Filament bridging and critical current density variation in the cross-section of multifilamentary Bi-2223/Ag tapes

We calculated magnetic fields in the vicinity of model multifilamentary Bi-2223/Ag tapes carrying magnetisation currents with a constant critical current density. The profiles of the perpendicular component of the magnetic field, B/sub mz/, in the lateral direction for the model tape without superconducting interconnections (bridging) and those for the model tape with filament bridging are very different. Experimental results on real tapes qualitatively agree with the calculations. Direct measurements of the filament critical current distribution in 2 of 3 measured tapes showed that the filament critical current, J/sub fc/, was the highest in the tape centre.