Dynamic force characteristics in a superconducting interface module

Bulk high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) with good flux trapping provide a feasible application to passive docking and assembling of space module systems. To learn dynamic process and stability of a superconducting interface module consisted of the flux-trapped HTS and an interfacing magnet, an experimental setup is designed to simulate the horizontal approaching process in the interface module and measure the dynamic force properties. Momentum difference in the module is given by changing the swinging angle of the interfacing magnet. Displacement of the interfacing magnet relative to the magnetized superconductor is recorded by a charge-coupled device to state dynamic behavior. Effects of different field-cooling (FC) magnetization conditions on the dynamic properties are demonstrated by analyzing the displacement dissipation. The FC magnetization can provide a stable interfacing process, although a long damping time is required. Influence of additional aluminum metal structure on the damping properties is also investigated, and the damping ability is increased by adding the metal thickness. Therefore, the aluminum structure producing eddy current loss is proposed to be applied in the superconducting interface module to improve the interface stability.