Superconductor quench measuring device which evaluates reflected pulses

A quench measuring device for a superconducting coil, comprising:

• sensor means comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, said first and second sensors each being composed of conductive material and each having a characteristic impedance, a source end and a termination end, said first and second sensors being positioned adjacent to and in heat transfer communication with said superconducting coil along substantially the entire length of said superconducting coil such that when a portion of said coil becomes normal creating a quench zone, corresponding resistive zones are created in each of said first and second sensors of said sensor means;
• pulse generating means including a first pulse generator located at said source end of said first sensor, said source end of said first sensor being disposed generally at one end of said superconducting coil for transmitting electrical pulses in a first direction along said first sensor at a predetermined repetition rate such that a first echo pulse is reflected at a first end of a said resistive zone, and said pulse generating means also including a second pulse generator located at said source end of said second sensor, said second pulse generator being disposed generally at an opposite end of said superconducting coil for transmitting electrical pulses in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said pulses being transmitted along said second sensor at a predetermined repetition rate such that a second echo pulse is reflected at a second end of said resistive zone in said second sensor;
• and receiving means comprising a first receiver associated with said first sensor for detecting said first echo pulses and a second receiver associated with said second sensor for detecting said second echo pulses.