Description of the transport critical current density behavior of polycrystalline superconductors as a function of the applied magnetic field

A model to describe the critical current density behavior of high-T_c polycrystalline superconductors is proposed for all magnetic field values. The main features of the model are as follows: the transport critical current density is controlled by the weak-link network at grain boundaries. The size distribution of weak links is well represented by a Gamma-type distribution. Finally, the tunneling critical current between grains follows a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern or a modified pattern if the applied magnetic field is lower or higher than the first critical field H_c1.