Barrier or easy-flow channel: The role of grain boundary acting on vortex motion in type-Ⅱ superconductors

Grain boundaries(GBs),as extremely anisotropic pinning defects,have a strong impact on vortex motion in type-Ⅱsuperconductors,and further on the macro level dominates the superconductivity for example the critical current density.Many previous studies indicated that mostly GB plays the role of a strong barrier for vortex motion,while an easy-flow channel just under some certain conditions.In order to thoroughly make clear of the questions of what is exactly the role of GB on vortex motion and how it works,in this article we developed a large scale molecular dynamic model and revealed the action of GB on vortex motion in type-Ⅱ superconductors.The most significant finding is that the role of GB on vortex motion can be changeable from a barrier to an easy-flow channel,and which is intrinsically determined by the competition effect correlated with its action on vortex between in the GB and no-GB regions.Such the competition effect essentially depends on the attributes of both the GB(described by the GB strength and angle θ) and no-GB pining regions(by the relative disorder strength α_p/a_v).Specifically,for a YBa_2 Cu_3 O_(7-x)(YBCO) sample,to obtain a clear knowledge of vortex motion in GB region,we visualized the three typical trajectories of vortices during the three vortex movement stages.Further,in order to understand how GB results in the macro current-carrying property,corresponding to the current-voltage relation of the YBCO conductor,we obtained the average velocity v_y of vortices varying with their driving force,which is nearly identical with the previous observations.     

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.     

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.     

Quadruple-stacked Nb/Nb_xSi_(1-x)/Nb Josephson junctions for large-scale array application

Large-scale Josephson junction(JJ) arrays are essential in many applications, especially quantum voltage standards application for which hundreds of thousands of junctions are required to realize a high quantum voltage. For almost all applications, high-quality JJ arrays must be realized in a small chip area. This study proposes vertically quadruplestacked Nb/Nb_xSi_(1-x) JJs to increase the integration density of junctions in an array. The current–voltage(I–V)characteristics of a single stack of Nb/Nb_xSi_(1-x) JJs have been measured at 4.2 K. The uniformity of junctions in one stack and the uniformity of several stacks over the entire 2 inches wafer have been analyzed. By optimizing the fabrication parameters, a large-scale quadruple-stacked Nb/Nb_xSi_(1-x) array consisting of 400000 junctions is realized. Good DC I–V characteristics are obtained, indicating the good uniformity of the large-scale array.     

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.     

AC Alternating-Current Loss Analyses of a Thin High-Temperature Superconducting Tube Carrying AC Transport Current in AC External Magnetic Field

Numerical simulations on the AC loss characteristics in a thin high-temperature superconducting （HTS） tube are presented. Geometry of the HTS conductor is modeled as a tube with negligible thickness, and assumed to carry a transport current with the same phase as an AC externally applied magnetic field perpendicular to the axis. Based on the classical theory of AC loss with the Bean critical current model, the distribution of critical current density jc and AC loss Q are obtained by means of numerical analysis. The results are in very good agreement with experiments. A double-peak profile is observed in the curve of the critical current density distribution along the azimuth angle. This numerical simulation method is suitable for a thin HTS tube, which may be applicable on a thin tube configuration consisting of coated superconductors.     

Temperature dependences of ferroelectricity and resistive switching behavior of epitaxial BiFeO_3 thin films

We investigate the resistive switching and ferroelectric polarization properties of high-quality epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films in various temperature ranges. The room temperature current–voltage(I–V) curve exhibits a well-established polarization-modulated memristor behavior. At low temperatures( 253 K), the I–V curve shows an open circuit voltage(OCV), which possibly originates from the dielectric relaxation effects, accompanied with a current hump due to the polarization reversal displacement current. While at relative higher temperatures( 253 K), the I–V behaviors are governed by both space-charge-limited conduction(SCLC) and Ohmic behavior. The polarization reversal is able to trigger the conduction switching from Ohmic to SCLC behavior, leading to the observed ferroelectric resistive switching. At a temperature of 298 K, there occurs a new resistive switching hysteresis at high bias voltages, which may be related to defect-mediated effects.     

The 0–π Phase Transition in Epitaxial NbN/Ni_(60)Cu_(40)/NbN Josephson Junctions

We fabricate high quality superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor(SFS) Josephson junctions using epitaxial NbN/Ni_(60)Cu_(40)/NbN trilayer heterostructures. Both experimental measurements and theoretical calculations of the ferromagnet layer thickness dependence of the Josephson critical current are performed. We observe the damped oscillation behavior of the critical current as a function of the ferromagnetic layer thickness at 4.2 K,which shows a 0–π phase transition in this type of magnetic Josephson junction. Clear 0– and reverse –0 phase transitions occur around the Ni_(60)Cu_(40) thicknesses of 3.2 and 6.7 nm. Numerical calculations based on the quasi-classical Usadel equation and the Green function fit well with the experimental results. Compared with the dirty limit, the intermediate regime without the dead layer gives better fit for our SFS Josephson junctions because of the epitaxial structure. Both of the 0-and -phase junctions show the ideal magnetic field dependence with a Fraunhofer-like pattern at 4.2 K.     

High-Tc planar SQUID gradiometer for eddy current non-destructive evaluation

This paper reports the fabrication and test of a high-Tc SQUID planar gradiometer which is patterned from YBCO thin film deposited on a SrTiO3 bicrystal substrate. The measurement of noise spectrum at 77K shows that the white noise at 200 Hz is about 1×10^-4 φ0/√Hz. The minimal magnetic gradient is measured and the results suggest that the minimal magnetic gradient is 94 pT/m. The planar gradiometer is used in non-destructive evaluation （NDE） experiments to detect the artifacts in conducting aluminium plates by performing eddy current testing in an unshielded environment. The effect of the exciting coil dimension on the NDE results is investigated. By mapping out the induced field distribution, flaws about 10mm below the plate surface can be clearly identified.     

Superconducting(Li,Fe)OHFeSe Film of High Quality and High Critical Parameters

A superconducting film of(Li_(1-x)Fe_x)OHFeSe is reported for the first time. The thin film exhibits a small in-plane crystal mosaic of 0.22°,in terms of the full width at half maximum of the x-ray rocking curve,and an excellent outof-plane orientation by x-ray φ-scan. Its bulk superconducting transition temperature T_c of 42.4 K is characterized by both zero electrical resistance and diamagnetization measurements. The upper critical field H_(c2) is estimated to be 79.5 T and 443 T for the magnetic field perpendicular and parallel to the ab plane, respectively.Moreover, a large critical current density J_c of a value over 0.5 MA/cm~2 is achieved at ~20 K. Such a(Li_(1-x)Fe_x) OHFeSe film is therefore not only important to the fundamental research for understanding the high-T_c mechanism, but also promising in the field of high-T_c superconductivity application, especially in high-performance electronic devices and large scientific facilities such as superconducting accelerator.     

Peculiarities of rf SQUID response in finite magnetic fields

Single-layer washer-type high-T_c YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x rf SQUIDs with grain-boundary Josephson junctions, as well as low-T_c Nb rf SQUIDs with Nb–Al₂O₃–Nb tunnel junctions, have been investigated in finite magnetic fields. It was shown experimentally that the suppression of the critical current of the Josephson junction due to the magnetic field leads to a modulation of the amplitude of the SQUID output signal. The role of the “unwanted” junction in high-T_c rf SQUIDs, which is formed by the grain boundary running through the washer of the SQUIDs on bicrystal substrates, has also been clarified. The drop of the SQUID signal at a finite magnetic field is originated by the penetration of the magnetic field into the unwanted junction. Based on these results, a direct radio-frequency method for the determination of the first critical field H_c1 for long Josephson junctions has been developed.     

Dynamical phase transition of a driven vortex lattice with disordered pinning

We have numerically solved the overdamped equation of vortex motion in a two-dimensional driven vortex lattice with disordered pinning, in which the driving Lorentz force, the pinning force due to point defects, the intervortex interacting force, and the thermal fluctuation force are taken into account. It is found that the vortex density and pinning strength are two important factors of affecting the melting transition of a vortex lattice. At low magnetic fields, there exist hysteresis loops of the average vortex velocity and the average pinning force vs. the driving force, from which the feature of a first-order melting transition of the vortex motion can be clearly seen. As the magnetic field is increased beyond a critical value, the hysteresis loops disappear and the melting transition is replaced by a second-order glass transition. We have also studied the influence of intervortex interactions on the vortex melting transition by comparing several forms of repulsive forces between the vortices.     

晶粒细化对MgB_2超导临界电流密度的作用

在多晶系统的MgB2超导体中存在晶粒间较小的整体电流和晶粒内大的局域电流.用改变升温速率的方法制备了不同晶粒大小和晶粒连接性的MgB2样品,并对它们的晶粒大小进行了统计.采用一种测量超导临界电流密度的Campbell法,分别测量和计算得到了它们的整体电流和局域电流密度.研究表明:长时间的烧结造成晶粒变大,材料有较大的整体临界电流密度,而短时间烧结的样品则相反;同时发现晶粒细化只提高了样品的局域临界电流密度,而且样品内部缺陷、杂质及晶界等因素是影响MgB2超导体整体电流传输的主要因素.     

Ca‐doped Ba2Cu3O7–δ bicrystal junctions fabricated on asymmetric SrTiO3 substrates

Bicrystal grain–boundary Josephson junctions of Ca–doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7–δ that is Y_0.7Ca_0.3Ba₂Cu₃O_7–δ were fabricated on three bicrystal SrTiO₃ (001) substrates with asymmetric 30°, 40° and 45° orientations. An enhancement of the critical current density in these Ca–doped junctions was observed when compared with normal YBCO grain–boundary junctions with similar angular orientations. The observed increase in the critical current density is large for the junctions fabricated on the asymmetric 30° bicrystal substrate and small or negligible, for those on the asymmetric 45° bicrystal substrate. The critical current was modulated by a magnetic field applied in the plane of the junctions. However, the Fraunhofer pattern observed due to the applied magnetic field deviates from the ideal one.     

A current density conservative scheme for incompressible MHD flows at a low magnetic Reynolds number. Part II: On an arbitrary collocated mesh

A conservative formulation of the Lorentz force is given here for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows at a low magnetic Reynolds number with the current density calculated based on Ohm’s law and the electrical potential formula. This conservative formula shows that the total momentum contributed from the Lorentz force is conservative when the applied magnetic field is constant. For the case with a non-constant applied magnetic field, the Lorentz force has been divided into two parts: a strong globally conservative part and a weak locally conservative part.The conservative formula has been employed to develop a conservative scheme for the calculation of the Lorentz force on an unstructured collocated mesh. Only the current density fluxes on the cell faces, which are calculated using a consistent scheme with good conservation, are needed for the calculation of the Lorentz force. Meanwhile, a conservative interpolation technique is designed to get the current density at the cell center from the current density fluxes on the cell faces. This conservative interpolation can keep the current density at the cell center conservative, which can be used to calculate the Lorentz force at the cell center with good accuracy. The Lorentz force calculated from the conservative current at the cell center is equivalent to the Lorentz force from the conservative formula when the applied magnetic field is constant, which can conserve the total momentum. We will further prove that the simple interpolation scheme used in the Part I [M.-J. Ni, R. Munipalli, N.B. Morley, P.Y. Huang, M. Abdou, A current density conservative scheme for MHD flows at a low magnetic Reynolds number. Part I. On a rectangular collocated grid system, Journal of Computational Physics, in press, doi:10.1016/j.jcp.2007.07.025] of this series of papers is conservative on a rectangular grid and can keep the total momentum conservative in a rectangular grid.     

Ba1-xKxFe2As2单晶(Tc=38.5K)磁通钉扎力与钉扎机理研究

铁基超导体是在2008年由Hosono发现的一种新型超导材料, 由于其具有上临界场高、各向异性小、临界电流密度大等优点, 在世界范围内引起了广泛关注. 以Ba_1-xK_xFe₂As₂为代表的FeAs-122系超导体具有结构简单、合成温度低、单晶容易制备等优点, 是物理学家和材料学家关注的焦点. 本工作在获得最优化掺杂的Ba_1-xK_xFe₂As₂单晶(T_c = 38.5 K)基础上, 通过分析其在不同磁场条件下电阻温度变化关系、不同温度条件下的磁滞回线等数据, 系统的研究了Ba_1-xK_xFe₂As₂单晶磁通钉扎力和磁通钉扎机理. 研究发现Ba_1-xK_xFe₂As₂超导体具有非常高的磁通钉扎势, 其中9 T的外场条件下, 其在H//c轴和H//ab面的钉扎势分别为5800 K和8100 K, 展示出良好的应用前景; 通过进一步分析发现, 其磁通钉扎机理应是由于晶格内部的小尺寸缺陷引起的电子平均自由程变化而导致的δl钉扎.     

磁涡旋极性翻转的局域能量

针对坡莫合金纳米圆盘中的单个磁涡旋结构,采用微磁学模拟研究了磁涡旋极性翻转过程中的局域能量密度.磁涡旋的极性翻转通过与初始涡旋极性相反的涡旋与反涡旋对的生成,以及随后发生的反涡旋与初始涡旋的湮没来实现.模拟结果显示当纳米圆盘样品中局域能量密度的最大值达到一临界值时,磁涡旋将会实现极性翻转,其中交换能起主导作用.基于涡旋极性翻转过程中出现的三涡旋态结构,应用刚性磁涡旋模型对局域交换能量密度进行了理论分析.通过刚性磁涡旋模型得到的磁涡旋极性翻转所需的局域交换能量密度的临界值与模拟结果符合得较好.     

Peculiarities of the vortex dynamics in YBa2Cu3Ox single crystals as revealed by irreversible microwave absorption

We report the results of a wide experimental study of the irreversible modulated microwave absorption as a function of temperature, applied magnetic field and modulation amplitude in the YBa₂Cu₃O_x single crystals. To analyze the experimental data the model of the microwave power dissipation by the flux lines has been developed taking into account thermal fluctuations, the distributions of currents and vortices over a sample. We have obtained the information about regimes of vortex motion in the different areas of the H–T phase diagram and estimated the values of flux flow viscosity and critical current density.