Fundamental investigation of a superconducting level sensor for liquid hydrogen with MgB₂wire

Abstract

The feasibility study of a superconducting level sensor for liquid hydrogen with a magnesium-diboride (MgB2) wire is carried out from an experimental point of view. The sample wire consists of a mono-cored MgB2 superconductor and a cupronickel sheath, and several potential taps are attached to it at even intervals in order to understand the position of a threshold between the superconducting and resistive states roughly. The fabricated sensor is vertically located in a glass dewar vessel with an infill of liquid hydrogen, and the position of a preselected potential tap is adjusted by eye and hand to liquid level before starting a new measurement. Simulated operations with constant currents finally yield the future possibilities as the level sensor for liquid hydrogen with MgB2 wire although the fabricated sensor has a few problems at present. In order to improve the performance of the sensor, the specifications required for MgB2 wires will be reported elsewhere by applying the stability theory in superconductor composites and by simulating the operation with a numerical code.