HTS conductors are attractive high current leads for superconducting magnet
s due their low heat conductivity. This is of particular importance in low
power cooling systems where parasitic heat input has to be kept at a minimu
m. We therefore tested the conduction heat leak of commercial BSCCO tapes b
etween 55 K and temperatures in the liquid helium range. The measurements w
ere performed using a two-stage pulse tube cooler; the tapes mounted betwee
n the first and second stage. The results demonstrate that such tapes can b
e used advantageously in a superconducting magnet system, in which the magn
et is cooled by a low power cryocooler. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.