Voltage detection and magnet protection

Voltage detection is routinely used to identify resistive regions within superconducting magnets so that a protection circuit can trigger a safe magnet discharge. Nonresistive voltage signals, for example inductive voltages, can, however, produce false signals, causing the magnet protection system to trip prematurely. An experimental verification is given of a quench detection method which eliminates sensitivity to inductive voltages in multiple magnet systems. In addition, a specific application of these ideas for the University of Wisconsin proof-of-principle experiment demonstrated the need for incorporating a microprocessor in the quench detection system. The shortcomings of the traditional quench detection techniques were demonstrated explicitly.<>