Superconductors can carry electricity without energy loss, but when they suddenly stop doing so—a process called a quench—they can overheat and destroy entire magnets. This project investigates how the microscopic structure of high-temperature superconducting YBCO wires affects these quenches and how the wires can be designed to protect themselves automatically. Using advanced thin-film growth, cryogenic testing, and computer modelling, we will create and test self-protecting superconducting coils. The research will reveal how to make powerful superconducting magnets safer and more reliable, supporting technologies from fusion energy and particle accelerators to medical imaging.

2026

2030