424 research outputs found
Numerical simulation of the magnetization of high-temperature superconductors: 3D finite element method using a single time-step iteration
We make progress towards a 3D finite-element model for the magnetization of a
high temperature superconductor (HTS): We suggest a method that takes into
account demagnetisation effects and flux creep, while it neglects the effects
associated with currents that are not perpendicular to the local magnetic
induction. We consider samples that are subjected to a uniform magnetic field
varying linearly with time. Their magnetization is calculated by means of a
weak formulation in the magnetostatic approximation of the Maxwell equations
(A-phi formulation). An implicit method is used for the temporal resolution
(Backward Euler scheme) and is solved in the open source solver GetDP. Picard
iterations are used to deal with the power law conductivity of HTS. The finite
element formulation is validated for an HTS tube with large pinning strength
through the comparison with results obtained with other well-established
methods. We show that carrying the calculations with a single time-step (as
opposed to many small time-steps) produce results with excellent accuracy in a
drastically reduced simulation time. The numerical method is extended to the
study of the trapped magnetization of cylinders that are drilled with different
arrays of columnar holes arranged parallel to the cylinder axis
Use of 2G coated conductors for efficient shielding of DC magnetic fields
This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the
performance of two types of magnetic screens assembled from YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO)
coated conductors. Since effective screening of the axial DC magnetic field
requires the unimpeded flow of an azimuthal persistent current, we demonstrate
a configuration of a screening shell made out of standard YBCO coated conductor
capable to accomplish that. The screen allows the persistent current to flow in
the predominantly azimuthal direction at a temperature of 77 K. The persistent
screen, incorporating a single layer of superconducting film, can attenuate an
external magnetic field of up to 5 mT by more than an order of magnitude. For
comparison purposes, another type of screen which incorporates low critical
temperature quasi-persistent joints was also built. The shielding technique we
describe here appears to be especially promising for the realization of large
scale high-Tc superconducting screens.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure
Thermodynamics of the \phi^4 theory in tadpole approximation
Relying on the Luttinger-Ward theorem we derive a thermodynamically
selfconsistent and scale independent approximation of the thermodynamic
potential for the scalar theory in the tadpole approximation. The
resulting thermodynamic potential as a function of the temperature is similar
to the one of the recently proposed screened perturbation theory.Comment: 6 pages, including 1 eps figur
Modification of the trapped field in bulk high-temperature superconductors as a result of the drilling of a pattern of artificial columnar holes
The trapped magnetic field is examined in bulk high-temperature
superconductors that are artificially drilled along their c-axis. The influence
of the hole pattern on the magnetization is studied and compared by means of
numerical models and Hall probe mapping techniques. To this aim, we consider
two bulk YBCO samples with a rectangular cross-section that are drilled each by
six holes arranged either on a rectangular lattice (sample I) or on a centered
rectangular lattice (sample II). For the numerical analysis, three different
models are considered for calculating the trapped flux: (i), a two-dimensional
(2D) Bean model neglecting demagnetizing effects and flux creep, (ii), a 2D
finite-element model neglecting demagnetizing effects but incorporating
magnetic relaxation in the form of an E-J power law, and, (iii), a 3D finite
element analysis that takes into account both the finite height of the sample
and flux creep effects. For the experimental analysis, the trapped magnetic
flux density is measured above the sample surface by Hall probe mapping
performed before and after the drilling process. The maximum trapped flux
density in the drilled samples is found to be smaller than that in the plain
samples. The smallest magnetization drop is found for sample II, with the
centered rectangular lattice. This result is confirmed by the numerical models.
In each sample, the relative drops that are calculated independently with the
three different models are in good agreement. As observed experimentally, the
magnetization drop calculated in the sample II is the smallest one and its
relative value is comparable to the measured one. By contrast, the measured
magnetization drop in sample (1) is much larger than that predicted by the
simulations, most likely because of a change of the microstructure during the
drilling process.Comment: Proceedings of EUCAS 09 conferenc
Strange quark matter: mapping QCD lattice results to finite baryon density by a quasi-particle model
A quasi-particle model is presented which describes QCD lattice results for
the 0, 2 and 4 quark-flavor equation of state. The results are mapped to finite
baryo-chemical potentials. As an application of the model we make a prediction
of deconfined matter with appropriate inclusion of strange quarks and consider
pure quark stars.Comment: invited talk at Strangeness 2000, Berkeley; prepared version for the
proceedings, 5 page
Bulk high-Tc superconductors with drilled holes: how to arrange the holes to maximize the trapped magnetic flux ?
Drilling holes in a bulk high-Tc superconductor enhances the oxygen annealing
and the heat exchange with the cooling liquid. However, drilling holes also
reduces the amount of magnetic flux that can be trapped in the sample. In this
paper, we use the Bean model to study the magnetization and the current line
distribution in drilled samples, as a function of the hole positions. A single
hole perturbs the critical current flow over an extended region that is bounded
by a discontinuity line, where the direction of the current density changes
abruptly. We demonstrate that the trapped magnetic flux is maximized if the
center of each hole is positioned on one of the discontinuity lines produced by
the neighbouring holes. For a cylindrical sample, we construct a polar
triangular hole pattern that exploits this principle; in such a lattice, the
trapped field is ~20% higher than in a squared lattice, for which the holes do
not lie on discontinuity lines. This result indicates that one can
simultaneously enhance the oxygen annealing, the heat transfer, and maximize
the trapped field
The QCD Phase Diagram at Nonzero Temperature, Baryon and Isospin Chemical Potentials in Random Matrix Theory
We introduce a random matrix model with the symmetries of QCD at finite
temperature and chemical potentials for baryon number and isospin. We analyze
the phase diagram of this model in the chemical potential plane for different
temperatures and quark masses. We find a rich phase structure with five
different phases separated by both first and second order lines. The phases are
characterized by the pion condensate and the chiral condensate for each of the
flavors. In agreement with lattice simulations, we find that in the phase with
zero pion condensate the critical temperature depends in the same way on the
baryon number chemical potential and on the isospin chemical potential. At
nonzero quark mass, we remarkably find that the critical end point at nonzero
temperature and baryon chemical potential is split in two by an arbitrarily
small isospin chemical potential. As a consequence, there are two crossovers
that separate the hadronic phase from the quark-gluon plasma phase at high
temperature. Detailed analytical results are obtained at zero temperature and
in the chiral limit.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, REVTeX
Pulsed-field magnetization of drilled bulk high-temperature superconductors: flux front propagation in the volume and on the surface
We present a method for characterizing the propagation of the magnetic flux
in an artificially drilled bulk high-temperature superconductor (HTS) during a
pulsed-field magnetization. As the magnetic pulse penetrates the cylindrical
sample, the magnetic flux density is measured simultaneously in 16 holes by
means of microcoils that are placed across the median plane, i.e. at an equal
distance from the top and bottom surfaces, and close to the surface of the
sample. We discuss the time evolution of the magnetic flux density in the holes
during a pulse and measure the time taken by the external magnetic flux to
reach each hole. Our data show that the flux front moves faster in the median
plane than on the surface when penetrating the sample edge; it then proceeds
faster along the surface than in the bulk as it penetrates the sample further.
Once the pulse is over, the trapped flux density inside the central hole is
found to be about twice as large in the median plane than on the surface. This
ratio is confirmed by modelling
Random matrix models for phase diagrams
We describe a random matrix approach that can provide generic and readily
soluble mean-field descriptions of the phase diagram for a variety of systems
ranging from QCD to high-T_c materials. Instead of working from specific
models, phase diagrams are constructed by averaging over the ensemble of
theories that possesses the relevant symmetries of the problem. Although
approximate in nature, this approach has a number of advantages. First, it can
be useful in distinguishing generic features from model-dependent details.
Second, it can help in understanding the `minimal' number of symmetry
constraints required to reproduce specific phase structures. Third, the
robustness of predictions can be checked with respect to variations in the
detailed description of the interactions. Finally, near critical points, random
matrix models bear strong similarities to Ginsburg-Landau theories with the
advantage of additional constraints inherited from the symmetries of the
underlying interaction. These constraints can be helpful in ruling out certain
topologies in the phase diagram. In this Key Issue, we illustrate the basic
structure of random matrix models, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and
consider the kinds of system to which they can be applied.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figures, uses iopart.sty. Author's postprint versio
An AC susceptometer for the characterization of large, bulk superconducting samples
The main purpose of this work was to design, develop and construct a simple,
low-cost AC susceptometer to measure large, bulk superconducting samples (up to
32 mm in diameter) in the temperature range 78-120 K. The design incorporates a
double heating system that enables a high heating rate (25 K/hour) while
maintaining a small temperature gradient (< 0.2 K) across the sample. The
apparatus can be calibrated precisely using a copper coil connected in series
with the primary coil. The system has been used successfully to measure the
temperature dependence of the AC magnetic properties of entire RE-Ba-Cu-O
[(RE)BCO] bulk superconducting domains. A typical AC susceptibility measurement
run from 78 K to 95 K takes about 2 hours, with excellent temperature
resolution (temperature step ~ 4 mK) around the critical temperature, in
particular.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Measurement Science
and Technolog
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