Edwards et al (1976 Phys. Rev. D 14 922) reported that they had observed
an I2-dependent potential resulting from constant current in closed
superconducting NbTi, Nb and Pb coils at rest. We have reiterated these
experiments and improved them with several variations to understand the
nature of Edwards' potentials in more detail. However, at the same time, the
current-induced electric field and the potential were not discovered if the
Teflon-ground system, which was the base of the superconductor coil
assembly, was removed. Our experiments and estimations show that Edwards' potential can
arise due to the piezoelectric effects in the Teflon insulator of the
superconducting coil assembly. This result is especially important,
because papers that cite the results of Edwards et al and are
based on their conclusions continue to be published to date.
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