Keeping bulk magnesium diboride superconducting at higher current densities: Researchers develop an optimized recipe for retaining superconductivity in bulk magnesium diboride by enhancing its critical current density

Magnesium diboride superconductors show great promise for large-scale applications. However, its critical current density (the current density above which superconductivity vanishes), Jc , at high magnetic fields in bulk form is not sufficiently high. An international research team has devised a recipe for enhancing Jc based on optimum sintering conditions and addition of nanoscale boron and dysprosium oxide impurities. This breakthrough can help realize practical applications of bulk magnesium diboride in medicine, transport, research, etc.