LEAD AND THERMAL DISCONNECT FOR RAMPING OF AN MRI OR OTHER SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET

A superconducting magnet (10) includes a cryogenic container (22, 32) containing a superconducting magnet winding (20). A sealed electrical feedthrough (36) passes through the cryogenic container. A contactor (40) inside the cryogenic container has an actuator (42) and feedthrough-side and magnet-side electrical terminals (46, 47). A high temperature superconductor (HTS) lead (60) also disposed in the cryogenic container has a first end (62) electrically connected with the magnet-side electrical terminal of the contactor and a second end (64) electrically connected to the superconducting magnet winding. A first stage thermal station (52) thermally connected with the first end of the HTS lead has a temperature (T1) lower than the critical temperature (TC,HTS) of the HTS lead. A second stage thermal station (54) thermally connected with the second end of the HTS lead has a temperature (T2) lower than a critical temperature (TC) of the superconducting magnet winding (20).