Effect of assembled bar magnet configuration on levitation force of single domain GdBCO bulk superconductor

Abstract

By measuring the levitation forces between a single domain GdBCO bulk superconductor and assembled bar magnets(ABM) in different configurations at liquid nitrogen temperature, the effects of ABM configurations on the levitation force of single domain GdBCO bulk superconductor are investigated. The maximum levitation force is obtained at the same vertical gap distance Z=5 mm between the superconductor and the ABM for configurations with different lateral gap distance(D)between the magnets of the ABM. It is found that 1) for the ABM consisting of 3 bar magnet, the levitation force of the GdBCO bulk decreases from 22.8N to 9.7N with the D value increasing from 0 to 30 mm, when the magnetic pole N of the middle magnet is pointed upwards and the directions of magnetic pole N of two side magnets are pointed to the middle magnet in horizontal direction; the levitation force of the GdBCO bulk increases first from 9.2N to 13.9N and then decreases to10.4 N with D value increasing from 0 to 30mm, if the magnetic pole N of the middle magnet is pointed upwards and the directions of magnetic pole N of two side magnets are pointed downwards;2)for the ABM consisting of 2 bar magnets, the levitation force of the GdBCO bulk decreases from 11.2N to 1.2N with D value increasing from 0 to 30mm, when the directions of magnetic pole N of two side magnets are pointed upwards; the levitation force of the GdBCO bulk increases first from 6.0N to 6.8N and then decreases to 2.9N with D value increasing from 0 to 30mm, if the directions of magnetic pole N of two magnets are anti-parallel in horizontal direction; 3)for the ABM consisting of only 1 bar magnets, D≡0, and the levitation force of the GdBCO bulk is about 9.5N. The results indicate that the magnet configuration and its detailed parameters of ABM are very important for improving the levitation force of a superconductor and helpful for designing and application based on the superconducting magnetic levitation system.