Study of the quench conditions in superconducting current limiters

A peculiarity of the operation of superconducting current limiters is that the resistance appearing in a superconductor influences the current in the circuit. Using an analytical approach, me analyze the conditions of the nor mal state formation and return into the superconducting state. The stabilit y of equilibrium points is investigated as ii function of the parameters of the circuit. It is shown that the superconductor stability is increased in comparison with the stability of a superconductor in the circuit of the cu rrent source. This allows one to use superconductors nan-stabilized by norm al metal to build current limiters and switches. It is demonstrated that us ing high-temperature superconductors the current limitation can he achieved even in the flux: creep regime.