Superconductors are not just for MRI: talk by Professor David Cardwell

Duration: 52 mins 1 sec

Share this media item:

Embed this media item:

<iframe width="_width_" height="_height_" src="https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/1988671/embed" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Choose size:

About this item

Available Formats

About this item

Superconductors are not just for MRI: talk by Professor David Cardwell's image

Description:	Professor David Cardwell, Head of the Department of Engineering at Cambridge, delivers a public lecture at Madingley Hall on 11 May 2015. In it he describes the properties of superconductors, their manufacture and their potential for engineering applications, which include frictionless bearings, energy storage systems, MRI and high field permanent magnets.

Created:

2015-05-22 15:37

Collection:

Madingley Lectures
Madingley Lectures

Publisher:

University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education

Professor David Cardwell

Language:

eng (English)

Keywords:

superconductors; engineering; MRI; electromagnetism;

Credits:

Author:	Professor David Cardwell
Performer:	Professor David Cardwell


Abstract:	The discovery of the so-called High Temperature Superconductors in 1987, which are able to conduct very high electrical currents and hence generate extremely high magnetic fields at liquid nitrogen temperatures, was heralded as the most significant scientific breakthrough since the discovery of the transistor. This talk describes in a substantially non-mathematical way the properties of these remarkable materials, their manufacture and their potential for engineering applications, which include frictionless bearings, energy storage systems, MRI and high field permanent magnets. David Cardwell studied Physics at the University of Warwick between 1980 and 1986, graduating with a BSc in 1983 and a PhD in 1987. He joined Plessey Research (Caswell) on completing his PhD prior to moving to Cambridge in 1992. He is currently Professor of Superconducting Engineering in the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, where he leads the Bulk Superconductivity Research Group. His research focuses on superconductors - materials which, when cooled, can carry an electrical current without losing energy, unlike standard conductors such as copper wire. At the moment up to 10% of electrical energy is lost in transit before it reaches the user. Recently, Dr Cardwell and his team has made a breakthrough in the manufacture of high-temperature superconducting materials. This could be used to protect the National Grid as well as revolutionise the production of MRI scanners.

Abstract:

The discovery of the so-called High Temperature Superconductors in 1987, which are able to conduct very high electrical currents and hence generate extremely high magnetic fields at liquid nitrogen temperatures, was heralded as the most significant scientific breakthrough since the discovery of the transistor. This talk describes in a substantially non-mathematical way the properties of these remarkable materials, their manufacture and their potential for engineering applications, which include frictionless bearings, energy storage systems, MRI and high field permanent magnets.

David Cardwell studied Physics at the University of Warwick between 1980 and 1986, graduating with a BSc in 1983 and a PhD in 1987. He joined Plessey Research (Caswell) on completing his PhD prior to moving to Cambridge in 1992. He is currently Professor of Superconducting Engineering in the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, where he leads the Bulk Superconductivity Research Group.

His research focuses on superconductors - materials which, when cooled, can carry an electrical current without losing energy, unlike standard conductors such as copper wire. At the moment up to 10% of electrical energy is lost in transit before it reaches the user. Recently, Dr Cardwell and his team has made a breakthrough in the manufacture of high-temperature superconducting materials. This could be used to protect the National Grid as well as revolutionise the production of MRI scanners.

Available Formats

Format	Quality	Bitrate	Size
MPEG-4 Video	640x360	1.46 Mbits/sec	569.74 MB	View	Download
WebM	640x360	690.56 kbits/sec	263.18 MB	View	Download
iPod Video	480x270	490.61 kbits/sec	186.91 MB	View	Download
MP3	44100 Hz	249.74 kbits/sec	95.27 MB	Listen	Download
Auto *	(Allows browser to choose a format it supports)