Intergranular flux pinning in underdoped and overdoped R(1-x)CaxBa2Cu3Oz (R=Y,Gd; x=0,0.2) samples

The temperature dependences of AC magnetic susceptibility at different magnetic field amplitudes and frequencies are investigated for underdoped and overdoped R(1-x)Ca(x)Ba(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta)(R=Y; Gd and x=0; 0.2) polycrystalline samples. The activation energy, Ea, for thermally assisted flux flow (TAFF) in intergranular region is determined. It was established that a correlation exists between the intergranular critical current and flux pinning activation energy. In underdoped samples the intergranular current shows S-I-S behaviour and the activation energy is small, while in overdoped samples the intergranular current is changed to S-N-S type and the activation energy increases. 2D pancake vortices are characteristic of underdoped samples, while 3D vortex system exists in overdoped samples. In fact we demonstrate that Ca substitution not only increases carrier concentration, but improves intergranular activation energy for TAFF.Comment: 20 pages including 7 figures and one Table. accepted in Physica

Effects of Substituting Calcium for Yttrium on the Superconducting Properties of YBa2Cu3Oz Bulk Samples

We report systematic studies of AC magnetic susceptibility and transport properties of Y(1-x)Ca(x)Ba2Cu3Oz bulk samples with 0\leq x\leq 0.4. Single phase materials, reduction of carrier concentration and decrease of Tc to 85 K were obtained at doping levels up to 20%. For Y0.7Ca0.3Ba2Cu3Oz sample the improvement of grains boundary transport and screening capabilities has been observed as a result of the optimal ratio between carrier concentration and impurity phase BaCuO2 presence. The appearence of bulk pinning and nonlinear effects starting at the highest temperature were detected also.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted in Physica