Superconducting accelerating tube comprised of half-cells connected by ring shaped elements

A superconducting accelerating tube comprising:

• a plurality of half cells, each half cell being comprised of a superconductor material is a dish form and each half cell having a substantially constant thickness;
• each half cell having a generally circular periphery and having a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, and wherein each half cell has a shell diameter which varies between the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion;
• the respective large-diameter portions of adjacent half cells being connected together;
• and
• a respective ring-shaped connecting member, comprised of a superconductor material, interposed between said small-diameter portions of adjacent half cells, said adjacent half cells each having a welded connection to portions of said ring-shaped connecting members such that said adjacent half cells are connected together via said respective ring-shaped connecting member with said ring-shaped connecting member disposed between said small-diameter portions.