Meissner Effect- magnetic focusing

[Savant13]

Could superconductors be used to focus a magnetic field? For instance, let's say we have a superconducting cylinder and we place a wire coil in one end. If we put current through the wire, could it be used as a more effective Gauss gun than the same coil without the superconducting cylinder?

 

[f95toli]

Well, you can (and people do) use superconductors as "flux focusers", although that term usually refers to a thin superconducting film, not a cylinder.

However, I don't think the design you are proposing would be very efficient; AFAK Gauss guns are usually designed to us a ROW of electromagnets that gradually accelerate the slug; I can't see how a flux focuser would help.

 

[Savant13]

It would be a hollow cylinder. My idea was to use cylinder to extend the coil's magnetic field over a large distance in one direction. That way you wouldn't have to deal with the hassle of switching the coils on and off at the right times.