1,297 research outputs found
Self-field effects upon the critical current density of flat superconducting strips
We develop a general theory to account self-consistently for self-field
effects upon the average transport critical current density Jc of a flat
type-II superconducting strip in the mixed state when the bulk pinning is
characterized by a field-dependent depinning critical current density Jp(B),
where B is the local magnetic flux density. We first consider the possibility
of both bulk and edge-pinning contributions but conclude that bulk pinning
dominates over geometrical edge-barrier effects in state-of-the-art YBCO films
and prototype second-generation coated conductors. We apply our theory using
the Kim model, JpK(B) = JpK(0)/(1+|B|/B0), as an example. We calculate Jc(Ba)
as a function of a perpendicular applied magnetic induction Ba and show how
Jc(Ba) is related to JpK(B). We find that Jc(Ba) is very nearly equal to
JpK(Ba) when Ba > Ba*, where Ba* is the value of Ba that makes the net flux
density zero at the strip's edge. However, Jc(Ba) is suppressed relative to
JpK(Ba) at low fields when Ba < Ba*, with the largest suppression occurring
when Ba*/B0 is of order unity or larger.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, minor revisions to add four reference
Reducing microwave loss in superconducting resonators due to trapped vortices
Microwave resonators with high quality factors have enabled many recent
breakthroughs with superconducting qubits and photon detectors, typically
operated in shielded environments to reduce the ambient magnetic field.
Insufficient shielding or pulsed control fields can introduce vortices, leading
to reduced quality factors, although increased pinning can mitigate this
effect. A narrow slot etched into the resonator surface provides a
straightforward method for pinning enhancement without otherwise affecting the
resonator. Resonators patterned with such a slot exhibited over an order of
magnitude reduction in the excess loss due to vortices compared with identical
resonators from the same film with no slot
Vortex trapping and expulsion in thin-film YBCO strips
A scanning SQUID microscope was used to image vortex trapping as a function
of the magnetic induction during cooling in thin-film YBCO strips for strip
widths W from 2 to 50 um. We found that vortices were excluded from the strips
when the induction Ba was below a critical induction Bc. We present a simple
model for the vortex exclusion process which takes into account the vortex -
antivortex pair production energy as well as the vortex Meissner and
self-energies. This model predicts that the real density n of trapped vortices
is given by n=(Ba-BK)/Phi0 with BK = 1.65Phi0/W^2 and Phi0 = h/2e the
superconducting flux quantum. This prediction is in good agreement with our
experiments on YBCO, as well as with previous experiments on thin-film strips
of niobium. We also report on the positions of the trapped vortices. We found
that at low densities the vortices were trapped in a single row near the
centers of the strips, with the relative intervortex spacing distribution width
decreasing as the vortex density increased, a sign of longitudinal ordering.
The critical induction for two rows forming in the 35 um wide strip was (2.89 +
1.91-0.93)Bc, consistent with a numerical prediction
Geometrical edge barriers and magnetization in superconducting strips with slits
We theoretically investigate the magnetic-field and current distributions for
coplanar superconducting strips with slits in an applied magnetic field H_a. We
consider ideal strips with no bulk pinning and calculate the hysteretic
behavior of the magnetic moment m_y as a function of H_a due solely to
geometrical edge barriers. We find that the m_y-H_a curves are strongly
affected by the slits. In an ascending field, the m_y-H_a curves exhibit kink
or peak structures, because the slits prevent penetration of magnetic flux. In
a descending field, m_y becomes positive, because magnetic flux is trapped in
the slits, in contrast to the behavior of a single strip without slits, for
which m_y =0.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, revtex
Magnetic field of an in-plane vortex outside a layered superconductor
We present the solution to London's equations for the magnetic fields of a
vortex oriented parallel to the plane, and normal to a crystal face, of a
layered superconductor. These expressions account for flux spreading at the
superconducting surface, which can change the apparent size of the vortex along
the planes by as much as 30%. We compare these expressions with experimental
results.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure
TeV Gamma Rays from Geminga and the Origin of the GeV Positron Excess
The Geminga pulsar has long been one of the most intriguing MeV-GeV gamma-ray
point sources. We examine the implications of the recent Milagro detection of
extended, multi-TeV gamma-ray emission from Geminga, finding that this reveals
the existence of an ancient, powerful cosmic-ray accelerator that can plausibly
account for the multi-GeV positron excess that has evaded explanation. We
explore a number of testable predictions for gamma-ray and electron/positron
experiments (up to ~100 TeV) that can confirm the first "direct" detection of a
cosmic-ray source.Comment: 4 pages and 3 figures; Minor revisions, accepted for publication in
Physical Review Letter
Critical-Current Reduction in Thin Superconducting Wires Due to Current Crowding
We demonstrate experimentally that the critical current in superconducting
NbTiN wires is dependent on their geometrical shape, due to current-crowding
effects. Geometric patterns such as 90 degree corners and sudden expansions of
wire width are shown to result in the reduction of critical currents. The
results are relevant for single-photon detectors as well as parametric
amplifiers
Vector magnetic hysteresis of hard superconductors
Critical state problems which incorporate more than one component for the
magnetization vector of hard superconductors are investigated. The theory is
based on the minimization of a cost functional
which weighs the changes of the magnetic field vector within the sample. We
show that Bean's simplest prescription of choosing the correct sign for the
critical current density in one dimensional problems is just a particular
case of finding the components of the vector . is
determined by minimizing under the constraint , with a bounded set. Upon the selection of
different sets we discuss existing crossed field measurements and
predict new observable features. It is shown that a complex behavior in the
magnetization curves may be controlled by a single external parameter, i.e.:
the maximum value of the applied magnetic field .Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.
Theoretical and experimental study of AC loss in HTS single pancake coils
The electromagnetic properties of a pancake coil in AC regime as a function
of the number of turns is studied theoretically and experimentally.
Specifically, the AC loss, the coil critical current and the voltage signal are
discussed. The coils are made of Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10/Ag (BiSCCO) tape, although the
main qualitative results are also applicable to other kinds of superconducting
tapes, such as coated conductors. The AC loss and the voltage signal are
electrically measured using different pick up coils with the help of a
transformer. One of them avoids dealing with the huge coil inductance. Besides,
the critical current of the coils is experimentally determined by conventional
DC measurements. Furthermore, the critical current, the AC loss and the voltage
signal are simulated, showing a good agreement with the experiments. For all
simulations, the field dependent critical current density inferred from DC
measurements on a short tape sample is taken into account.Comment: 22 pages, 15 figures; contents extended (sections 3.2 and 4); one new
figure (figure 5) and two figures replaced (figures 3 and 8); typos
corrected; title change
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