Systems, methods, and apparatus for combined superconducting magnetic shielding and radiation shielding

A shielding system comprising:

• a thermal radiation shield that is formed by a first material that has a high thermal conductivity, wherein a portion of the first material is plated with a second material that is superconductive below a critical temperature;
• at least one thermal contact between the first material and a refrigeration system;
• a current control system that includes at least one electrical current source;
• a first compensation coil formed by a conductive current path that is conductively coupled to the current control system;
• a first measurement device positioned to measure magnetic fields within the thermal radiation shield, the first measurement device communicatively coupled to the current control system;
• and
• at least a second compensation coil formed by a conductive current path, wherein each compensation coil is conductively coupled to the current control system,
• wherein at least two compensation coils are aligned approximately perpendicular to one another.

A shielding system, comprising:

• a thermal radiation shield that is formed by a first material that has a high thermal conductivity, wherein a portion of the first material is plated with a second material that is superconductive below a critical temperature;
• at least one thermal contact between the first material and a refrigeration system;
• a current control system that includes at least one electrical current source, wherein the current control system includes at least one signal amplifier;
• a first compensation coil formed by a conductive current path that is conductively coupled to the current control system;
• and
• a first measurement device positioned to measure magnetic fields within the thermal radiation shield, the first measurement device communicatively coupled to the current control system.

A shielding system, comprising:

• a thermal radiation shield that is formed by a first material that has a high thermal conductivity, wherein a portion of the first material is plated with a second material that is superconductive below a critical temperature;
• at least one thermal contact between the first material and a refrigeration system;
• a current control system that includes at least one electrical current source, wherein the current control system includes at least one analog-to-digital converter;
• a first compensation coil formed by a conductive current path that is conductively coupled to the current control system;
• and
• a first measurement device positioned to measure magnetic fields within the thermal radiation shield, the first measurement device communicatively coupled to the current control system.

A method of shielding a device from magnetic fields and infrared radiation, the method comprising:

• at least partially enclosing the device within a thermal radiation shield, wherein the thermal radiation shield is formed by a first material that has a high thermal conductivity, and wherein a portion of the first material is plated with a second material that is superconductive below a critical temperature;
• measuring the magnetic fields in a first direction in close proximity to the device by a first measurement device;
• measuring magnetic fields in a second direction by a second measurement device;
• controlling a first current through a first compensation coil to generate a first compensation field;
• controlling a second current through a second compensation coil to generate a second compensation field;
• monitoring the magnetic fields in the first direction;
• refining the first current until the magnetic fields in the first direction reach a desired level;
• monitoring the magnetic fields in the second direction;
• refining the second current until the magnetic fields in the second direction reach a desired level;
• trapping the first compensation field within the thermal radiation shield;
• trapping the second compensation field within the thermal radiation shield;
• and
• cooling the first material that forms the thermal radiation shield to a temperature that is approximately equal to the temperature of the device via at least one thermal contact between the first material and a refrigeration system.