Most of the US Navy casualties are due to naval mine strikes since 1950. A new technology that is being developed by Office of Naval Research (ONR) consists of high temperature superconducting degaussing coil which acts to form a cloaking device which eliminates the magnetic signature of the ship. This interferes with the undersea mines ability to detect and detonate when a large magnetic field comes to close proximity. The coils are cooled to a minus 400 degree Fahrenheit by a cryogenic compressor so that it can be operated at current densities that are a factor of 100 to 200 times higher than the room temperature conductors. Partners on the HTS degaussing system include American Superconductors, Nexans GmbH, PHPK Industries, Cryomagnetics, Cryomech, Navy Small Business Innovation Research investments and Naval Sea Systems Command.

[Gizmag]