人工衛星に搭載する超電導磁気軸受

This report discusses a superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB) for use in a space-borne mission. The SMB consists of a permanent magnet and an array of bulk superconductors. The industrial use of SMB on the earth has been extensively studied, but its use in the space environment is less explored. A passive levitation system like SMB does not require any maintenance, unlike a conventional mechanical bearing, which makes it an attractive technology for space usage. On the other hand, resources in a satellite environment tend to be limited in mass and power. As a result, the design and the operation of the SMB also have to meet these constraints. We describe the pros and cons of the space use of SMB. Then, we will introduce the current development status of SMB for Cosmic Microwave Background polarimeters by focusing on the electromagnetic analysis using a finite element method.