Role of defects in superconducting wires for degradation and training

TL;DR

This paper investigates how intrinsic and extrinsic defects affect the training and degradation of superconducting wires, introducing a statistical model and explaining the 'loss of memory' phenomenon in training.

Contribution

It introduces the Duxbury-Leath model to explain defect clustering and provides the first explanation for the 'loss of memory' in superconducting wire training.

Findings

Defects significantly influence wire degradation and training.

The Duxbury-Leath model explains defect cluster statistics.

First explanation of 'loss of memory' in training processes.

Abstract

Intrinsic and extrinsic defects play an important role in training and degradation of superconducting wires and magnets. Various defects along with experimental data regarding the hierarchy of defects have been presented. Duxbury-Leath model of inverse worst defect cluster has been hypothesized to explain the statistical nature of the phenomenon. `Loss of memory' in the case of training has been explained for the first time.