CHAPTER 6

LOW TC SUPERCONDUCTOR R&D IN JAPAN

Masaki Suenaga

INTRODUCTION

Although the major emphasis of this WTEC study is on high T_c superconductors and their applications in the utility systems in Japan, a short report on low T_c superconductor R&D in Japan is included, since a very significant and surprisingly large part of the Japanese R&D on superconductors and their applications is focused on low T_c superconductors, even well after the discovery of high T_c superconductivity. Some developments in Japan that are discussed below are unique for Japan, are new, or are not widely known.