Current and field distribution within multifilamentary Bi2223/Ag tapes

The magnetic self-flux distribution around high current mono- and multi-core BSCCO 2223 tapes with various filament configurations has been measured with a scanning micro-Hall probe. Using a simple model, the measured field component perpendicular to the tapes was deconvoluted to give an estimate of the way the transport current distributes itself across the width of the tape. From the changes in flux profile as the applied transport current is varied, the current distribution across the width of the tape can be inferred. In the untwisted tapes, the outer filaments tend to screen the inner ones and carry the bulk of the current; in a twisted sample, the current is shared more equally between filaments.