Superconducting magnet and MRI apparatus

A superconducting magnet configured to be used in an MRI apparatus that includes a gradient coil configured to apply a gradient magnetic field to an object, the superconducting magnet comprising:

• a helium vessel configured to contain a superconducting coil configured to generate a static magnetic field;
• a vacuum vessel configured to thermally insulate inside of the superconducting magnet by vacuum;
• and
• a heat shield configured to be disposed between the helium vessel and the vacuum vessel and reduce radiant heat, wherein:
• the superconducting magnet is disposed in such a manner that distance between the gradient coil and the object is shorter than distance between the superconducting magnet and the object;
• among components constituting the heat shield, at least a component of a portion facing the gradient coil is composed by superimposing two layers of metallic materials, the two layers being a first shield layer and a second shield layer;
• the first shield layer is disposed in such a manner that distance between the gradient coil and the first shield layer is shorter than distance between the gradient coil and the second shield layer;
• and
• a metallic material forming the first shield layer is higher in electrical conductivity than a metallic material forming the second shield layer.