Liquid Nitrogen Superconducting Test Facility at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center

Accurate characterization of superconducting components is a critical step in quality assurance of large magnet systems. High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) tapes, cables and coils have the unique advantage of allowing for convenient and low-cost testing in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) environments. The MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center's (PSFC) LN₂ test facility provides a powerful, flexible, rapid solution for measuring such articles. This facility has been operational since 2020 and has performed quality assurance tests of sub-elements for such coils as the SPARC Toroidal Field Model Coil (TFMC) and Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC). The facility also supports development of manufacturing processes, evaluated via routine conductor testing.