A 10-Hz injection at a laser focus of targets accelerated into a spring high-temperature superconductor magnetic levitation system

Abstract A setup based on magnetic levitation technologies was created to demonstrate credible solutions in the area of cryogenic fuel target (CFT) noncontact transport and their repeatable injection. A necessary element is a levitating CFT carrier made from Type-II, high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs). This paper discusses four principal categories: (1) a tandem HTSC–carrier configuration; (2) a linear permanent magnet guideway to maintain a friction-free acceleration of the HTSC–carrier; (3) a spring mechanism for driving the HTSC–carrier; (4) an optical tracking system to control the HTSC–carrier and injected targets motion. In demo experiments ( T = 80 K), a magnetic track oriented S-N-S (size 360 mm × 24 mm × 5 mm) had a large cross-sectional gradient Δ В = 0.33 T at the edges of the track forming the so-called ‘magnetic wall’ to provide a lateral stability of the HTSC–carrier trajectory. Acceleration and braking of the HTSC–carrier containing two surrogate targets was recorded, followed by targets injection with a rate of 10–25 Hz.