An apparatus, comprising: at least a first electrically superconducting coil having at least first and second coil sections which are axially separated and spaced apart from each other; and a support structure disposed to support the first and second coil sections, wherein the support structure is configured to maintain relative axial positions of the first and second coil sections to be fixed when the first electrically conductive coil is energized and de-energized, and to allow each of the first and second coil sections to expand radially when energized; a first support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a first site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a first site on the second coil section, wherein the first support element axially, radially, and rotationally fixes the first site on the first coil section with respect to the first site on the second coil section; a second support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a second site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a second site on the second coil section, wherein the second support element axially and rotationally fixes the second site on the first coil section with respect to the second site on the second coil section, and allows radial movement of the first and second coil sections; a third support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a third site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a third site on the second coil section, wherein the third support element axially fixes the third site on the first coil section with respect to the third site on the second coil section, and allows radial and rotational movement at the third sites of the first and second coil sections; and a fourth support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a fourth site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a fourth site on the second coil section, wherein the fourth support element axially fixes the fourth site on the first coil section with respect to the fourth site on the second coil section, and allows radial and rotational movement at the fourth sites of the first and second coil sections. at least a first electrically superconducting coil having at least first and second coil sections which are axially separated and spaced apart from each other; and a support structure disposed to support the first and second coil sections, wherein the support structure is configured to maintain relative axial positions of the first and second coil sections to be fixed when the first electrically conductive coil is energized and de-energized, and to allow each of the first and second coil sections to expand radially when energized; a first support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a first site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a first site on the second coil section, wherein the first support element axially, radially, and rotationally fixes the first site on the first coil section with respect to the first site on the second coil section; a second support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a second site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a second site on the second coil section, wherein the second support element axially and rotationally fixes the second site on the first coil section with respect to the second site on the second coil section, and allows radial movement of the first and second coil sections; a third support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a third site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a third site on the second coil section, wherein the third support element axially fixes the third site on the first coil section with respect to the third site on the second coil section, and allows radial and rotational movement at the third sites of the first and second coil sections; and a fourth support element which has a first portion which is disposed at a fourth site on the first coil section, and a second portion which is disposed at a fourth site on the second coil section, wherein the fourth support element axially fixes the fourth site on the first coil section with respect to the fourth site on the second coil section, and allows radial and rotational movement at the fourth sites of the first and second coil sections.