Some basic problems of superconducting magnet design

Two of the most important problems in superconducting magnet design are stabilization and protection. Recent work on stabilization has been directed towards the enhancement of current density by imorovements in heat transfer to the coolant or thermal conduction to adjacent turns. Less attention has so far been paid to the effect of these improvements on quench protection. This review examines the two related problems and concludes that, whereas the improvement of heat transfer is likely to promote stability against a broader range of disturbances, the improvement of heat conduction should make it easier to protect a magnet against burn-out in the event of a quench.