Levitation performance of the magnetized bulk high-Tc superconducting magnet with different trapped fields

To a high-T_c superconducting (HTS) maglev system which needs large levitation force density, the magnetized bulk high-T_c superconductor (HTSC) magnet is a good candidate because it can supply additional repulsive or attractive force above a permanent magnet guideway (PMG). Because the induced supercurrent within a magnetized bulk HTSC is the key parameter for the levitation performance, and it is sensitive to the magnetizing process and field, so the magnetized bulk HTSC magnets with different magnetizing processes had various levitation performances, not only the force magnitude, but also its force relaxation characteristics. Furthermore, the distribution and configuration of the induced supercurrent are also important factor to decide the levitation performance, especially the force relaxation characteristics. This article experimentally investigates the influences of different magnetizing processes and trapped fields on the levitation performance of a magnetized bulk HTSC magnet with smaller size than the magnetic inter-pole distance of PMG, and the obtained results are qualitatively analyzed by the Critical State Model. The test results and analyses of this article are useful for the suitable choice and optimal design of magnetized bulk HTSC magnets.     

Rotating frames in special relativity

A uniformly rotating frame is defined as the rest frame of a particle revolving with constant velocityω in a circle about theZ-axis of an inertial frame Σ⁰. Under the conditionz=Z,r=R, theoretical constraints are established for the solution of the transformation problem Σ⁰→Σ^ω r,Σ^ω r being the cylindrical subframe of Σ^ω. The unique solution of the problem in cylindrical coordinates is isomorphic to the special Lorentz transformationL _x, withβ=v/c replaced byβ _r=ωr/c. Hence the intrinsic geometry on the surface of a rotating cylinder is Euclidean. Though there exists no complete intrinsic geometry on the surface of a rotating disk, the geodesics on it are straight lines while the circumference of a concentric circle isK _r2πr as predicted by Einstein.     

Optimizing magnetization orientation of permanent magnets for maximal gradient force

The force exercised on a permanent magnet (PM) in a nonuniform field (gradient force) is dependent on the magnetization orientation of the magnet. In this paper, it is shown theoretically that the gradient force is greatest when the magnetization through the magnet, or at least at its surface, is collinear with the external field. The formulae for calculating the force between an axis-symmetric optimal magnet and a coaxial axis-symmetric coil are presented. Using the finite element method (FEM), calculations of the magnetic field distribution of an optimal cylindrical magnet and some its approximations are performed. The forces between these magnets and a pancake coil are computed and compared. For a system consisting of a magnet with a height of 1 unit and a diameter of 2 units and magnetization invariant in field and an annular pancake coil with a diameter of 2.4 units, a thickness of 0.2 units, an inner diameter of 0.4 units and a distance from the magnet of 0.2 units, the force on the optimal magnet was 1.44 times greater than the force on an axially magnetized magnet of the same size and magnetization magnitude. The optimal magnetization may be approximated by magnetization inclined at a constant angle to the axis and by a combination of axially and radially magnetized sections. With magnetization at a constant angle to the axis in the axis plane, the force was greatest when the angle was about 45°, being 1.38-fold compared to the force on an axially magnetized magnet. When the magnet was composed of an axially magnetized cylindrical core and a radially magnetized outer ring, the force was greatest when the volume of the core was approximately equal to the volume of the ring, being 1.26-fold compared to the force on an axially magnetized magnet. The optimal magnet and its approximations also provided a reduced stray field. A short review of methods of the fabrication of permanent magnets (PMs) with a continuous variation of the magnetization orientation and with radial magnetization orientation is given.The results of this study can be used to design linear electromagnetic (micro)actuators.     

High magnetic field researches in Tohoku University

Using hybrid magnets for fields up to 31 T, superconducting magnets up to 20 T and cryogen-free magnets up to 15 T, characterization of superconductors, materials synthesis and condensed matter physics are being done in the High Field Laboratory for Superconducting Materials. We have developed thin strong superconducting wire, which enable us to construct compact magnet, cryogen-free magnet and cryogen-free hybrid magnet for the first time. We have found that polymer materials, high T_c superconductors and protein single crystals synthesized in high magnetic fields show different characters from those synthesized in normal condition. Magnetic levitation is performed to make a microgravity condition for materials processing similar to the space.     

Evaluation of magnetic force distribution on a pair of superconducting bulk magnets

We study the construction of superconducting permanent magnets by RE123 bulk materials and the investigation of these industrial applications such as a magnetic separation. A bulk magnet can generate strong magnetic fields exceeding 2 T, which is the limit of ordinary iron-cored electromagnets, in a compact device with a low running cost. A magnetic field distribution of the bulk magnet is a cone shape, and it contributes to an increase of magnetic force which is proportional to the product of a magnetic field and its gradient. It is important to evaluate magnetic force when the application of the bulk magnet is discussed. In this paper, two Gd123 bulk materials of 65 mm in diameter were magnetized using a pair of superconducting bulk magnet system and three-axis components of magnetic flux density (B_x,⋅B_y, and B_z) in an open space between the magnetic poles were scanned with pitch of 2 mm in each direction. From these measured data, the axial and radial components of magnetic force factor, B_z⋅dB_z/dz and B_r⋅dB_r/dr, were calculated. At 10 mm gap, the B_z⋅dB_z/dz value reached 180.6 T²/m for a field of 2.33 T, which is comparable to B_z = 6.76 T for a common 10 T–100 mm∅ superconducting magnet.     

Permanent magnet applications

Rare-earth permanent magnets are ideally suited to generate magnetic fields comparable to their spontaneous polarization J_S. Near-square hysteresis loops and large values of the coercivity and anisotropy fields greatly simplify magnet design, as each magnet block is effectively transparent to the magnetic fields produced elsewhere in the magnet assembly. The fields generated by compact and efficient magnet structures requiring no continuous expenditure of energy can be static or variable, uniform or nonuniform. Permanent magnets are fully competitive with electromagnets for fields up to 2 T, and fields as high as to 5 T can be produced in a small volume. When a field with a rapid spatial variation is required, permanent magnets may offer the only practicable solution. Both permanent magnet structures and the uses to which they are put are reviewed, classifying the magnet applications in terms of the nature of the field, the effect on the magnet and the physical effect exploited.     

Study of high-coercivity sintered NdFeB magnets

Magnetic powders for sintered NdFeB magnets have been prepared by using an advanced processing method including strip casting, hydrogen decrepitation, jet milling and rubber isotropic press. The effects of Dy, Ga and Co addition on the microstructure and magnetic properties of sintered magnets have been investigated. By adopting a suitable component ratio and adjusting proper technological parameters, we have prepared high-coercivity sintered NdFeB magnets with hard magnetic properties of _jH_c=25.6 kOe, B_r=13.2 kG and (BH)_max=39.9 MGOe. The temperature coefficient of coercivity of the magnets (between 20 and 150 °C) is –0.53%/°C. The magnetic properties at high temperature satisfy the needs of permanent magnet motors.     

Some rigorous results for electromagnetic mass splittings in QCD

Written proved recently that m_π⁺m_π⁰. We note that this result is a consequence of the Green's function inequalities generalized to include EM as background fields. We also suggest that all ΔI = 2EM mass splittings can be proved to be positive.     

The role of dipolar interaction in nanocomposite permanent magnets

The effects of dipolar interactions on the magnetization behaviors and magnetic properties of the nanocomposite magnets have been studied by micromagnetic simulations. Numerical results show that the dipolar interaction plays an important role during the demagnetization process, especially in the magnets with large soft-phase content _vs$v_{\mathrm{s}}$. For the isotropic nanocomposites, the remanence enhancement can be controlled through adjustments of the grain size D   and _vs$v_{\mathrm{s}}$. However, the appearance of magnetic vortex state leads to a very low remanence in the magnets with large D   and _vs$v_{\mathrm{s}}$. The dependence of coercivity on D   and _vs$v_{\mathrm{s}}$ can be attributed to the exchange-induced magnetization reversal near the grain boundaries and the low nucleation field of soft phase, respectively. For the anisotropic nanocomposites, the reduced remanence _mr$m_{\mathrm{r}}$ is equal to 1.0$1.0$ for the magnets with small D   or with low _vs$v_{\mathrm{s}}$. However, _mr$m_{\mathrm{r}}$ decreases with increasing _vs$v_{\mathrm{s}}$ for the magnet with large D   due to the influence of dipolar interactions. The difference between the calculated coercivity _Hc$H_{\mathrm{c}}$ with and without considering dipolar interaction shows that the dipolar interaction plays a more important role during the magnetization reversal in the soft phase than that in the hard phase. The maximum calculated energy product of the isotropic nanocomposites is only about 40 MGOe due to the conflicting relation between remanence and coercivity, while that of the anisotropic nanocomposites is 112 MGOe. This reminds us that the alignment of hard grain is important to obtain high performance.     

The origin of graduated demagnetization curves of NdFeB magnets

We present an analysis of the magnetization process of NdFeB-type magnets which exhibit a constriction or a shoulder of the demagnetization curve near the remanence point B_r. This constriction which drastically reduces the maximum energy product of the permanent magnet is discussed in terms of i) a siperposition of a soft and a hard magnetic phase, ii) an oxidation process of surface layers, iii) and the spin reorientation which changes the magnetic structure from easy c-axis to easy cone below 135 K. We demonstrate that the effect of surface oxidation and of a soft magnetic phase are of considerable influence over the entire temperature range while the influence of the spin reorientation is dominant below 150 K. The appearance of the cone structure prevents the application of NdFeB magnets in a magnetic circuit below 150 K.     

Thermal stability and switching field of hard/soft-stacked perpendicular media

The time dependence of remanence coercivity and thermal stability were investigated for hard/soft-stacked media consisting of a magnetically hard granular layer underneath a very thin soft layer with a large saturation magnetization, M_s. The values of remanence coercivity at measurement times t′=10³ and 10⁻⁵ s (pulse field) were measured, and defined as H_r and H_r^P. The remanence coercivity on the recording time scale, H_r (1 ns), and the energy barrier, ΔE/kT, were evaluated by fitting H_r and H_r^P to Sharrock's equation taking into account the power law variation of the energy barrier, n. The value of H_r (1 ns) for a (Co–Pt)–SiO₂ (9 nm)/Co–SiO₂ (2 nm) stacked medium with an interfacial coupling control layer was about 9 kOe, which was less than half of that of a (Co–Pt)–SiO₂ (9 nm) conventional medium (=21.3 kOe). The value of ΔE/kT for the stacked medium was about 111 (n=0.7), and was not significantly different from the conventional medium. Moreover, no significant difference in the rate of decrease of H_r with increasing temperature was observed between media with and without interlayers. These results indicate that the use of a thin soft layer with high M_s was effective at significantly reducing H_r with no notable change in thermal stability.     

Composite bonded magnets with controlled anisotropy directions prepared by viscous deformation technique

When a radially anisotropic rare earth bonded magnet for a rotor with a high (BH)_max value is magnetized multi-polarly, its flux distributes rectangularly and increases a cogging torque. In order to overcome this difficulty, we newly developed highly dense Sm₂Fe₁₇N₃ and Nd₂Fe₁₄B-based composite bonded magnets with continuously controlled anisotropy directions by using a viscous deformation technique.     

Study of the γD → ppπ− reaction in the Δ(1236) region for well defined kinematical conditions

The γD → ppπ^? reaction cross section, in the Δ(1236) region, is measured in a counter experiment with high statistical accuracy. Particular emphasis is put on the accurate determination of the complete kinematics. For low values of the undetected nucleon momentum (p_r, ≈ 50 MeV/c), the validity of the spectator nucleon model is experimentally checked and the γn → pπ^? elementary reaction cross section is extracted and compared with other experimental data. When the recoiling nucleon momentum increases (p_r ≈ 150 MeV/c), significant departures from the spectator nucleon model are found. Presumably they are the signature of final state interaction effects.     

Magnetic coupling between Gd and Pr ions and magnetocaloric effect in Gd0.5Pr0.5Al2 compound

In this work, we report the theoretical and experimental investigations on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties for Gd_0.5Pr_0.5Al₂ compound in different magnetic fields. The magnetization features indicate that Gd_0.5Pr_0.5Al₂ is ferrimagnetic at low temperatures. We also present data from X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments for this compound, with which we have confirmed that the magnetic moments of the Pr ions are antiparallel to the magnetic moments of the Gd ions. The magnetocaloric parameters, ΔT_S and ΔS_T, were obtained from calorimetric data and both curves present normal and inverse magnetocaloric effect. A theoretical model for ferrimagnetic coupling, including the crystalline electrical field anisotropy, was used to describe the ΔT_S and ΔS_T experimental results.     

de Haas van Alphen (dHvA) effect in two-dimensional (2D) conductors: susceptibility oscillations

A new scheme for analyzing the de Haas van Alphen (dHvA) effect in nearly two dimensional (2D) metals (i.e. with nearly cylindrical Fermi surface) is presented. The envelope of the magnetic susceptibility oscillations is calculated in the entire range of magnetic fields and temperatures. The resulting envelope function is found to be proportional to a universal function of the dimensionless parameter Q=hω_c/k _B T. The upper (i.e. paramagnetic) branch of the susceptibility envelope has a maximum at a certain Q = 5.45. This universal value may be useful for determining the effective cyclotron mass and the Fermi energy of nearly 2D metals. A simple relation between magnetization oscillations amplitude and calculated susceptibility amplitudes is derived. The corresponding limiting formulae for the magnetization oscillations envelope are found to match smoothly around the value X = 2π²/Q?2 of the Lifshitz-Kosevich (LK) smearing parameter. The influence of Fermi surface sheets with open orbits on magneto-quantum oscillations is considered. Triangle-like rather than saw-tooth-like oscillations at ultralow temperatures are obtained and substantially diminished magnetization and susceptibility amplitudes are calculated. This suggests the possibility of estimating the band structure parameters of Fermi surface sheets from magneto-quantum oscillations measurements.     

Effects of powder flowability on the alignment degree and magnetic properties for NdFeB sintermagnets

The magnetic powders for sintered NdFeB magnets have been prepared by using the strip casting (SC), hydrogen decrepitation (HD) and jet milling (JM) techniques. The effects of powder flowability and addition of a lubricant on the alignment degree and the hard magnetic properties of sintered magnets have been studied. The results show that the main factor affecting powder flowability is the aggregation of magnetic particles for powders in a loose state, but it is the friction between the powder particles for powders that are in a compact state. The addition of a lubricant with suitable dose can slightly prevent the congregating of powders, obviously decrease the friction between the powder particles, improve the powder flowability, and increase the alignment degree, remanence and energy product density of sintered magnets. Mixing a suitable dose of lubricant and adopting rubber isostatic pressing (RIP) with a pulse magnetic field, we have succeeded in producing the sintered NdFeB magnet with high hard magnetic properties of B_r=14.57 KG, _jH_c=14.43 KOe, (BH)_max=51.3 MGOe.     

Anomalous Hall effect in Cu and Fe codoped In2O3 and ITO thin films

We present a systematic study of the structure, magnetization, resistivity, and Hall effect properties of pulsed laser deposited Fe- and Cu-codoped In₂O₃ and indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin films. Both the films show a clear ferromagnetism and anomalous Hall effect at 300 K. The saturated magnetic moments are almost the same for the two samples, but their remanent moments M_r and coercive fields H_C are quite different. M_r and H_C values of ITO film are much smaller than that of In₂O₃. The ITO sample shows a typical semiconducting behavior in whole studied temperature range, while the In₂O₃ thin film is metallic in the temperature range between 147 and 285 K. Analysis of different conduction mechanisms suggest that charge carriers are not localized in the present films. The profile of the anomalous Hall effect vs. magnetic field was found to be identical to the magnetic hysteresis loops, indicating the possible intrinsic nature of ferromagnetism in the present samples.     

Analysis of the magnetic field, force, and torque for two-dimensional Halbach cylinders

The Halbach cylinder is a construction of permanent magnets used in applications such as nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus, accelerator magnets and magnetic cooling devices. In this paper the analytical expression for the magnetic vector potential, magnetic flux density and magnetic field for a two dimensional Halbach cylinder are derived. The remanent flux density of a Halbach magnet is characterized by the integer p. For a number of applications the force and torque between two concentric Halbach cylinders are important. These quantities are calculated and the force is shown to be zero except for the case where p for the inner magnet is one minus p for the outer magnet. Also the force is shown never to be balancing. The torque is shown to be zero unless the inner magnet p is equal to minus the outer magnet p. Thus there can never be a force and a torque in the same system.     

Stabilization of the Polarity of (NdSmDy)(FeCo)B Permanent Magnets for Application in Magnetic Undulators

The temperature dependences of the magnetization of polycrystalline samples of (NdSmDy)(FeCo)B sintered permanent magnets are measured in various magnetic fields by a SQUID magnetometer. Near T = 110 K, the spin-reorientation transition occurs. Bistable magnetic states with two equally possible orientations of the magnetization vector corresponding to different polarities of the permanent magnet are formed in the samples near the spin-reorientation transition. The polarity of the sintered magnets can be stabilized by a small external magnetic field of ～250 Oe. It provides new possibilities for the application of these magnets in cryomagnetic systems such as magnetic undulators.     

Excess current in contacts based on magnesium diboride

The excess current I _exc in In/MgB₂ and Pb/MgB₂ contacts was investigated as a function of the energy gaps Δ_σ and Δ_π in magnesium diboride MgB₂. It was shown that, even in the “dirty” limit, electrons from the σ and π bands do not undergo mixing; i.e., they remain confined to their bands over a long period of time. On this basis, the measurements of the excess current I _exc for contacts prepared in different crystallographic directions of the MgB₂ crystals made it possible to determine the energy gaps Δ_π ≈ 3.0 meV and Δ_σ = 7.5 meV.