Electrical connection for use in cryogenic applications

A method of providing electrical current to a superconductor component disposed in a cryogenic chamber, the method comprising:

• providing an apparatus, which comprises a coil and an actuator disposed in the cryogenic chamber, the coil comprising a plurality of helical loops and having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupled to an electrical device disposed outside the cryogenic chamber and the second end electrically coupled to the superconducting component, and the actuator comprising a linear motor, a cam, a piston or a rod;
• compressing the coil to a first state using the actuator, wherein in the first state the coil has a first electrical resistance and a first thermal conductance;
• and
• expanding the coil to a second state using the actuator, wherein in the second state the coil has a second electrical resistance and a second thermal conductance.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:

• a magnet system comprising a superconducting magnet disposed in a cryogenic chamber;
• an electrical device disposed outside the cryogenic chamber;
• and
• an apparatus for making an electrical connection between the superconducting magnet and the electrical device, the apparatus comprising:
• a coil comprising a plurality of helical loops disposed in the cryogenic chamber, a first end of the coil electrically coupled to the electrical device and a second end of the coil electrically coupled to the superconducting magnet;
• and
• an actuator disposed in the cryogenic chamber and configured to compress and expand the coil between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the coil has a first electrical resistance and a first thermal conductance and in the second state the coil has a second electrical resistance and a second thermal conductance, wherein the actuator comprises a linear motor, a cam, a piston, or a rod.