Electromagnetic Pulse Source Using Quenching Superconducting Magnet

Abstract

An electromagnetic pulse source comprises a superconducting magnet comprising a coil of superconducting material. At least a portion of the windings of the coil are separated by an electric conductor. A charging circuit is coupled to the two terminals to drive a current through the coil to charge the superconducting magnet and configured to charge the coil to a condition such that the coil enters a quench condition where current flows from one turn of the coil to another turn of the coil through the electric conductor. The quench event may cause a loss of inductance and resulting electromagnetic radiation. A receiver circuit comprising an inductive element is positioned so that the inductive element is mutually-coupled to the coil and the electromagnetic radiation causes a voltage to be induced across the inductive element.

1 . A system comprising:
 a superconducting magnet comprising a coil of superconducting material, the coil comprising two electrical terminals, wherein at least a portion of the windings of the coil are separated by an electric conductor;   a charging circuit coupled to the two terminals to drive a current through the coil to charge the superconducting magnet, and configured to charge the coil to a condition such that the coil enter a quench condition where current flows from one turn of the coil to another turn of the coil through the electric conductor, wherein a loss of inductance due to the quench condition causes electromagnetic radiation; and   a receiver circuit comprising an inductive element positioned so that the inductive element is mutually-coupled to the coil and the electromagnetic radiation causes a voltage to be induced across the inductive element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the charging circuit comprises a current source to drive current through the coil. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the charging circuit is configured to drive a current through the coil that exceeds a superconducting threshold of the coil to initiate the quench condition. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the charging circuit is configured to vary the current through the coil so that, during a first time period, the current does not exceed the superconducting threshold and the coil acts as a superconductor and, during a second time period, the current exceeds the superconducting threshold and the quench condition is initiated. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the charging circuit is configured to vary the current so that the current alternatingly exceeds and does not exceed the superconducting threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a cooling system to cool the coil below a superconducting threshold temperature of the coil. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the cooling system comprises a cooling controller circuit to control the temperature of the coil. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the cooling controller circuit is configured to allow the temperature of the coil to exceed the superconducting threshold temperature to initiate the quench condition. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the cooling controller is configured to control the temperature of the coil so that, during a first time period, the temperature of the coil does not exceed the superconducting threshold temperature and the coil acts as a superconductor and, during a second time period, the temperature of the coil exceeds the superconducting threshold temperature and the quench condition is initiated. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a heating system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the heating system is configured to heat the coil to a temperature that exceeds a superconducting threshold temperature to induce the quench event. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the heating system comprises a heating controller circuit to control the temperature of the coil. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a magnetic source circuit configured to generate a magnetic field about the coil that exceeds a superconducting threshold magnetic field strength to induce the quench event. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 driving current through a superconducting magnet comprising a coil of superconducting material, wherein at least a portion of the windings of the coil are separated by an electrical conductor;   causing a quench event to occur by controlling the current, by a control circuit, so that the current exceeds a superconducting current threshold of the superconducting magnet and flows through the electrical conductor, causing a reduction in an inductance of the coil and generation of an electromagnetic pulse; and   converting, by a receiver circuit, electromagnetic power of the electromagnetic pulse into electrical power.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the electromagnetic power is used to drive a load. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the electromagnetic power is used to charge a battery. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the receiver circuit comprises a plasma stream. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising detecting, by the control circuit, when the quench event occurs. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising repeatedly causing the quench event, by the control circuit, by repeatedly recharging the superconducting magnet and increasing the current beyond the superconducting threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising heating and/or cooling the superconducting magnet by a heating and/or cooling system controlled by the control circuit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising causing, by the control circuit, the quench event by controlling the heating and/or cooling system to cause the temperature of the superconducting magnet to exceed a superconducting threshold temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising repeatedly causing the quench event by repeatedly cooling the superconducting magnet below the superconducting threshold temperature and causing the temperature of the superconducting magnet to exceed the superconducting threshold temperature.