Pulsed magnet system

A magnetic separator for use in dividing a more magnetizable component of a material from a less magnetizable component of the material, said separator comprising:

• a vacuum vessel defining an opening through which the material to be separated passes;
• cryogenic containment vessel means disposed within said vacuum vessel;
• and
• a superconducting coil disposed within said cryogenic containment vessel for providing a magnetic field to effect the separation of the first component from the second component, said vessel means including a helium vessel comprising a relatively thin metallic inner tube for holding liquid helium and said coil, said helium vessel further including a relatively thick outer tube encompassing said inner tube and a relatively rigid insulative spacer means disposed between said inner and outer tubes so that said tubes are not in contact with each other, said outer tube being predominantly metallic and having at least one joint formed of insulative material to prevent said outer tube from forming a low electrical resistance loop, said inner tube providing a vacuum seal and said outer tube providing structural support for said inner tube whereby eddy current losses resulting from ramping of the current to said coil are reduced.