A Superconducting Half-Wave Rectifier: Principle and Experiment

The superconducting rectifier is a low-power consumption, high-current rectifying device with significant potential for application in AC-DC conversion systems. In this study, we have clarified its operating principle from a circuit perspective. It is demonstrated that the rectification function in a superconducting rectifier is attributed to its time-varying resistance, which is controlled by external sources. An AC field-controlled superconducting half-wave rectifier was developed. By constructing an experimental platform, we measured the rectified voltage and current of the rectifier under various operating conditions. The rectifier successfully converted an AC current into a 34 A DC current, powering a superconducting coil load.