Novel technique to measure the microwave response of high T(c) superconductors between 4.2 and 200 K
This paper describes a novel technique for measurements of the complex surface impedance Z(s) of high-T(c) superconductors over an extremely wide range of temperature, from 4.2 K and at least 200 K. The technique uses a superconducting Pb-plated Cu high-Q-cavity resonator operated at an ambient temperature of 4.2 K, with the sample (typically a 3-mm-diam x 1-mm-thick disk) mounted on a sapphire rod in the center of cavity, at a high B-field and thermally insulated from the cavity walls, making it possible to control the sample temperature externally. Since the cavity characteristics are dominated by the sample properties (the contribution of the Pb-covered walls maintained at 4.2 K is negligible), measurement of the cavity Q and resonant frequency makes it possible to measure Zs as a function of the sample temperature. The Z(s) values for bulk Y1Ba2Cu3O(y) and La(1.85)Sr(0.15)CuO4 were measured over a temperature range 4.2-100 K.