Magnesium Diboride DC and Data Cables for Digital-RF Systems

Successful cryopackaging of superconductor Digital-RF Receivers relies on efficient electrical wiring of superconductor chips attached to the cryocooler. High-quality DC and RF cables are currently made of normal metals and are optimized for specific current and frequency ranges respectively. This current design, a result of a decade-long evolution, is well optimized to minimize heat load to the cryocooler and further improvement is impossible with normal metals. Superconductors possess unique properties that offer opportunities to drastically reduce both heat conduction and Joule heating. HYPRES proposes to build capabilities to produce superconductor MgB2 cables that will decrease the heat load on the 4-K stage 10 40 times. In Phase I, we will design and produce short one- and two-layer samples for measurement of electrical and thermal properties. We will design dc and data link cables, with proper connectorization, suitable for our Digital-RF receiver product. Full manufacturing of these cables will be performed during Phase II and used to enhance the functionality of our existing and future Digital-RF units.