Electrical characterization of a multi-strand MgB2 cable

A magnesium diboride cable was assembled by braiding nine strands obtained by a powder-in-tube, in situ, multifilamentary wire. The cable was heat treated at 700 °C for 20 min together with two short samples taken from the same wire. Cable and wires were electrically characterized at several temperatures and applied magnetic fields by measuring the voltage–current characteristics. The critical currents of the cable are in good agreement with the critical current of the wires, showing that no degradation occurred during the cabling procedure.