The authors begin this book with a systematic overview of superconductivity, superconducting materials, magnetic levitation, and superconducting magnetic levitation - the prerequisites to understand the latter part of the book - that forms a solid foundation for further study in High Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (HTS Maglev). This book presents our research progress on HTS Maglev at Applied Superconductivity Laboratory (ASCLab) of Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), China, with an emphasis on the findings that led to the world‘s first manned HTS Maglev test vehicle "Century". The book provides a detailed description on our previous work at ASCLab including the designing of the HTS Maglev test and measurement method as well as the apparatus, building "Century", developing the HTS Maglev numerical simulation system, and making new progress on HTS Maglev. The final parts of this book discuss research and prototyping efforts at ASCLab in several adjacent fi elds including HTS Maglev bearing, Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) and HTS maglev launch technology. We hope this book becomes a valuable source for researchers and engineers working in the fascinating field of HTS Maglev science and engineering. Contents Fundamentals of superconductivity Superconducting materials Magnetic levitation Superconducting magnetic levitation HTS Maglev experimental methods and set-up First manned HTS Maglev vehicle in the world Numerical simulations of HTS Maglev New progress of HTS Maglev vehicle HTS Maglev bearing and flywheel energy storage system HTS Maglev launch technology

This book provides a comprehensive overview of magnetic levitation (Maglev) technologies, from fundamental principles through to the state-of-the-art, and describes applications both realised and under development. It includes a history of Maglev science and technology showing the various milestones in its advancement. The core concepts, operating principles and main challenges of Maglev applications attempted across various fields are introduced and discussed. The principle difficulties encountered when applying Maglev technology to different systems, namely air gap control and stabilization, are addressed in detail. The book describes how major advancements in linear motor and magnet technologies have enabled the development of the linear-motor-powered Maglev train, which has a high speed advantage over conventional wheeled trains and has the potential to reach speed levels achieved by aircraft. However, many expect that Maglev technology to be a green technology that is applied not only in rail transportation, but also in diverse other fields; to ensure clean transfer in LCD manufacturing, in ropeless high speed elevators, small capacity rail transportation, space vehicle launchers, missile testers, energy storage, and so on. These potential applications and their unique challenges and proposed technological solutions are introduced and discussed in depth. The book will provide readers from academia, research institutes and industry with insights on where and how to apply Maglev technology, and will serve as a guide to the realization of their Maglev applications.