1,346 research outputs found
Single grain (LRE)-Ba-Cu-O superconductors fabricated by top seeded melt growth in air
We have recently reported a practical processing method for the fabrication in air of large, single grain (LRE)-Ba-Cu-O [where LRE Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd] bulk superconductors that exhibit high Tc and high Jc. The process is based initially on the development of a new type of generic seed crystal that can promote effectively the epitaxial nucleation of any (RE)-Ba-Cu-O system and, secondly, by suppressing the formation of (LRE)/Ba solid solution in a controlled manner within large LRE-Ba-Cu-O grains processed in air. In this paper we investigate the degree of homogeneity of large grain Sm-Ba-Cu-O superconductors fabricated by this novel process. The technique offers a significant degree of freedom in terms of processing parameters and reproducibility in the growth of oriented single grains in air and yields bulk samples with significantly improved superconducting and field-trapping properties compared to those processed by conventional top seeded melt growth (TSMG)
Anomalous Transport through the p-Wave Superconducting Channel in the 3-K Phase of Sr2RuO4
Using micro fabrication techniques, we extracted individual channels of
3-Kelvin (3-K) phase superconductivity in Sr2RuO4-Ru eutectic systems and
confirmed odd-parity superconductivity in the 3-K phase, similar to pure
Sr2RuO4. Unusual hysteresis in the differential resistance-current and
voltage-current characteristics observed below 2 K indicates the internal
degrees of freedom of the superconducting state. A possible origin of the
hysteresis is current-induced chiral-domain-wall motion due to the chiral
p-wave state.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Brownian molecular motors driven by rotation-translation coupling
We investigated three models of Brownian motors which convert rotational
diffusion into directed translational motion by switching on and off a
potential. In the first model a spatially asymmetric potential generates
directed translational motion by rectifying rotational diffusion. It behaves
much like a conventional flashing ratchet. The second model utilizes both
rotational diffusion and drift to generate translational motion without spatial
asymmetry in the potential. This second model can be driven by a combination of
a Brownian motor mechanism (diffusion driven) or by powerstroke (drift driven)
depending on the chosen parameters. In the third model, elements of both the
Brownian motor and powerstroke mechanisms are combined by switching between
three distinct states. Relevance of the model to biological motor proteins is
discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure
Effect of La Doping on Microstructure and Critical Current Density of MgB2
In the present study, La-doped MgB_2 superconductors with different doping
level (Mg1-xLaxB2; x=0.00, 0.01, 0.03 & 0.05) have been synthesized by
solid-state reaction route at ambient pressure. Effect of La doping have been
investigated in relation to microstructural characteristics and superconducting
properties, particularly intragrain critical current density (Jc). The
microstructural characteristics of the as synthesized Mg(La)B2 compounds were
studied employing transmission electron microscopic (TEM) technique. The TEM
investigations reveal inclusion of LaB6 nanoparticles within the MgB2 grains
which provide effective flux pinning centres. The evaluation of intragrain Jc
through magnetic measurements on the fine powdered version of the as
synthesized samples reveal that Jc of the samples change significantly with the
doping level. The optimum result on Jc is obtained for Mg0.97La0.03B2 at 5K,
the Jc reaches ~1.4x107A/cm2 in self field, ~2.1 x 106A/cm2 at 1T, ~2.5 x
105A/cm2 at 2.5T and ~1.8 x 104 A/cm2 at 4.5T. The highest value of intragrain
Jc in Mg0.97La0.03B2 superconductor has been attributed to the inclusion of
LaB6 nanoparticles which are capable of providing effective flux pinning
centres
High transport critical current density obtained for Powder-In-Tube-processed MgB2 tapes and wires using stainless steel and Cu-Ni tubes
MgB2 tapes and wires were fabricated by the Powder-In-Tube method. Stainless
steel and Cu-Ni tubes were used as sheath materials, and no heat treatment was
applied. The tapes made of stainless steel showed transport critical current
density Jc of about 10,000A/cm2 at 4.2K and 5T. A high Jc of about 300,000A/cm2
was obtained by extrapolating the Jc-B curves to zero field.
Multifilamentary(7-core) MgB2 wire was successfully fabricated using Cu-Ni
tubes. For both tapes and wires the grain connectivity of MgB2 was as good as a
high-pressure sintered bulk sample. However, the Jc of the Cu-Ni sheathed wire
was lower than the stainless steel sheathed tape due to the lower packing
density of MgB2.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Superconducting thin films of MgB2 on (001)-Si by pulsed laser deposition
Superconducting thin films have been prepared on Si-substrates, using pulsed
laser deposition from a target composed of a mixture of Mg and MgB2 powders.
The films were deposited at room temperature and post-annealed at 600 degrees
C. The zero resistance transition temperatures were 12 K, with an onset
transition temperature of 27 K. Special care has been taken to avoid oxidation
of Mg in the laser plasma and deposited film, by optimizing the background
pressure of Ar gas in the deposition chamber. For this the optical emission in
the visible range from the plasma has been used as indicator. Preventing Mg
from oxidation was found to be essential to obtain superconducting films
Current percolation and anisotropy in polycrystalline MgB
The influence of anisotropy on the transport current in MgB
polycrystalline bulk samples and wires is discussed. A model for the critical
current density is proposed, which is based on anisotropic London theory, grain
boundary pinning and percolation theory. The calculated currents agree
convincingly with experimental data and the fit parameters, especially the
anisotropy, obtained from percolation theory agree with experiment or
theoretical predictions.Comment: 5 pages, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters
(http://prl.aps.org/
Microstructure and superconducting properties of hot isostatically pressed MgB2
Bulk samples of MgB2 have been formed by hot isostatic pressing (HIPping) of
commercial powder at 100MPa and 950=B0C. The resulting material is 100% dense
with a sharp superconducting transition at 37.5K. Microstructural studies have
indicated the presence of small amounts of second phases within the material,
namely MgO and B rich compositions, probably MgB4. Magnetisation measurements
performed at 20K have revealed values of Jc=1.3 x 106A/cm2 at zero field, and
9.3 x 105A/cm2 at 1T. Magneto optical (MO) studies have shown direct evidence
for the superconducting homogeneity and strong intergranular current flow in
the material.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, text updated, new references included and
discussed. Submitted to Superconductor Science and Technolog
Evidence for high inter-granular current flow in single-phase polycrystalline MgB2 superconductor
The distribution of magnetic field in single-phase polycrystalline bulk MgB2
has been measured using a Magneto-Optical (MO) technique for an external
magnetic field applied perpendicular to the sample surface. The MO studies
indicate that an inter-granular current network is readily established in this
material and the current is not limited by weak-linked grain boundaries. The
grain boundaries are observed to resist preferential magnetic field
penetration, with the inter-grain mechanism dominating the current flow in the
sample at temperatures up to 30K. The results provide clear evidence that the
intra-granular current flow is isotropic. A critical current density of ~10^4
Acm-2 was estimated at 30K in a field of 150mT from the MO measurements. These
results provide further evidence of the considerable potential for MgB2 for
engineering applications.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Fabrication and transport critical currents of multifilamentary MgB2/Fe wires and tapes
Multifilamentary MgB2/Fe wires and tapes with high transport critical current
densities have been fabricated using a straightforward powder-in-tube (PIT)
process. After annealing, we measured transport jc values up to 1.1 * 105 A/cm2
at 4.2 K and in a field of 2 T in a MgB2/Fe square wire with 7 filaments
fabricated by two-axial rolling, and up to 5 * 104 A/cm2 at 4.2 K in 1 T in a
MgB2/Fe tape with 7 filaments. For higher currents these multifilamentary wires
and tapes quenched due to insufficient thermal stability of filaments. Both the
processing routes and deformation methods were found to be important factors
for fabricating multifilamentary MgB2 wires and tapes with high transport jc
values.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
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