathematische Physik
Mendelssohnstraße 3
D-38106 Braunschweig
Germany
Reinhold Kleiner
In the year 1908, Kamerlingh-Onnes [3], director of the Low-Temperature Laboratory at the University of Leiden, had achieved the liquefaction of helium as the last of the noble gases. At atmospheric pressure, the boiling point of helium is 4.2 K. It can be reduced further by pumping. The liquefaction of helium extended the available temperature range near the absolute zero point and Kamerlingh-Onnes was able to perform experiments at these low temperatures.
At first, he started an investigation of the electric resistance of metals. At that time, the ideas about the mechanism of the electric conduction were only poorly developed. It was known that it must be electrons being responsible for charge transport. Also one had measured the temperature dependence of the electric resistance of many metals, and it had been found that near room temperature the resistance decreases linearly with decreasing temperature. However, at low temperatures, this decrease was found to become weaker and weaker. In principle, there were three possibilities to be discussed:
The resistance could approach zero value with decreasing temperature (James Dewar, 1904).
It could approach a finite limiting value (Heinrich Friedrich Ludwig Matthiesen, 1864).
It could pass through a minimum and approach infinity at very low temperatures (William Lord Kelvin, 1902).
In particular, the third possibility was favored by the idea that at sufficiently low temperatures the electrons are likely to be bound to their respective atoms. Hence, their free mobility was expected to vanish. The first possibility, according to which the resistance would approach zero value at very low temperatures, was suggested by the strong decrease with decreasing temperature. Initially, Kamerlingh-Onnes studied platinum and gold samples, since at that time he could obtain these metals already with high purity. He found that during the approach of zero temperature the electric resistance of his samples reached a finite limiting value, the so-called residual resistance, a behavior corresponding to the second possibility discussed above. The value of this residual resistance depended upon the purity of the samples. The purer the samples, the smaller the residual resistance. After these results, Kamerlingh-Onnes expected that in the temperature range of liquid helium, ideally, pure platinum or gold should have a vanishingly small resistance. In a lecture at the Third International Congress of Refrigeration 1913 in Chicago, he reported on these experiments and arguments. There he said: “Allowing a correction for the additive resistance I came to the conclusion that probably the resistance of absolutely pure platinum would have vanished at the boiling point of helium” [4]. These ideas were supported further by the quantum physics rapidly developing at that time. Albert Einstein had proposed a model of crystals, according to which the vibrational energy of the crystal atoms should decrease exponentially at very low temperatures. Since the resistance of highly pure samples, according to the view of Kamerlingh-Onnes (which turned out to be perfectly correct, as we know today), is only due to this motion of the atoms, his hypothesis mentioned above appeared obvious.
In order to test these ideas, Kamerlingh-Onnes decided to study mercury, the only metal for which he hoped at that time that it can be extremely purified by means of a multiple distillation process. He estimated that at the boiling point of helium he could barely just detect the resistance of the mercury with his equipment, and that at still lower temperatures it should rapidly approach zero value. The initial experiments carried out by Kamerlingh-Onnes together with his coworkers, Gerrit Flim, Gilles Holst, and Gerrit Dorsman, appeared to confirm these concepts. At temperatures below 4.2 K, the resistance of mercury, indeed, became immeasurably small. During his further experiments, he soon recognized that the observed effect could not be identical to the expected decrease of resistance. The resistance change took place within a temperature interval of only a few hundredths of a degree and, hence, it resembled more a resistance jump than a continuous decrease.
Figure 1.1.1.1 shows the curve published by Kamerlingh-Onnes [5]. He commented himself: “At this point (slightly below 4.2 K) within some hundredths of a degree came a sudden fall not foreseen by the vibrator theory of resistance, that had framed, bringing the resistance at once less than a millionth of its original value at the melting point. … Mercury had passed into a new state, which on account of its extraordinary electrical properties may be called the superconductive state” [4].
Figure 1.1.1.1 Superconductivity of mercury. (From [1], after Ref. [5].)
In this way also the name for this new phenomenon had been found. The discovery came unexpectedly during experiments, which were meant to test some well-founded ideas. Soon it became clear that the purity of the samples was unimportant for the vanishing of the resistance. The carefully performed experiment had uncovered a new state of matter.
Today we know that superconductivity represents a widespread phenomenon. In the periodic system of the elements superconductivity occurs in many elements. Here, at atmospheric pressure, niobium is the element with the highest “transition temperature” or “critical temperature” Tc of about 9 K. Eventually, thousands of superconducting compounds have been found, and this development is by no means closed.
The vanishing of the DC electric resistance below Tc is not the only unusual property of superconductors. An externally applied magnetic field can be expelled from the interior of superconductors except for a thin outer layer (“ideal diamagnetism” or “Meissner–Ochsenfeld effect”). This happens for type-I superconductors for field below the so-called critical field Bc, and for type-II superconductors below the lower critical field Bc1. For higher fields, type-II superconductors can concentrate the magnetic field in the form of “flux tubes.” Here the magnetic flux2 is quantized in units of the “magnetic flux quantum” Φ0 = 2.07·10−15 Wb. The ideal diamagnetism of superconductors was discovered by Meissner and Ochsenfeld in 1933. It was a big surprise, since based on the induction law one would have only expected that an ideal conductor conserves its interior magnetic field and does not expel it.
The breakthrough of the theoretical understanding of superconductivity was achieved in 1957 by the theory of Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer (“BCS theory”) [6]. They recognized that at the transition to the superconducting state, the electrons pairwise condense into a new state, in which they form a coherent matter wave with a well-defined phase, following the rules of quantum mechanics. Here the interaction of the electrons is mediated by the “phonons,” the quantized vibrations of the crystal lattice. The pairs are called Cooper pairs. In most cases, the spins of the two electrons are aligned antiparallelly, that is, they form spin-singlets. Also, at least in most cases, the angular momentum of the pair is zero (s-wave). The theory also shows that at nonzero temperatures, a part of the electrons remain unpaired. There is, however, an energy gap Δ which separates these unpaired “quasiparticles” from the Cooper pairs. It requires the energy 2Δ to break a pair.
For more than 75 years, superconductivity represented specifically a low-temperature phenomenon. This changed in 1986, when Bednorz and Müller [7] discovered superconductors based on copper oxide.
This result was highly surprising for the scientific community, also because already in the middle 1960s, Matthias and coworkers had started a systematic study of the metallic oxides. They searched among the substances based on the transition metal oxides, such as W, Ti, Mo, and Bi [8]. They found extremely interesting superconductors, for example, in the Ba–Pb–Bi–O system, however, no particularly high transition temperatures.
During the turn of the year 1986–1987, the “gold rush” set in, when it became known that the group of Shigeho Tanaka in Japan could exactly reproduce the results of Bednorz and Müller. Only a few weeks later, transition temperatures above 80 K were observed in the Y–Ba–Cu–O system [9]. During this phase, new results more often were reported in press conferences than in scientific journals. The media anxiously followed this development. With superconductivity at temperatures above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (T = 77 K), one could envision many important technical applications of this phenomenon.
Today we know a large series of cuprate “high-temperature superconductors.” Here the mostly studied compounds are YBa2Cu3O7 (also “YBCO” or “Y123”) and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (also “BSCCO” or “Bi2212”), which display maximum transition temperatures around 90 K. Some compounds have transition temperatures even above 100 K. The record value is carried by HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8, having at atmospheric pressure a Tc value of 135 K and at a pressure of 30 GPa, a value as high as Tc = 164 K. Figure 1.1.1.2 shows the evolution of the transition temperatures since the discovery by Kamerlingh-Onnes. The jump-like increase due to the discovery of the copper-oxides is particularly impressive.
Figure 1.1.1.2 Evolution of the superconducting transition temperature since the discovery of superconductivity. (From [2], after Ref. [10].)
In Figure 1.1.1.2, we have also included the metallic compound MgB2, as well as the iron pnictides.
For MgB2, surprisingly, superconductivity with a transition temperature of 39 K was detected only in 2000, even though this material has been commercially available for a long time [11]. Also, this discovery had a great impact in physics, and many essential properties of this material have been clarified in the subsequent years. It turned out that MgB2 behaves similarly as the “classical” metallic superconductors, however with two energy gaps. The discovery of the iron pnictides in 2008 [12] had a similar impact. These are compounds like LaFeAsO0.89F0.11 or Ba0.6KFe2As2, with transition temperatures of up to 55 K. The iron pnictides contain layers made of FeAs as the basic building block, in analogy to the copper oxide layers in the cuprates.
Many properties of the high-temperature superconductors (in addition also to other superconducting compounds) are highly unusual. For example, the Cooper pairs in the cuprates have an angular momentum of ħ (d-wave) and the coherent matter wave has symmetry. For the d-wave symmetry, the energy gap Δ disappears for some directions in momentum space. More than 25 years after their discovery, it is still unclear how the Cooper pairing is accomplished in these materials. However, it seems likely that magnetic interactions play an important role.
Another important issue is the maximum current which a superconducting wire or tape can carry without resistance, the so-called critical current. We will see that the property “zero resistance” is not always fulfilled. When alternating currents are applied, the resistance can become finite. Also for DC currents, the critical current is limited. It depends on the temperature and the magnetic field, and also on the type of superconductor used and the geometry of the wire. It is a big challenge to fabricate conductors in a way that hundreds or even thousands of amperes can be carried without or at least with very low resistance.
It has been known for a long time that the characteristic property of the superconducting state is that it shows no measurable resistance for direct current. If a magnetic field is applied to such an ideal conductor