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At least 37 records · Page 2

Superconducting properties of Pb-Sn-In alloys directionally solidified aboard Skylab

Superconducting alloys of Pb-Sn-In were directionally solidified in the absence of gravity-induced convection and segregation by processing in a near weightless condition aboard Skylab. Lead-rich and tin-rich lamellar structures were obtained with both high and low G/R (temperature gradient/solidification rate) samples processed at 0-g and at 1-g in a ground-based laboratory. Thinner, higher density lamellae were found with the 0-g specimens. Magnetization curves at 4.2 K showed hysteresis effects with large areas under the curves indicating magnetic flux pinning by the normal state tin-rich phase.

Anderson, W. T., Jr.↗

Study of the superconducting properties of the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O system

High Temperature Superconductivity in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O System has been observed and has attracted considerable attention in 1988. The 80 K superconductivity phase has been identified to have a composition of Bi2CaSr2Cu2Ox, while the 110 K phase as reported in the literature has a possible composition of Bi2Ca2Sr2Cu3Ox. Researchers present here a study of the electrical properties of bulk samples of the slowly cooled and rapidly quenched 2:1:2:2 system. The samples used in this study were prepared from appropriate amounts of Bi2O3, CuO, SrCO3, CaCO3.

Khan, Musheer H.↗

Study of the superconducting properties of the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O system

High Temperature Superconductivity in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O System has been observed and has attracted considerable attention in 1988. The 80 K superconductivity phase has been identified to have a composition of Bi2CaSr2Cu2Ox, while the 110 K phase as reported in the literature has a possible composition of Bi2Ca2Sr2Cu3O(x). Researchers present here a study of the electrical properties of bulk samples of the slowly cooled and rapidly quenched 2:1:2:2 system. The samples used in this study were prepared from appropriate amounts of Bi2O3, CuO, SrCO3, CaCO3.

Khan, Musheer H.↗

Superconducting properties of evaporated copper molybdenum sulfide films

Films of copper molybdenum sulfide were produced by coevaporation. Those that were superconducting contained only the ternary compound and free molybdenum. The range of copper content in the ternary compound was as large as that in polycrystalline material, that is, it includes either phase alone, or a mixture of the two phases of this material. This is in contrast with sputtered materials where copper concentration has been limited to a narrower range. The upper critical field and the critical current were measured as functions of external magnetic field, and found to be similar to those of sputtered copper molybdenum sulfide, when the comparison was made for samples having the same amount of copper.

Woollam, J. A.↗

Effect of shock pressure on the structure and superconducting properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O in explosively fabricated bulk metal-matrix composites

While it is now well established that copper-oxide-based powder, or virtually any other ceramic superconductor powder, can be consolidated and encapsulated within a metal matrix by explosive consolidation, the erratic superconductivity following fabrication has posed a major problem for bulk applications. The nature of this behavior was found to arise from microstructural damage created in the shock wave front, and the residual degradation in superconductivity was demonstrated to be directly related to the peak shock pressure. The explosively fabricated or shock loaded YBa2Cu3Ox examples exhibit drastically altered rho (or R) - T curves. The deterioration in superconductivity is even more noticeable in the measurement of ac magnetic susceptibility and flux exclusion or shielding fraction which is also reduced in proportion to increasing peak shock pressure. The high-frequency surface resistance (in the GHz range) is also correspondingly compromised in explosively fabricated, bulk metal-matrix composites based on YBa2Cu3O7. Transmission electron microscopy (including lattice imaging techniques) is being applied in an effort to elucidate the fundamental (microstructural) nature of the shock-induced degradation of superconductivity and normal state conductivity. One focus of TEM observations has assumed that oxygen displaced from b-chains rather than oxygen-vacancy disorder in the basal plane of oxygen deficient YBa2Cu3Ox may be a prime mechanism. Shock-wave displaced oxygen may also be locked into new positions or interstitial clusters or chemically bound to displaced metal (possibly copper) atoms to form precipitates, or such displacements may cause the equivalent of local lattice cell changes as a result of stoichiometric changes. While the shock-induced suppression of T(sub c) is not desirable in the explosive fabrication of bulk metal-matrix superconductors, it may be turned into an advantage if the atomic-scale distortion can be understood and controlled as local flux pinning sites.

Murr, L. E.↗

Effect of shock pressure on the structure and superconducting properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O in explosively fabricated bulk metal-matrix composites

While it is now well established that copper-oxide-based power, or virtually any other ceramic superconductor powder, can be consolidated and encapsulated within a metal matrix by explosive consolidation, the erratic superconductivity following fabrication has posed a major problem for bulk applications. The nature of this behavior was found to arise from microstructural damage created in the shock wave front, and the residual degradation in superconductivity was demonstrated to be directly related to the peak shock pressure. The explosively fabricated or shock loaded YBa2Cu3Ox examples exhibit drastically altered rho (or R) - T curves. The deterioration in superconductivity is even more noticeable in the measurement of ac magnetic susceptibility and flux exclusion or shielding fraction which is also reduced in proportion to increasing peak shock pressure. The high frequency surface resistance (in the GHz range) is also correspondingly compromised in explosively fabricated, bulk metal-matrix composites based on YBa2Cu3O7. Transmission electron microscopy (including lattice imaging techniques) is being applied in an effort to elucidate the fundamental (microstructural) nature of the shock-induced degradation of superconductivity and normal state conductivity. One focus of TEM observations has assumed that oxygen displaced from b-chains rather than oxygen-vacancy disorder in the basal plane of oxygen deficient YBa2Cu3Ox may be a prime mechanism. Shock-wave displaced oxygen may also be locked into new positions or interstitial clusters or chemically bound to displaced metal (possibly copper) atoms to form precipitates, or such displacements may cause the equivalent of local lattice cell changes as a result of stoichiometric changes. While the shock-induced suppression of T(sub c) is not desirable in the explosive fabrication of bulk metal-matrix superconductors, it may be turned into an advantage if the atomic-scale distortion can be understood and controlled as local flux pinning sites.

Murr, L. E.↗

The series Bi2Sr2Ca(n-1) Cu(n)O(2n+4) (1 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 5): Phase stability and superconducting properties

Phase relations at 850 and 870 C, melting transitions in air, oxygen, and helium were studied for Bi(2.1)Sr(1.9) CuO6 and for the Bi2Sr2Ca(n-1) Cu(n)O(2n+4) for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and infinity (CaCuO2). Up to 870 C, the n = 2 composition resides in the compatibility tetrahedron bounded by Bi(2+x)(Sr,Ca)(3-y) Cu2O8, (Sr,Ca)14 Cu24O41, Ca2CuO3, and a Bi-Sr-Ca-O phase. The n is greater than or equal to 3 compositions reside in the compatibility tetrahedron Bi(2+x)(Sr,Ca)(3-y) Cu2O8 - (Sr,Ca)14 Cu24O41 - Ca2CuO3 - CuO up to 850 C. However, Bi(2+x)Sr(4-y) Cu3O10 forms for n is greater than or equal to 3 after extended heating at 870 C. Bi(2+x)Sr(2-y) CuO6 and Bi(2+x)(Sr,Ca)(3-y) Cu2O8 melt in air at 914 C and 895 C respectively. During melting, all of the compositions studied lose 1 to 2 percent by weight of oxygen from the reduction of copper. Bi(2+x)Sr(2-y) CuO6, Bi(2+n)(Sr,Ca)(3-y) Cu2O8, and Bi(2+x)(Sr,Ca)(4-y) Cu3O10 exhibit crystallographic alignment in a magnetic field, with the c-axes orienting parallel to the field.

Deguire, Mark R.↗

Changes in the superconducting properties of high-T(sub c) ceramics produced by applied electric fields

Effect of an electrostatic field in the electrode-insulator-superconductor system on the current-voltage characteristics of high-T(sub c) ceramics with various composition and different preparation technology has been studied at 77 K. Ceramics of Y-Ba-Cu-O (123) and Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (2223) systems and also ones doped by Ag have been used. Electric field strength has been up to 140 MV/m. It has been shown that there are reversible changes in the critical current I(sub c) and in the conductivity in electric field at the currents somewhat more than I(sub c) at T is less than T(sub c), while at T is greater than T(sub c) the noticeable electric field effect has not been found. These effects are qualitatively similar in both ceramic systems. High negative and positive gate voltages result in an increase of the conductivity. The electric field effect is modified by magnetic field H. The field effect decreases with increasing magnetic field and disappears at H is greater than 30 Oe. In Y-Ba-Cu-O/Ag (10 wt. percent) ceramics the field effect is practically absent. It may be supposed that in the ceramics the field-induced effect is consistent with weak links at grain boundaries.

Smirnov, B. I.↗

Correlation between fabrication factor and superconducting properties of the Tl-and-Bi-based high-Tc superconductor

Large critical current densities (J(sub c)) were obtained in c axis oriented Tl-1 223/Ag composite tapes fabricated by spraying methods without a vacuum. Transport measurements at 77K under a zero field indicated a J(sub c) of 9 x 10(exp 4) A/sq cm and 7 x 10(exp 3) A/sq cm at 1T for the tapes fabricated by spray pyrolysis. The novel GPM method was also applied for Bi-2212/Ag PIT composite wire, and found to be very effective for improving the distribution of voids, which caused from the melt-solidifying process. The GPM showed a marked effect for obtaining homogeneous long wire. A 1 T class coil was successfully fabricated with monocore wire.

Maki, Naoki↗

Thallium 2223 high T(sub c) superconductor in a silver matrix and its magnetic shielding, hermalcycle and time aging properties

Superconducting Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 (Tl2223) was ground to powder. Mixture with silver powder (0-80% weight) and press to desired shape. After proper annealing, one can get good silver-content Tl2223 bulk superconductor. It is time-stable and has good superconducting property as same as pure Tl2223. It also has better mechanical property and far better thermal cycle property than pure Tl2223.

Fei, X.↗

Influence of calcium on transport properties, band spectrum and superconductivity of YBa2Cu3O(y) and YBa(1.5)La(0.5)Cu3O(y)

The comparative investigation of transport phenomena in Y(1-x)Ca(x)Ba2Cu3O(y) (0 is less than x is less than 0.25; 6.96 is greater than y is greater than 6.87 and 6.73 is less than x is less than 6.53); Y(1-x)Ca(x)Ba(1.5)La(0.5)Cu3O(y) (0 is less than x is less than 0.5; 7.12 is greater than y is greater than 6.96) and YBa(2-x)La(x)Cu3O(y) (0 is less than x is less than 0.5; 6.95 is less than y is less than 7.21) systems have been carried out. The temperature dependencies of resistivity and thermopower have been measured. It was found that the S(T) dependencies take some additional features with Ca content increase. The results obtained have been analyzed on the basis of the phenomenological theory of electron transport in the case of the narrow conductive band. The main parameters of the band spectrum (the band filling with electrons degree and the total effective band width) have been determined. The dependencies of these from contents of substituting elements are discussed. Analyzing the results obtained simultaneously with the tendencies in oxygen content and critical temperature change we have confirmed the conclusion that the oxygen sublattice disordering has a determinant effect on band structure parameters and superconductive properties of YBa2Cu3O(y). The results obtained suggest that Ca gives rise to some peculiarities in band spectrum of this compound.

Gasumyants, V. E.↗

Laser surface interactions of high-T(sub c) superconductors

During the past two years, one of the most exciting research fields in science has been the study of the newly discovered high-T(sub c) metal oxide superconductors. Although many theoretical models were proposed, there is no general agreement on any theory to explain these materials. One of the peculiar features of these high-T(sub c) materials is the noninteger number of oxygen atoms. The oxygen content is extremely critical to the superconductive properties. Take YBa2Cu3O(7-x) as an example. Its superconductive properties disappear whenever x is larger than 0.5. The existence of Cu(+ 3) was considered to account for x less than 0.5. However, results from mass spectroscopy of laser desorbed species indicate that significant quantities of oxygen molecules are trapped in the bulk of these high-T(sub c) superconductors. It appears that these trapped oxygen molecules may play key roles in superconductive properties. Preparation of superconductive thin films are considered very important for the applications of these new superconductors for the electronics industry. Fluorescence spectra and ion spectra following laser ablation of high-temperature superconductors were obtained. A real time monitor for preparation of superconductive thin films can possibly be developed.

Chen, C. H.↗

Laser surface interaction of high-Tc superconductors

During the past two years, one of the most exciting research fields in science has been the study of the newly discovered high-T(sub c) metal oxide superconductors. Although many theoretical models were proposed, there is no general agreement on any theory to explain these materials. One of the peculiar features of these high-T(sub c) materials is the noninteger number of oxygen atoms. The oxygen content is extremely critical to the superconductive properties. Take YBa2Cu3O(7-x) as an example. Its superconductive properties disappear whenever x is larger than 0.5. The existence of Cu(+ 3) was considered to account for x less than 0.5. However, results from mass spectroscopy of laser desorbed species indicate that significant quantities of oxygen molecules are trapped in the bulk of these high-T(sub c) superconductors. It appears that these trapped oxygen molecules may play key roles in superconductive properties. Preparation of superconductive thin films are considered very important for the applications of these new superconductors for the electronics industry. Fluorescence spectra and ion spectra following laser ablation of high-temperature superconductors were obtained. A real time monitor for preparation of superconductive thin films can possibly be developed.

Chen, C. H.↗

Processing and property evaluation of metal matrix superconducting materials

Metal - superconductor (YBCO) systems have been prepared and characterized by resistivity, ac susceptibility and dc SQUID magnetic moment measurements. The silver composites showed superconducting transition for all the composites processed and the superconducting transition temperature tends to depend upon the concentration of the silver in the composite. Aluminum composites showed an unusual resistivity results with two transitions around 90 K and 120 K. The superconducting property of silver composites can be explained qualitatively in terms of the proximity theory that has been suggested for the low temperature superconductors.

Rao, Appajosula S.↗

Superconducting Detectors Come of Age, or Ready to Leave the Lab

Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provide a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillil.neter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large-scale superconducting detection systems is now being deployed. Improved understanding of the operation of these detectors, combined with rapidly improving fabrication techniques, is quickly expanding the capability of these detectors. I will review the development and application of superconductor-based detectors, the ultimate limits to their performance, and consider prospects for their future applications. Continued advances promise to enable important new measurements in physics, and with appropriate advances in cryogenic infrastn~cturem, ay result in the use of these detectors in everyday monitoring applications.

Moseley, Samuel H.↗

Detectors for Tomorrow's Instruments

Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor/normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provides a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillimeter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large scale superconducting detection systems are now being deployed. I will discuss the prospects for a new generation of instruments designed to take full advantage of the revolution in detector technology.

Moseley, Harvey↗