AC losses in high-temperature superconductors: revisiting the fundamentals of the loss modelling

The fundamentals of the electromagnetic modelling of high-temperature superconductors are discussed. Special attention is paid to intrinsic features of high-temperature superconductors different to those of low-temperature superconductors. Examples of those features are strong thermal fluctuations, which results in enhanced flux creep and slanted E(J)-characteristics, anisotropy of critical current density and material resistivity, and the granularity of the material. Having established the fundamental principles for the loss modelling, the influence of thermal fluctuations, anisotropy and granularity on the AC losses are considered.     

液氮温区镍氧化物高温超导体的发现

非常规超导材料探索和机理研究是物理学中重要的研究内容和科学问题。目前主要的非常规超导体材料包括重费米子超导体、铜氧化物高温超导体和铁基超导体。其中只有铜氧化物超导临界温度高于液氮沸点77 K,处于液氮温区。镍氧化物与铜氧化物具有相似的材料结构体系,其中+1价镍离子与+2价铜离子具有相同的电子填充数,是此前研究人员探索超导电性的重点。具有钙钛矿结构单元、双镍氧层的La₃Ni₂O₇中镍的价态为+2.5,常压下呈现顺磁性的金属态。近期作者在14 GPa压力下的La₃Ni₂O₇单晶样品中发现了高达80 K的超导临界温度,超出此前理论预期。文章将简要介绍非常规超导材料体系的研究历史、La₃Ni₂O₇单晶样品的生长方法、常压下的物理性质和高压下的结构表征、以及通过电学和磁性测量对超导电性的确认。     

Reconstruction of critical current density profiles from AC loss measurements

A method of reconstruction of critical current profiles from measurements of a hysteretic AC loss is proposed. As an example, we have applied this approach to study the degradation in the bulk melt-textured HTS sample with a resonance oscillations technique developed earlier for granular HTS samples and now modified to study HTS bulks. The critical current density profile was determined after the degradation in the thin undersurface layer of about 60 μm.     

Statistical modeling of inductances in high-Tc superconductor electronic structures

In the design of electronic applications, e.g. rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) circuits, with high-T_c superconductors there is an obvious necessity of having precise knowledge of loop inductances. In general, these inductances have to be computed numerically due to the small sizes of the structures and the large contribution of the kinetic inductance. The present work is based on the analysis of a large number of inductances which have been calculated numerically for several high-T_c superconducting loop configurations. By means of statistical modeling, analytical formulae, which are customized for the considered type of structure, are derived. They can efficiently be used to simplify and accelerate the process of layout design in high-T_c RSFQ electronics.     

Size dependence of the thermo-electrodynamics states of composite high-Tc superconductors and its effect on the current instability conditions

The effect of transverse geometries of the slab of composite high-T_c superconductors on their stable and unstable thermal and electrodynamics transient states in the incomplete and complete penetration modes during the current charging are discussed. The transient period when the electric field that is induced by the charged current becomes more homogeneous during the initial stage of the complete penetration mode in the sub-critical voltage range is studied. In the over-critical voltage range, the cross-section shape of the slab affects its stable and unstable temperature variation. As a result, the current instability condition is not identical for high-T_c superconducting composite tapes that have the same cross-sectional area with various shapes of the cross-section. The condition depends on their thickness: the less thickness, the more stable the current distribution in the composite superconductors with the same cross-sectional area. This feature is a result of the unavoidable reduction of the current-carrying capacity of a high-T_c superconducting composite by the temperature increase. This reduction is caused by the relevant temperature dependence of electrodynamics states of the composite. This temperature dependence happens even during a stable stage of the current charging. These mechanisms must be considered during experiments at which the critical or quenching currents are defined.     

Estimation of Jc(B) dependence from self-field alternating current (AC) losses measured on Bi-2223/Ag tapes

Transport AC losses measured in self-field conditions on multifilamentary Bi-2223 tapes are often found to be lower than those calculated within the framework of the critical state model for a bulk wire with elliptical cross section, though generally higher than predicted for a strip. This effect is sometimes ascribed to the non-ideal geometry of the tapes, which does not exactly reproduce either shape. Here we propose an alternative explanation assuming that the critical current density of superconducting material depends on magnetic field. In practice, we analyzed the AC loss curve and deduced different I_c values for the individual data points, using the standard Norris equation for elliptical conductor. This gives the relation between ‘calculated' I_c and the self-field associated to AC transport current, which can be regarded as an alternative way to qualify the dependence of J_c on magnetic field. Important is that this procedure covers the range of fields below the self-field at I_c where the measurement in background DC field can not be used to determine J_c(B).     

High-Tc superconductors and AC loss in electrotechnical devices

To replace conventional normal conducting solutions in electrotechnical devices, high-T_c superconductors must offer distinct economical and technical benefits in terms of lower overall loss, volume and weight. Based on AC loss theory we design appropriate 50 Hz reference conductors for cables, transformers and other applications, calculate admissible limits for the conductor variables filament diameter, twist and matrix resistance and compare this to the present state of Bi-2223-tape conductors and AC loss measurements. Further the influence of perpendicular AC field components on losses is addressed. High current devices will require multistrand conductors, where nonuniform current distribution due to unbalanced magnetic coupling may result in partial saturation and enhanced losses. As an example we discuss the multilayer HTSC-cable and present a solution based on a ‘zero flux condition' for azimuthal and axial magnetic fields.     

Irreversibility line and flux pinning properties in iron-based high-Tc superconductor SmFeAsO0.85

The irreversibility line and flux pinning properties of high-T_c superconductor SmFeAsO_0.85 were studied using DC magnetization data. Polycrystalline SmFeAsO_0.85 was prepared in a high pressure synthesis apparatus under the pressure of 6 GPa. The results of DC susceptibility showed the superconducting transition at about 55 K. A critical current density J_c(B) was calculated using Bean’s critical state model. At low temperatures (20 K), J_c(B) showed a relatively high value with weak dependence on an applied magnetic field. At higher temperatures, a stronger dependence of the magnetic field was observed, which resulted from decrease in a critical current density probably due to the flux creep effect. The irreversibility line (IL) agreed well with the flux creep theory of Matsushita et al. A comparison of normalized pinning force density with the theoretical models showed that the irreversible behavior in SmFeAsO_0.85 is dominated mainly by normal point pinning (δT_c) and surface pinning mechanisms.     

A possible mechanism of superconductivity in high-Tc cuprates

This paper derives a generic T_c formula by using the long-range phase coherence condition in quantum phase fluctuation of the order parameter. Taking the two-local-spin-mediated interaction (TLSMI) proposed by Liu and Chen [Phys. Rev. B 58 (1998) 8812] as a Cooper pair potential, and the T_c formula, this paper explains five basic experimental facts in high-T_c cuprates. The aim of this paper is to show that TLSMI is a possible pairing mechanism of superconductivity in high-T_c cuprates.     

高温超导体中约瑟夫森涡旋流阻的振荡效应

通过数值计算耦合sine-Gordon方程组研究高温超导体中约瑟夫森涡旋的运动,得到约瑟夫森涡旋电压和流阻随平面磁场和驱动电流的变化规律.固定驱动电流,约瑟夫森涡旋电压和流阻随着磁场的增大出现周期性的振荡行为,振荡周期与每层约瑟夫森结中进入一个磁通量子相对应.分析和阐明了产生这种周期性振荡的原因. 关键词： 约瑟夫森涡旋 涡旋格子 高温超导     

新超导体MgCNi3的虚晶掺杂研究

用全势线性缀加平面波方法,考虑局域自旋密度近似研究虚晶掺杂MgCNi₃的超导电性和磁性.计算了自旋极化能带结构、体弹性模量和它对压力的导数、原子磁矩m及其变化率.计算结果表明，对于电子掺杂的Mg_1-xAl_xCNi₃(0≤x≤0.5)，超导电性和磁涨落随掺杂量的增加逐渐减小.空穴掺杂的Mg_1-xNa_xCNi₃,在x＝0.12处出现铁磁相变，超导电性消失.在MgCNi₃少量空穴掺杂区域(0≤x<0.12)，表现为超导与磁涨落共存的不稳定状态. 关键词： 超导电性 能带结构 态密度 磁性     

AC losses in a flexible 10 m long conductor model for a HTS power transmission cable

To demonstrate the possibility of manufacturing a HTS power transmission cable with low AC losses, we fabricated a 10 m long cable conductor and a cryosystem. The conductor was wound in a four-layer design out of 2 km Ag/Bi-2223 tapes. We determined a critical current of 5000 A. Loss measurements were performed with an electric method which detects the voltage drop along the conductor with a lock-in technique and a calorimetric method which measures the temperature rise along the conductor. Both methods yield the same low loss values of only 0.8 W/m at 77 K and 2000 A_rms/50 Hz. This is due to the low loss winding scheme we used which assures an equal current distribution in all four layers through transformatoric coupling. We applied the uniform current distribution model and added the nonlinear V–I curve to describe quantitatively the obtained results.     

Investigation of flux pinning properties of YBCO:BaZrO3 composite superconductor from temperature dependent magnetization studies

Magnetization studies of YBCO:BaZrO₃ composite superconductor have been done over a wide range of temperature and applied magnetic field using MPMS SQUID VSM and the results are compared with that of pure YBCO. The analysis of the observed results indicate that there is considerable improvement in the values of critical current density (J_C) and pinning force density (F_p) of YBCO:BaZrO₃ composite samples as compared to pure YBCO sample in the entire investigated range of applied magnetic field and temperatures ranging from 4 to 77 K. The variation of J_C with reduced temperature t (=T/T_C) for the composite samples has been found to be similar to that of pure YBCO sample indicating similar nature of the vortex interaction with pinning centres in both pure and composite samples. The enhancement in the value of J_C and F_p in the composite samples as compared to pure YBCO sample has been attributed to the increased defect density in the composite samples due to the presence of BZO particles in YBCO matrix.     

电子型掺杂高温超导体La2-xCexCuO4飞秒时间分辨动力学研究

利用飞秒时间分辨光抽运探测技术研究了电子型掺杂La_2-xCe_xCuO₄(LCCO)高温超导材料的准粒子超快动力学过程.得到低温(T<0.7T_c)、转变温度附近(0.7T_c≤T≤T_c)和高温(T>T_c)三个温区内的动力学行为.研究发 关键词： 电子型掺杂高温超导体 飞秒时间分辨 准粒子 声子瓶颈     

Influence of DC external magnetic field on AC transport current loss of HTS tape

We measured the AC transport current loss of Bi 2223 multifilament Ag-sheathed tape under DC external magnetic field of 0–0.2 T. There were discrepancies between the measured data and Norris' formula for elliptical model in the range of low value of I_p/I_c (I_p and I_c are peak of the AC transport current and critical current of the tape respectively), while without DC background field, the loss of the tape was close to Norris' formula. Theoretically speaking, even with the DC background field and decreased critical current the AC transport current loss of the tape follows Norris' formula which is derived from the Bean model. When DC background field is applied to the HTS tape, n value of the power law E–J characteristics decreases together with the decrease of J_c. Dependence of the AC transport current loss on the n value was analyzed by numerical calculation. The results show that the loss depends on the n value and that decrease of the n value is one of the causes of the discrepancies between the measured data and Norris' formula.     

The distribution of transport critical current in high temperature superconductor ceramics

The temperature and size dependence of the transport critical current in Y-123 and Bi-2223 + Bi-2212 HTSC ceramic sample has been studied. It is shown that the critical current may be presented as power function of cross section area, the critical current density is homogeneous function of coordinates and a number of properties of the critical current density are reported.     

Enhancement of the critical current density in YBCO/Ag composites

YBa₂Cu₃O_7 + xAg?(x = 0.0, ?5.0, ?15.0 and 20 wt%) composite samples have been prepared by the solid state reaction method. The changes in structure are confirmed from the X-ray diffraction analysis and SEM measurements. The critical current density is calculated using Bean's formula from the magnetization measurement. We find that the addition of silver in YBCO enhances the critical current density (?J_C) by a factor of nearly six (for 15% Ag) in comparison to pure YBCO. Enhancement of the pinning force (F_P) by a factor of ten is also reported. The enhancement in ?J_C is investigated over a wide range of magnetic fields. These significant changes in ?J_C and F_P are attributed to the presence of Ag particles as efficient artifical pinning centers in YBCO.     

Influence of fluctuations on thermal conductivity of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductor

To study a behavior of the thermal conductivity near T_c specific heat and thermal diffusivity of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ high-T_c ceramics were simultaneously measured. Close to T_c = 92.30 K the thermal diffusivity and the thermal conductivity discovered minima and the specific heat – maximum. Quantitative analysis of the influence of thermodynamical fluctuations showed the same power laws with Gaussian exponent equal to 0.5 and existing of crossover from the 3D Gaussian to 3D XY critical behavior in the specific heat and thermal conductivity at the approach to T_c. To explain the minimum in thermal conductivity at T_c we propose a mechanism of scattering of phonons on the superconducting fluctuations.     

AC loss in a high-temperature superconducting coil

In a typical superconducting coil made of BSCCO/Ag tape, both amplitude and direction of the magnetic field determine the critical current, resistive voltage and AC loss. The distribution of the magnetic field along and across the superconducting tape in a coil is rather complex. This gives rise to the question: how accurate can one predict the critical current, V–I characteristic and AC loss of the AC coil from results of short sample measurements? To answer this question, we have measured and compared the characteristics of a short sample and a small coil employing 14 m of the same tape at 77 K. The comparison is performed as follows. First, a short sample is characterised with regard to the field dependence of the critical current, V–I characteristic and the AC loss. Second, the distribution of the magnetic field along the tape in a coil is accurately calculated. From the data, the voltage along the tape and the loss of the tape in the coil are found. Finally, the resistive voltage and the AC loss of the complete coil are calculated and compared to measured AC losses in the frequency range of 0 to 160 Hz, typical for power applications.     

Heat propagation and stability in a small high Tc superconductor coil

Using a Bi-based small high T_c superconductor (HTSC) coil, we have studied its stability against a local disturbance and current-induced quench in the helium gas cooling condition. While the stability margin of HTSC coil against a local disturbance was very large, quench current was limited by a catastrophic temperature rise which originated from the nonlinear characteristic of the Joule heating. The crucial parameter for the quench becomes the nonlinear resistance in HTSC as a function of temperature and transport current. It has been shown that the dynamic characteristics of the quench can be described quantitatively by the simplified one-dimensional heat balance equation.