ANISOTROPY OF CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY IN c-AXIS ORIENTED EPITAXIAL YBa2Cu3O7-δ FILMS

The dependence of critical current density J_c on the angle α between the directions of the applied magnetic field H (which was rotated in the c-axis-I plane) and the in-plane current I was measured on a c-axis oriented epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ films at 81 K, with the magnetic field strength up to 6T, Analysis of the experimental results on the basis of the classical scaling law of pinning force shows that there exist simultaneously planar-pinning and volume-pinning mechanisms, and the contribution of volume pinning increases wish decreasing while that of the planar pinning decreases, We propose that the decrease of Lorentz-force-independent critical current density with increasing H for H∥I results from the suppression of superconductivity by the magnetic field, The fact that the contribution of volume pinning increases with decreasing α also arises from the suppression of superconductivity in CuO₂ plane by the magnetic field.     

EFFECT OF THE Ba VACANCY ON THE FLUX PINNING IN YBaxCu3O7-δ SYSTEM

A series of Y123 single phase samples with various Ba vacancy concentration was prepared by making their Ba contents deviate from the stoichiometric composition. The measurements of their structure, superconductivity and flux pinning behaviour were systematically carried out. It is found that, compared with YBa₂Cu₃O_6.96 sample, the strength of the flux pinning in YBa_xCu₃O_7-δ(1.8≤x<2.0) samples is increased, and that there is an optimum value of Ba vacancy concentration for the maximum flux pinning force density. The possible origin of the flux pinning centers to determine the flux pinning behavior at higher field is discussed in detail. We suggest that the flux pinning effect at lower field may stein from the interaction between the vortex and the surfaces of grains, and that the flux pinning mechanism at higher field belongs to the core interaction.     

IRREVERSIBILITY LINE AND THERMAL DEPINNING IN YBa2Cu3O7-δ

By measuring magnetic torque moment in a field-sweeping process, the temperature and field dependence of the critical current density j (with a criterion of electric field) and the normalized relaxation rate Q = d lnj/d ln E of a YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ thin film were obtained. With a minimum current density (j_min = 10A·cm^-2) the irreversibility lines at different sweeping rates were determined. It was found that these irreversibility lines cannot be fitted to either the melting line or the vortex-glass transition. All the data can be interpreted by the thermally-assisted-flux-flow model. Further investigation shows that, at irreversible tem-perature and field, U_c is much smaller than k_BT, which indicates that the thermal depinning is the real origin of the irreversibility line.     

NON-EQUILIBRIUM MICROWAVE RESPONSE OF Yba2Cu3O7-δ GRANULAR THIN FILMS UNDER MAGNETIC FIELDS

Microwave responses of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ(YBCO) granular film have been studied at the microwave frequency of 30.5 GHz. In the absence of a magnetic field the dependence of a normal microwave response on the bias current is observed at a temperature close to T_c. When a magnetic field ranged from 5.0 mT to 33.0 mT is applied, the responses broaden and shift toward a lower temperature. In the superconducting state, the responses were found to be highly dependent on the magnetic field. For the current equal to 5.0mA and a magnetic field above 17.0mT the response increases and did not vanish even at a very low temperature, the fact is believed to be correlated to the anisotropic character of the structure.     

Influence of high pulsed magnetic field on tensile properties of TC4 alloy

The tensile tests of TC4 alloy are carried on electronic universal testing machine in the synchronous presence of high pulsed magnetic field(HPMF) parallel to the axial direction.The effects of magnetic induction intensity(5 = 0,1 T,3 T,and 5 T) on elongation(5) of TC4 alloy are investigated.At 3 T,the elongation arrives at a maximum value of12.41%,which is enhanced by 23.98%in comparison with that of initial sample.The elongation curve shows that 3 T is a critical point.With B increasing,the volume fraction of α phase is enhanced from 49.7%to 55.9%,which demonstrates that the HPMF can induce the phase transformation from β phase to α phase.Furthermore,the magnetic field not only promotes the orientation preference of crystal plane along the slipping direction,but also has the effect on increasing the dislocation density.The dislocation density increases with the enhancement of magnetic induction intensity and the 3-T parameter is ascertained as a turning point from increase to decrease tendency.When B is larger than 3 T,the dislocation density decreases with the enhancement of B.The influence of magnetic field is analyzed on the basis of magneto-plasticity effect.The high magnetic field will enhance the dislocation strain energy and promote the state conversion of radical pair generated between the dislocation and obstacles from singlet into triplet state,in which is analyzed the phenomenon that the dislocation density is at an utmost with B = 3 T.Finally,the inevitability of optimized 3-T parameter is further discussed on a quantum scale.     

SUPERCONDUCTING TRANSITION TEMPERATURES AND NORMAL-STATE ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITIES OF Tm1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ

Superconducting transition temperature T_c and normal-state electrical resistivities ρ of the Tm_1-xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ system have been measured. The results indicate that T_c remains constant for x = 0 to 0.08 before it drops steadily with higher x. Following the Abrikosov-Gor'kov model, a total suppression of superconductivity occurs at a critical Pr concentration x_cr≈0.56. It is found for the first time, as far as we know, that the logarithmic resistivity at 270 K increases linearly with increasing x, yielding ρ= ρ₀e^ax. Judging from the relation between dρ/dT and x, a metal to insulator transition occurs just beyond x_cr.     

POSITRON LIFETIME STUDIES OF Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3O7-δ AND Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3-xFexO7-δ

In this paper it is reported that the measurement of the bulk positron lifetime as a function of substitution content x in the temperature range from 70 to 220K was performed in two high-T_c superconducting systems, Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xFe_xO_7-δ and Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ. It was found that τ_B of both systems decreases significantly with x and the temperature dependence of τ_B is very weak in normal state. In lower temperature region (Tc), a dramatic x-dependent temperature variation of τ_B was observed in the Ca-substituted system: from a decrease of τ_B with decreasing T to an increase of τ_B. With increasing x, the temperature dependence of τ_B remains weak in the Ca- and Fe- substituted systems. Compared with the experimental data of positron lifetime in other substituted systems and the calculation of the positron density distribution, the authors suggest that positron bulk lifetime spectra behaviour can be interpreted by the physical model based on the transfer of electron density between the CuO₂ planes and Cu-O chains. Therefore, the study of positron lifetime spectra provides a useful means to detect the local charge density and to study the correlation between the electronic structure and the high-T_c superconductivity.     

CRITICAL CURRENT AND FLUX CREEP IN YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x) THIN FILMS

The critical currents of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films have been measured at 74. 3K in magnetic fields up to 2.1T and at the temperature range from 64K to Tc in the absence of the field. Jc-B and Jc-T data were fitted to the flux creep model. The values of pinning energy and number density of pinning centers were obtained from the fits. The results show that the measured critical current density is flux-creep-limited and is several times smaller than Jco, the critical current density in the absence of flux creep. The distribution of pinning energies and inhomogeneity may be responsible for the discrepancy of pinning energy values obtained from different methods.     

Multilayer transition in a spin-1 Blume–Capel model with RKKY interaction and quantum transverse anisotropy

Using mean-field theory, we have studied the effect of quantum transverse anisotropies with RKKY interaction on the multi-layer transition and magnetic properties of the spin-1 Blume--Capel model of a system formed by two magnetic multi-layer materials, of different thicknesses, separated by a non-magnetic spacer of thickness M. It is found that the multilayer magnetic order--disorder transition temperature depends strongly on the value of the transverse anisotropy. The multilayer transition temperature decreases when increasing the transverse anisotropy. Furthermore, there exists a critical quantum transverse anisotropy Δ_xL beyond which the separate transitions occur in the two magnetic layers. The critical transverse anisotropy Δ_xL decreases (increases) on increasing the non-magnetic spacer of thickness M (on increasing the crystal field), and Δ_xL undergoes oscillations as a function of the Fermi level.     

Response of colloidal liquids containing magnetic holes of different volume densities to magnetic field characterized by transmission measurement

This paper systematically investigates the response of colloidal liquids containing magnetic holes of different volume densities to magnetic field by conventional transmission measurements. It finds that the enhancement in the transmission of such a colloidal liquid under a magnetic field exhibits a strong dependence on the volume density of magnetic holes. A linear increase in the maximum enhancement factor is observed when the volume density of magnetic holes is below a critical level at which a maximum enhancement factor of ～150 is achieved in the near infrared region. Once the volume density of magnetic holes exceeds the critical level, a sharp drop of the maximum enhancement factor to ～2 is observed. After that, the maximum enhancement factor increases gradually till a large volume density of ～9%. By monitoring the arrangement of magnetic holes under a magnetic field, it reveals that the colloidal liquids can be classified into three different phases, i.e., the gas-like, liquid-like and solid-like phases, depending on the volume density of magnetic holes. The response behaviour of colloidal liquids to magnetic field is determined by the interaction between magnetic holes which is governed mainly by their volume density. A phase transition, which is manifested in the dramatic reduction in the maximum enhancement factor, is clearly observed between the liquid-like and solid-like phases. The optical switching operations for colloidal liquids in different phases are compared and the underlying physical mechanisms are discussed.     

Physical Properties Revealed by Transport Measurements for Superconducting Nd_(0.8)Sr_(0.2)NiO_2 Thin Films

The newly discovered superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelate superconducting films has attracted much attention,largely because their crystalline and electronic structures are similar to those of high-T_c cuprate superconductors.The upper critical field can provide a great deal of information on the subject of superconductivity,but detailed experimental data are still lacking for these films.We present the temperature-and angle-dependence of resistivity,measured under different magnetic fields H in Nd_(0.8)Sr_(0.2)NiO_2 thin films.The onset superconducting transition occurs at about 16.2 K at 0 T.Temperature-dependent upper critical fields,determined using a criterion very close to the onset transition,show a clear negative curvature near the critical transition temperature,which can be explained as a consequence of the paramagnetically limited effect on superconductivity.The temperaturedependent anisotropy of the upper critical field is obtained from resistivity data,which yields a value decreasing from 3 to 1.2 with a reduction in temperature.This can be explained in terms of the variable contribution from the orbital limit effect on the upper critical field.The angle-dependence of resistivity at a fixed temperature,and at different magnetic fields,cannot be scaled to a curve,which deviates from the prediction of the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau theory.However,at low temperatures,the resistance difference can be scaled via the parameter Hβ| cos θ|(β=6-1),with θ being the angle enclosed between the c-axis and the applied magnetic field.As the first detailed study of the upper critical field of nickelate thin films,our results clearly indicate a small anisotropy,and a paramagnetically limited effect,in terms of superconductivity,in nickelate superconductors.     

CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY AND FLUX PINNING CHARACTERISTICS IN MELT-TEXTURED Y0.6Er0.4Ba2Cu3Oy SUPERCONDUCTOR

We prepared highly textured YBa₂CuO_y and Y_0.6Er_0.4Ba₂Cu₃O_y bulk samples by a powder melting process method under the same conditions and studied the magnetic properties and flux pinning character istics. It is found that the J_c estimated by the Bean's model decreases with the magnetic field according to a power law J_c∝B^-n (n<0.55), suggesting that J_c values of these materials are controlled by the flux pinning rather than weak links. Also, J_c and flux pinning are improved by the Er addition. The reduction of the size of Y₂BaCuO₅ particles, magnetic pinning and stress-field pinning caused by the Er addition may be responsible for the enhancement of J_c and flux pinning.     

Survival of charged ρ condensation at high temperature and density

The charged vector ρ mesons in the presence of external magnetic fields at finite temperature T and chemical potential μ have been investigated in the framework of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model.We compute the masses of charged ρ mesons numerically as a function of the magnetic field for different values of temperature and chemical potential.The self-energy of the ρ meson contains the quark-loop contribution,i.e.the leading order contribution in 1/N_C expansion.The charged ρ meson mass decreases with the magnetic field and drops to zero at a critical magnetic field eB_c,which indicates that the charged vector meson condensation,i.e.the electromagnetic superconductor can be induced above the critical magnetic field.Surprisingly,it is found that the charged ρ condensation can even survive at high temperature and density.At zero temperature,the critical magnetic field just increases slightly with the chemical potential,which indicates that charged ρ condensation might occur inside compact stars.At zero density,in the temperature range 0.2 — 0.5 GeV,the critical magnetic field for charged ρ condensation is in the range of 0.2 — 0.6 GeV~2,which indicates that a high temperature electromagnetic superconductor might be created at LHC.     

Vortex Pinning due to Dynamic Spin-Vortex Interaction in aSuperconductor/Ferromagnet Multilayer

We investigate the mutual interaction between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in a Nb/Ni81 Ee19 multilayer by ac susceptibility measurements. Compared with a pure superconducting Nb film, the critical current density of the multilayer is apparently enhanced in a low magnetic field region but remains nearly the same in high magnetic fields, which indicates that a continuous ferromagnetic layer with in-plane magnetization can produce strong vortex pinning in a low field region. We interpret this unusual vortex-pinning phenomenon as a consequence of dynamic spin vortex interaction which induces a spin rotation following vortex movement. In addition, we propose that this dynamic interaction could be used for spin manipulation via a superconductor.     

BROADENING OF RESISTIVE TRANSITION AND IRREVERSIBILITY LINE FOR EPITAXIAL

The broadening of resistive transition of c axis oriented epitaxial YBCO thin film has been measured for three configurations: (1) H∥c and H⊥I; (2) H∥ab plane and H⊥I; (3) H∥ab plane and H∥I in magnetic field up to 8 Teala(T), and for different angle θ of magnetic field relative to the ab plane with H = 4T. The results obtained indicate that the broadening of resistive transition is mainly determined by the angle θ, but is hardly related to the angle α made between magnetic field and tran sport current in ab plane. This means that the broadening of resistive transition is not determined by flux motion drived by apparent Lorentz force. Au expression of angular dependence of irreveraibility line has been given.     

BROADENING OF RESISTIVE TRANSITION AND IRREVERSIBILITY LINE FOR EPITAXIAL YBa2Cu3O7-$\delta$ THIN FILM

The broadening of resistive transition of c axis oriented epitaxial YBCO thin film has been measured for three configurations: (1) H∥c and H⊥I; (2) H∥ab plane and H⊥I; (3) H∥ab plane and H∥I in magnetic field up to 8 Teala(T), and for different angle θ of magnetic field relative to the ab plane with H = 4T. The results obtained indicate that the broadening of resistive transition is mainly determined by the angle θ, but is hardly related to the angle α made between magnetic field and tran sport current in ab plane. This means that the broadening of resistive transition is not determined by flux motion drived by apparent Lorentz force. Au expression of angular dependence of irreveraibility line has been given.     

Synthesis of ZnO films with a special texture and enhanced field emission properties

ZnO films with special textures are fabricated on Mo-coated Al₂O₃ ceramic substrates by the catalyst-free electron beam evaporation method, and the as-deposited films are treated by hydrogen plasma. It is found that the surface morphologies of the films are changed significantly after hydrogen plasma treatment and that the films consist of vertically standing and intersecting nanosheets. A lower turn-on field of 1.2 V/μm and an enhanced current density ～0.11 mA/cm² at 2.47 V/μm are achieved. The low threshold field and the high emission current density are attributed primarily to the unique shape and smaller resistivity of the ZnO nanosheet films.     

STUDY OF HALOGEN DOPING IN POLYCRYSTALLINE YBa2Cu3O7-δ

This paper presents systematically the doping effects of halogens in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ polycrystalline samples, with a series of concentrations of fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. All samples were prepared by chemical method of citrate pyrolysis, which makes the halogen concentration in the samples more uniform. Samples doped with F have T_c as high as 94.5K, Cl, Br and I dopings also raise T_c to a certain extent. In addition, the influence of halogen doping on critical current density, morphology, constitution and so forth is discussed.     

Analysis of Relaxed States in Coaxial Helicity Injection Tokamaks on the Basis of Analytical Solutions

The principle of the minimum energy dissipation rate is applied to toroidal plasmas with a coaxial direct current helicity injection.The relaxed states are analysed based on the analytical solutions of the resulting Euler-Lagrangian equations.Three typical states are found.The relaxed states are close to the Taylor state if the ratio of current density to magnetic field on the boundary is small enough.The states will deviate from the Taylor state when the ratio increases,but when it approaches a critical value the central part of relaxed plasmas may approach a force free state,and above the critical value both current and magnetic field may reverse in the central part.     

Spatial-temporal measurements of magnetic fields in laser-produced plasmas

The results of an investigation of the electromagnetic wave polarization, probing high-temperature laser plasma, as well as spatial-temporal structure of the magnetic fields, electron density, current density, and electron drift velocity are presented. To create the plasma, plane massive Al targets were irradiated with the second harmonic of a phoenix Nd laser at intensities up to 5·10¹⁴ W/cm². It was shown that the magnetooptical Faraday effect is the main mechanism responsible for the changing polarization of the probing wave. Magnetic fields up to 0.4 MG with electron densities ∼10²⁰ cm⁻³ were measured. Analysis of the magnetic field spatial distribution showed that the current density achieved the value ∼90 MA/cm² on the laser axis. The radial structure of the magnetic field testified to the availability of the reversed current in the laser plasma. The spatial and temporal resolutions in these experiments were equaled to ∼5 μsec and ∼50 psec, respectively. Translated from Preprint No. 35 of the Lebedev Physics Institute, Moscow, 1993.