Mechanically Improved Rectangular Cable

Most electrical cables for superconducting magnets are made from round strands twisted into a hollow spiral and compacted into a two layer rectangular cross-section (called Rutherford cable.). It is used to make compact electrical coils when a stranded conductor is required. A significant improvement has been conceived and improved cable has been fabricated. The improvement avoids the effect in the Rutherford cable where the round strands are indented into each other during the compacting process. Advantages of the new cable are: Minimum distortion of cable cross-section in making bends; low fraction of voids with minimum distortion of the individual strands; larger area of strand-to-strand contact which decreases plastic flow under compressive force. The advantages apply to conventional conductors as well as superconductors.