Metallic materials for superconductor stabilization with very high specific heat and good thermal conductivity

Abstract

In a search for materials useful for enthalpy stabilization of technical superconductors we have performed specific-heat measurements on PrCu 2, PrB 6, NdSn 3 and Nd 0.9Pr 0.1Sn 3 between 3 and 10 K and in magnetic fields up to 7 T. Due to different types of phase transitions these compounds exhibit large peaks in the heat-capacity curves. In these materials the high specific heat values are not substantially reduced the the external magnetic fields, which makes them attractive for technical application.