Hysteretic magnetic moment of YBa2Cu3O7?δ: An angular study

The hysteretic magnetization of an YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ crystal containing a high density of Y₂BaCuO_x precipitates was investigated by two-axis, quasistatic, de magnetometry. As the eff-axis applied magnetic fieldH was increased and the magnetization magnitude, decreased, its orientation approached a direction near the crystallinec axis. The bulk persistent currentsJ _p predominately flowed parallel to the Cu−O planes for a wide range of temperature and applied field. Even forH almost perpendicular toc, where the deduced irreversibility line maximized as commonly observed, the resulting magnetization was observed to be within 15° of 001]. Managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp, under contract AC05-96OR22464 with the U. S. Dept. of Energy.