Impact of the Resistive Core on Losses in Superconducting Rutherford Cables: Analysis with the Continuum Model

Rutherford cables for particle accelerator magnets can be subjected to a time-varying magnetic field during the typical accelerator operating cycle, which in turn induces coupling currents flowing in the loops formed at the contacts between different strands. A proper analysis of the losses generated by these currents must be carried out for the design of the cryogenic system. A continuum model with nonuniform contact conductances between the strands was recently developed, starting from a previous continuum model based on uniform conductances between strands along the cable length. The model allows one to attain the required level of detail in the description of the interstrand currents. This model is applied here to analyze the effect of the insertion of a resistive core between the two layers of the cable, and to assess quantitatively the impact of the main core parameters, such as its width, positioning, and electrical resistance.