Discover

Share

Download

News

/

Article

New Alloy Shows Promise as High‐Field Superconducting Magnet

JUN 01, 1970

DOI: 10.1063/1.3022163

Gloria B. Lubkin

An alloy of niobium, germanium and aluminum, ${Nb}_{0.8} ({Al}_{0.75} {Ge}_{0.25})_{0.2},$ has remained superconducting in a 410‐kG field at a temperature of 4.2 K. The alloy has the highest known transition temperature, 20.7 K. If the alloy can be made into a wire or tape that can maintain a high current density, it could be used to build a high‐field superconducting dc magnet (provided one could make a structure that would hold together under the enormous forces produced by the fields). The best material previously tested, ${Nb}_{3} Sn,$ has a critical field of about 220 kG at 4.2 K and has been used in commercial magnets for several years.

This article is only available in PDF format

© 1970 American Institute of Physics

Physics Today is looking for a Senior Editor. Apply Now.

Related content

News

/

Article

Henry Garcia simulates hair, clothing, and more in animated films

December 22, 2025 10:56 AM

News

/

Article

Watching electrons in action: Still hard, but getting easier

In the closest thing yet obtained to a movie of a breaking chemical bond, there’s a surprise ending.

December 19, 2025 02:21 PM

News

/

Article

Upward trend in percentage of women physics and astronomy faculty in US

December 18, 2025 03:04 PM

News

/

Article

After a stint in finance, Elissa Levy put her energy into teaching

December 18, 2025 01:48 PM

This Content Appeared In

Volume 23, Number 6

Get PT in your inbox

PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

One email per week

PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

One email per month

PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

1 to 2 emails per week