Abstract
The 4-probe method with a voltage tap on terminals has been used for the measurement of the critical current of multi-strand high-T$_{c}$ superconducting(HTS) cables. And the critical current of cables is obtained as the measured total current divided by the number of conductor when the terminal voltage exceeds the predetermined criterion of critical current. However, because of the non-uniform current distribution due to the different critical current, shapes, and other characteristics of each conductor, this is not applicable method to the multi-strand HTS cable. To determine the critical current of multi-strand HTS cable, the critical current of each conductor must be measured with different method. h this paper, the current distribution and the critical current of each conductors in multi-strand cable were measured with specially made Pick-up coils and voltage taps. It is presented that the real critical current of multi-strand is smaller than sum of each conductors. The main cause of non-uniform current distribution is the difference between the resistances appeared in each HTS wires.s.
