Electrical and superconducting properties of BiSrCaCuO ceramics superconductors

Electrical and superconducting properties of BiSrCaCuO superconductor prepared by partial melting method were determined to study its superconducting mechanism. Induced voltage of the BiSrCaCuO superconductor was not so significantly dependent upon on the shape and size of the superconductor. Anti-magnetism was less dependent upon the melting and the annealing temperatures. BiSrCaCuO film prepared at 1158 K shows the maximum magnetic susceptibility in this study. Differential conductance behavior of the superconductor with magnetic flux was not well matched by a conventional flux flow model. It suggests that a superconducting mechanism for type II superconductor should be able to explain the fact that magnetic properties arise from the interaction between the trapped magnetic flux and weak link of the superconducting connectors forms in the superconducting material.     

NanoSQUID as magnetic sensor for magnetic nanoparticles characterization

Integrated magnetic sensors based on niobium dc SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) for nanoparticle characterizations are presented. The SQUIDs consists of two Dayem bridges of 90 nm × 250 nm and loop area of 4, 1, and 0.55 μm². The devices are realized by using an e-beam lithography nano-fabrication process which can directly pattern the devices in an electron-positive resist and then transferred to a 20 nm single niobium layer by a lift-off post-process. The SQUIDs were designed to have a hysteretic current–voltage characteristic in order to work as a magnetic flux-current transducer. The presence of an integrated niobium coil, tightly coupled to the SQUID, allows us to easily excite the SQUID and to flux bias the SQUID at its optimal working point. Current–voltage characteristics, critical current as a function of the external magnetic field and switching current distributions were performed at liquid helium temperature. A critical current modulation of about 20% and a current-magnetic flux transfer coefficient (responsivity) of 30 μA/Φ₀ have been obtained, resulting in a magnetic flux resolution better than 1 mΦ₀. The authors performed preliminary measurements with and without iron oxide nanoparticles on the SQUID loop in order to show the device sensitivity in view of nano-magnetism applications. It was showed that the presence of magnetic nanoparticles can be easily detected and the magnetic relaxation curve measured.     

Feasibility of detection of solar neutrinos and other astrophysical particles using superconducting filaments

Neutrinos from the sun or from a supernova will scatter coherently from target nuclei, and the associated nuclear recoil energy could in principle be detected using the significant local temperature rise produced at low temperatures in materials with a negligible electronic specific heat. Heavy ‘dark matter’ particles such as photinos might also be detected in this way. Drukier and Stodolsky [7] have suggested the use of a target in the form of superheated grains of superconductor which would be switched to the resistive state by individual neutrino scattering events, producing small but detectable local magnetic flux changes. The present paper considers the alternative scheme of a target consisting of coils of fine single or multi-filament superconducting wires, allowing the local resistive transitions to be detected as voltage pulses at the coil input. Calculations are presented of neutrino event rate versus energy deposited as a function of the target (A, Z) value, and the required filament diameter as a function of temperature and recoil energy, taking into account the latent heat requirements of the superconductor at transition. The possibility of using electrically parallel arrays of filaments is analysed, and the magnitude of the external voltage pulse is estimated for a range of type 1 and type 2 superconducting materials, including the effect of propagation of the normal zone. It is concluded that measurable voltage signals could in general be obtained with both type 1 and type 2 superconductors, and for operating temperatures in the region 10–100 mK typical filament diameters would range from 10–40 micron (for 30 eV recoil energy sensitivity) 40–160 micron (for 3 keV recoil energy sensitivity).     

Possibility of persistent voltage observation in a system of asymmetric superconducting rings

The possibility of observing persistent voltage in superconducting rings of different arm widths is experimentally investigated. It was previously found that switching of the arms between superconducting and normal states by an AC current induces DC voltage oscillation in the magnetic field with a period corresponding to the flux quantum inside the ring. We used systems with a large number of asymmetric rings connected in series to investigate the possibility of observing this quantum phenomenon near the superconducting transition, where thermal fluctuations lead to switching of ring segments without an external influence and the persistent current is much smaller than in the superconducting state.     

Dominant influence of the compression effect of a magnetic flux in the intergranular medium of a granular high-temperature superconductor on dissipation processes in an external magnetic field

Experiments have been presented that demonstrate the effect of the compression of a magnetic flux in grain boundaries of a granular high-temperature superconductor in an external magnetic field on the dissipation processes. The compression of the magnetic flux is associated with the diamagnetic behavior of superconducting grains and the existence of a Josephson medium in grain boundaries. Under these conditions, grain boundaries are in an effective magnetic field that depends on the magnetic state (magnetization) of the superconducting grains. Based on the analysis of experimental data (dependences of the electrical resistance R and magnetization on the magnetic field H and temperature T, as well as current-voltage characteristics), the conclusion has been drawn that it is the temperature evolution of the effective magnetic field in the intergranular medium which primarily determines the behavior of the dependences R(T) in weak external magnetic fields of no more than ～10³ Oe. This should be taken into account in the interpretation of experiments on the magnetoresistance effect in granular high-temperature superconductors in terms of different theories. The conclusion drawn here also implies a significant correction of the previously obtained results.     

The properties of short-circuited HTSC coils

The properties of short-circuited multiturn superconducting coils have been studied; coils with nonsuperconducting contacts have been fabricated from a high-temperature superconducting (HTSC) tape made by Super Power Company. The magnetic flux captured by HTSC coils has been measured at different values of magnetic field of the magnetizing solenoid. the critical current in the coils have been experimentally determined based on the maximum values of the field they captured. It is ~50% of the nominal value for this HTSC tape. The range of external magnetic field, where HTSC coils keep the captured magnetic flux, has been experimentally found. The obtained results have demonstrated the possibility of designing magnet systems with levitating coils made of HTSC tape, in which levitation is controlled without using feedbacks.     

High-frequency absorption of the dynamic mixed state in the surface superconductivity region

We analyze the absorption of a high-frequency electromagnetic field in the type II superconductor Pb_0.8In_0.2 in magnetic fields H _c2 < H < H _c3. The absorption component proportional to the rate of variation of the external magnetic field is detected. We assume that this absorption component is associated with the dynamic mixed state of the superconducting shell containing 2D magnetic flux vortices (Kulik vortices). The motion of these vortices under the action of the critical current ensures the required difference between the external and internal magnetic inductions of the superconducting shell upon a change in the external magnetic field. This model correctly describes the observed behavior of absorption of rf electromagnetic radiation.     

Coherent magnetic vortex motion in optically formed channels for easy flow in YBa2Cu3O7−x superconducting thin films

We report our results of investigation of electric and magnetic properties of partially oxygen-depleted channels for easy vortex motion in YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (YBCO) superconducting, 50-μm-wide, and 100-μm-long microbridges at temperatures below the onset of the superconducting state critical temperature T _c ^on . The channels were produced by means of a laser-writing technique. The writing was performed using a 0.1–0.3 W power, continuous-wave laser radiation focused down to a ~ 5 μm spot on the surface of a superconducting film in a nitrogen gas atmosphere, and resulted in perpendicular stripes (channels) with partial (x ~ 0.2) reduction of the oxygen content in the YBCO stripe. The oxygen-depleted channels exhibit a depressed T _c and lower both the critical current density and the first critical magnetic field, as compared with the laser-untreated areas. The bias current applied to the bridge self-produced a magnetic flux that penetrated the channels in a form of Abrikosov magnetic vortices that, subsequently, moved coherently (a quasi-Josephson effect) along the channels in the narrow temperature range of 0.943 T _c ^on –0.98 T _c ^on and manifested themselves as steps on the current–voltage characteristics of our microbridges. Our results demonstrate that laser-induced formation of artificial channels of the flux flow can be used for a precise control of vortex nucleation and their coherent motion in pre-assigned regions of thin-film YBCO devices.     

Observation of the external-ac-current-induced dc voltage proportional to the steady current in superconducting loops

A dc voltage induced by an external ac current was observed in a system of asymmetric aluminum loops at temperatures corresponding to 0.95–0.98 of the superconducting transition temperature. The voltage magnitude and sign change periodically in a magnetic field with a period corresponding to the magnetic flux quantum through the loop. The amplitude of these oscillations depends nonmonotonically on the amplitude of ac current and is almost independent of its frequency in the range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The observed phenomenon is interpreted as the result of displacing the loop into a dynamic resistive state by the external current, where the loop is “switched” back and forth between the closed superconducting state with a nonzero steady current and the nonclosed state with a nonzero resistance along the loop circle. It is shown that voltages are summed up in a system of loops connected in series. For systems with one, three, and twenty loops, the voltage reaches 10, 40, and 300 μ V, respectively.     

Spatial variation of superconducting properties of Gd123 Bulk superconductors with magnetic particles addition

Magnetic flux trapping and the homogeneity of the flux pinning are essential problems in the practical application of high-temperature superconductors. We have conducted study on the role of addition of soft magnetic Fe-B alloy particles contribute to the enhancement of the critical current density (J_c) under wide-range of magnetic field. Magnetic flux trapping was enhanced in Gd123 bulk superconductor with suitable amount of magnetic particles addition. In addition, it can be effective as pinning center enhance the J_c of the bulk in both the a–b growth sector and the c-growth sector under magnetic field. However, the T_c of the Gd123 bulk was decreased obviously by addition of magnetic particles. The study on the spatial variation of superconducting properties indicates that the performance of the upper part of the bulk is better than the bottom. By comparing the superconducting properties of the Gd123 bulk with magnetic particles addition and without magnetic particles addition, we concluded that there is a trace of the formation of homogeneous pinning properties in the magnetic particles addition Gd123 bulk.     

Superconducting vortex line in Josephson junction

The superconducting ring closed with the half infinite plane Josephson junction is considered. The external magnetic flux is introduced in the ring with the external source supplied solenoid.The conditions of stability are found for the superconducting vortex in the plane Josephson junction. The function φ(φ_x) is derived. Here φ is the total magnetic flux in the hole. This function differentiates from the same function in the case of the ring closed. with the point contact.     

Parametric dependence of ion temperature and electron density in the summa hot-ion plasma using laser light scattering and emission spectroscopy

Hot-ion plasma experiments were conducted in the NASA Lewis SUMMA facility. A steady-state modified Penning discharge was formed by applying a radially inward d.c. electric field of several kilovolts near the magnetic mirror maxima. Results are reported for a hydrogen plasma covering a wide range in midplane magnetic flux densities from 0.5 to 3.37 T. Input power greater than 45 kW was obtained with water-cooled cathodes. Steady-state plasmas with ion kinetic temperatures from 18 to 830 eV were produced and measured spectroscopically. These ion temperatures were correlated with current, voltage, and magnetic flux density as the independent variables. Electron density measurements were made using an unusually sensitive Thomson scattering apparatus. The measured electron densities ranged from 2.1 x 10¹¹ to 6.8 x 10¹²1/cm³.     

Study of the hybrid state of Y9Co7(2.0≲T≲ 6 K) by means of zero field muon spin relaxation

Muon spin relaxation functions were measured in the magnetic superconductor Y₉Co₇ for T ? 2.0 K and at zero applied field. In the paramagnetic region (T ? 6.0 K) the depolarization of the muon spins is due to the quasi-static ⁵⁹Co nuclear moments. The onset of the magnetic state results in a fast-relaxing signal that corresponds to dipolar fields of the order of 100 0e; this component grows steadily in amplitude as the material transists from the hybrid into the superconducting state. The data are consistent with the high degree of inhomogeneity of the (not long-range) ordering and coexisting but non-competing magnetic and superconducting properties in the “hybrid” state (2<T<5K).     

The statistical distribution of magnetic critical currents determined by HTSC film morphology

An analysis is made of the geometric and morphological properties of YBCO superconducting films and of their effect on the magnetic and transport phenomena. A study is presented of the statistical characteristics of critical currents derived from the variation of trapped magnetic flux induced by passing a pulsed transport current. It is shown that the critical currents in the materials under study have a specific statistical distribution, whose main properties are due to the morphology of their structure and can be determined by geometric-probability analysis. The superconducting film is considered as a percolation system. An empirical normal-phase cluster-area distribution function was used to derive the distribution function of magnetic critical currents, which describes adequately the experimental data on how transport current affects trapped magnetic flux. The critical current for transition of a film to the resistive state has been calculated. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1739–1742 (October 1999)     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in the La0.87−xLnxSr0.13FeAsO (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy) system

The interplay between the superconducting phase and spin density wave order phase was studied. We report the magnetic and superconducting properties of the hole-doped FeAs-based superconducting compound La_0.87−xLn_xSr_0.13FeAsO (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy; 0≤x≤0.06). Both resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases with increase in composition of magnetic ions. The hysteresis loop of the La_0.87−xLn_xSr_0.13FeAsO sample shows a superconducting hysteresis in addition to a paramagnetic background. The experiment demonstrates that the magnetism and superconductivity coexist in hole-doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds. Among these three magnetic rare-earth elements, the influence of Dy³⁺ doping on superconductivity is more evident than that of Gd³⁺ doping, while the influence of Sm³⁺ doping is the weakest. The trend is consistent with the variation of the lattice parameter along c-axis.     

Family of graphene-based superconducting devices

A family of highly sensitive devices based on a graphene nanobridge and superconducting electrodes has been developed, manufactured, and examined. These devices can be used to create a graphene-based integral receiver. A cold-electron bolometer prototype with superconductor-insulator-normal metal tunnel junctions has been studied. Its response to a change in the temperature and external microwave radiation has been measured. A superconducting quantum interferometer with a graphene strip as a weak coupling between superconducting electrodes has been examined. The corresponding modulation of the voltage by a magnetic field at a given current has been measured. The effect of the gate voltage on the resistance of graphene has been analyzed for these samples. To confirm that graphene is single-layer, measurements with the reference samples were performed in high magnetic fields, displaying the half-integer quantum Hall effect.     

Thermodynamic properties of tunneling quasiparticles in graphene-based structures

Thermodynamic properties of quasiparticles in a graphene-based structures are investigated. Two graphene superconducting layers (one superconducting component is placed on the top layered-graphene structure and the other component in the bottom) separated by oxide dielectric layers and one normal graphene layer in the middle. The quasiparticle flow emerged due to external gate voltage, we considered it as a gas of electron–hole pairs whose components belong to different layers. This is a striking result in view of the complexity of these systems: we have established that specific heat exhibits universal (?T³) behavior at low T, independent from the gate voltage and the superconducting gap. The experimental observation of this theoretical prediction would be an important step towards our understanding of critical massless matter.     

Dynamic and static phases of vortices under an applied drive in a superconducting stripe with an array of weak links

Static and dynamic properties of superconducting vortices in a superconducting stripe with a periodic array of weakly-superconducting (or normal metal) regions are studied in the presence of external magnetic and electric fields. The time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory is used to describe the electronic transport, where the anisotropy is included through the spatially-dependent critical temperature T _c . Superconducting vortices penetrating into the weak-superconducting region with smaller T _c are more mobile than the ones in the strong superconducting regions. We observe periodic entrance and exit of vortices which reside in the weak link for some short interval. The mobility of the weakly-pinned vortices can be reduced by increasing the uniform applied magnetic field leading to distinct features in the voltage vs. magnetic field response of the system.     

Asymmetry with respect to the magnetic field direction in the interaction between the quantum states of two coupled superconducting rings

The interaction between the quantum states of two circularly asymmetric superconducting aluminum rings forming figure eight, threaded by a magnetic flux and biased by an external sinusoidal ac current with zero dc component, has been investigated. Quantum oscillations in the dependence V _dc(B) of the rectified dc voltage on magnetic field for these structures have been measured at different external currents and temperatures close to critical. Fourier and wavelet analyses of the function V _dc(B) have revealed, along with the two fundamental ring frequencies, various combination frequencies; this fact is indicative of interaction in the structure. Deviation of the function V _dc(B) from oddness with respect to the magnetic field direction has been found for the first time.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in single crystalline highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4 revealed by the muon spin relaxation method

The positive muon (⁺) spin relaxation method under zero external field is applied to probe magnetic ordering in the superconducting phase of a high quality single crystal of La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (0.10<x<0.15). A series of well characterized crystals with nearly complete flux exclusion were found to exhibit a magnetic ordering with transition temperature depending onx with a peak atx=0.11. Possible explanations are given.