Construction and Performance Test of a Magnetically Levitated Transport System in Vacuum Using High-T_c Superconductors

Abstract

We have developed a magnetically levitated transport system in vacuum using the strong pinning force of high- T c superconductors. This transport system consists of superconductors prepared by the quench-and-melt-growth (QMG) method and permanent magnets. The superconductors move within the cooling jacket inserted into the transport chamber. A transfer arm moves in the transport chamber without any contact or sliding, because stable levitation is brought about by magnetic interaction between the magnet attached to the arm and the superconductor. In this paper, structure and performance test results are described.