Passive superconducting quench detection sensor

A passive superconducting sensor for detecting a quench in a superconducting coil having a plurality of voltage taps comprising:

• a first circuit having electrically connected in series two voltage taps of the superconducting coil and a primary of a first transformer;
• a second circuit of superconducting elements having connected in series a secondary of the first transformer and a readout coil such that the second circuit is magnetically coupled to the first circuit by the first transformer;
• a readout device magnetically coupled to the readout coil;
• and a second transformer having a superconducting secondary in series with the second circuit and being magnetically coupled to a primary winding in a loop circuit which detects flux changes in the superconducting coil.

A passive superconducting sensor operable at cryogenic temperatures for detecting a quench in a superconducting coil having a plurality of voltage taps comprising:

• a first circuit having electrically connected in series two voltage taps of the superconducting coil and a primary of a first transformer;
• a second circuit of superconducting elements having connected in series a secondary of the first transformer and a readout coil such that the second circuit is magnetically coupled to the first circuit by the first transformer;
• a readout device magnetically coupled to the readout coil;
• a second transformer having a superconducting secondary in series with the second circuit and being magnetically coupled to a primary winding in a loop circuit which detects flux changes in the superconducting coil;
• wherein the sensor is operated in a low magnetic filed environment created by a shield of superconducting material.