Final report: High current capacity high temperature superconducting film based tape for high field magnets

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ying Xin

2000-01-01

The primary goal of the program was to establish the process parameters for the continuous deposition of high quality, superconducting YBCO films on one meter lengths of buffered RABiTS tape using MOCVD and to characterize the potential utility of the resulting tapes in high field magnet applications

Influence of ion beam mixing on the growth of high temperature oxide superconducting thin film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bordes, N.; Rollett, A.D.; Cohen, M.R.; Nastasi, M.

1989-01-01

The superconducting properties of high temperature superconductor thin films are dependent on the quality of the substrate used to grow these films. In order to maximize the lattice matching between the superconducting film and the substrate, we have used a YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 thin film deposited on left-angle 100 right-angle SrTiO 3 as a template. The first film was prepared by coevaporation of Y, BaF 2 and Cu on left-angle 100 right-angle SrTiO 3 , followed by an anneal in ''wet'' oxygen at 850 degree C. This film showed a sharp transition at about 90 K. A thicker layer of about 5000 A was then deposited on top of this first 2000 angstrom film, using the same procedure. After the post anneal at 850 degree C, the transition took place at 80 K and no epitaxy of the second film was observed. Ion beam mixing at 400 degree C, using 400 keV O ions was done at the interface of the two films (the second one being not annealed). After the post anneal, the film displayed an improved Tc at 90K. Moreover, epitaxy was shown to take place from the interface SrTiO 3 -123 film towards the surface and was dependent of the dose. These results will be discussed from the data obtained from Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) combined with channeling experiments, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. 8 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs

High temperature superconducting compounds II; Proceedings of the Second Symposium, Anaheim, CA, Feb. 20, 21, 1990

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Whang, S.H.; Dasgupta, A.; Laibowitz, R.

1990-01-01

Various topics relevant to the production and implementation of high-temperature superconducting compounds are highlighted including critical current; texturing; ceramics and novel processing; composites; deformation and consolidation; thin films; microstructures; tapes, filaments, and ribbons; and thermodynamics. The thermally activated flux creep, critical current density and current enhancement in high-temperature superconductors are addressed. Also discussed are the phase stability and microstructure of doped superconductors, mechanical considerations in the processing of high-Tc superconductors, fabrication and application of high current density, high RTc superconducting thin films and devices, the effect of substrate temperature and RF biasing on the composition of sputtered Bi-based superconducting thin films, and optical electron microanalysis of cuprate superconductors. The microstructure dependence of critical current density and fabrication of double-layered ribbons from cuprate are also discussed

JETC (Japanese Technology Evaluation Center) Panel Report on High Temperature Superconductivity in Japan

Science.gov (United States)

Shelton, Duane; Gamota, George

1989-01-01

The Japanese regard success in R and D in high temperature superconductivity as an important national objective. The results of a detailed evaluation of the current state of Japanese high temperature superconductivity development are provided. The analysis was performed by a panel of technical experts drawn from U.S. industry and academia, and is based on reviews of the relevant literature and visits to Japanese government, academic and industrial laboratories. Detailed appraisals are presented on the following: Basic research; superconducting materials; large scale applications; processing of superconducting materials; superconducting electronics and thin films. In all cases, comparisons are made with the corresponding state-of-the-art in the United States.

Modern high-temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ching Wu Chu

1988-01-01

Ever since the discovery of superconductivity in 1911, its unusual scientific challenge and great technological potential have been recognized. For the past three-quarters of a century, superconductivity has done well on the science front. This is because sueprconductivity is interesting not only just in its own right but also in its ability to act as a probe to many exciting nonsuperconducting phenomena. For instance, it has continued to provide bases for vigorous activities in condensed matter science. Among the more recent examples are heavy-fermion systems and organic superconductors. During this same period of time, superconductivity has also performed admirably in the applied area. Many ideas have been conceived and tested, making use of the unique characteristics of superconductivity - zero resistivity, quantum interference phenomena, and the Meissner effect. In fact, it was not until late January 1987 that it became possible to achieve superconductivity with the mere use of liquid nitrogen - which is plentiful, cheap, efficient, and easy to handle - following the discovery of supercondictivity above 90 K in Y-Ba-Cu-O, the first genuine quaternary superconductor. Superconductivity above 90 K poses scientific and technological challenges not previously encountered: no existing theories can adequately describe superconductivity above 40 K and no known techniques can economically process the materials for full-scale applications. In this paper, therefore, the author recalls a few events leading to the discovery of the new class of quaternary compounds with a superconducting transition temperature T c in the 90 K range, describes the current experimental status of high-temperature superconductivity and, finally, discusses the prospect of very-high-temperature superconductivity, i.e., with a T c substantially higher than 100 K. 97 refs., 7 figs

High-temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lynn, J.W.

1990-01-01

This book discusses development in oxide materials with high superconducting transition temperature. Systems with Tc well above liquid nitrogen temperature are already a reality and higher Tc's are anticipated. The author discusses how the idea of a room-temperature superconductor appears to be a distinctly possible outcome of materials research

Generation of coherent electromagnetic radiation by superconducting films at nitrogen temperatures

CERN Document Server

Lykov, A N

2001-01-01

One detected generation of coherent electromagnetic radiation by GdBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 sub - sub x superconducting films within 1-10 MHz range at temperature of liquid nitrogen boiling. This type generation is caused by synchronization realized due to the feedback of abrupt changes of the Abrikosov's vortices produced by the external low-frequency magnetic field. Possibility to reach more intensive radiation due to increase of the area of superconducting film, as well as, via increase of amplitude and of frequency of electromagnetic field exciting a vortex system in films is the most important advantage of the given technique of generation

Structure and superconducting properties of Nb-Zr alloy films made by a high-rate sputtering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sekine, Hisashi; Inoue, Kiyoshi; Tachikawa, Kyoji

1978-01-01

Superconducting Nb-Zr alloy films have been prepared by a continuous high-rate sputtering on tantalum substrates. A deposition rate of 330 nm/min has been attained. The compositional profile in the Nb-Zr film is quite uniform and the film has nearly the same composition as that of the target. The films deposited in a pure argon atmosphere show a columnar structure grown perpendicular to the substrate. The grain size strongly depends on the substrate temperature. The phase transformations in the Nb-Zr film become more apparent and the structure becomes closer to the equilibrium state as the film is deposited in higher atmosphere pressures and/or at lower target voltages. The superconducting transition temperature T sub(c) of the films is about the same as that of bulk samples. The dependence of T sub(c) on the substrate temperature is explainable on the phase transformations in the film. Critical current density J sub(c) and its anisotropy is closely related to the grain structure of the film. Grain boundaries seem to act as the most predominant flux pinning centers in the films. Effects of oxygen in the sputtering atmosphere on the structure and superconducting properties of the Nb-Zr films have been also investigated. Oxygen significantly decreases the grain size of the film. Oxygen increases J sub(c) but decreases T sub(c) of the film. (auth.)

Pulsed laser deposition of high Tc superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Singh, R.K.; Narayan, J.

1990-01-01

This paper reports on the pulsed laser evaporation (PLE) technique for deposition of thin films characterized by a number of unique properties. Based on the experimental characteristics, a theoretical model is developed which considers the formation and anisotropic three dimensional expansion of the laser generated plasma. This model explains most of the experimental features observed in PLE. We have also employed the PLE technique for in-situ fabrication of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 superconducting thin films on different substrates in the temperature range of 500--650 degrees C. At temperatures below 600 degrees C, a biased interposing ring between the substrate and the target was found to significantly improve the superconducting properties. The minimum ion channeling yields were between 3--3.5% for films deposited on (100) SrTiO 3 and (100) LaAlO 3 substrates

New Methods for Thin Film Deposition and First Investigations of the use of High Temperature Superconductors for Thin Film Cavities

CERN Document Server

Gustafsson, Anna; Vollenberg, Wilhelmus; Seviour, Rebecca

2010-01-01

Niobium thin film cavities have shown good and reliable performance for LEP and LHC, although there are limitations to overcome if this technique should be used for new accelerators such as the ILC. New coating techniques like High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) has shown very promising results and we will report on its possible improvements for Nb thin film cavity performance. Current materials used in accelerator Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) technologies operate at temperatures below 4 K, which require complex cryogenic systems. Researchers have investigated the use of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) to form RF cavities, with limited success. We propose a new approach to achieve a high-temperature SRF cavity based on the superconducting ’proximity effect’. The superconducting proximity effect is the effect through which a superconducting material in close proximity to a non-superconducting material induces a superconducting condensate in the latter. Using this effect we hope...

Raman scattering diagnostics of YBa2Cu3Ox high temperature superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bagratashvili, V.N.; Burimov, V.N.; Denisov, V.N.

1988-01-01

Superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O x films produced by laser spraying of ceramic material are investigated by light Raman scattering (LCS). It is shown that using LCS it is possible to obtain data on phase composition and prevailing film orientation and to find optical conditions for their synthesis. The LCS method feature consists in a possibility of non-destructive remote control and high space resolution (several microns). Experimental results have shown that the best parameters (the highest T c and the narrowest Δ T c interval) are typical of films with prevailing orientation of 0 xy crystallite plane parallel to the surface

Thermal propagation and stability in superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gray, K.E.; Kampwirth, R.T.; Zasadzinski, J.F.; Ducharme, S.P.

1983-01-01

Thermal propagation and stable hot spots (normal domains) are studied in various high Tsub(c) superconducting films (Nb 3 Sn, Nb, NbN and Nb 3 Ge). A new energy balance is shown to give reasonable quantitative agreement of the dependence of the propagation velocity on the length of short normal domains. The steady state (zero velocity) measurements indicate the existence of two distinct situations for films on high thermal conductivity (sapphire) substrates. For low power per unit area the film and substrate have the same temperature, and the thermal properties of the substrate dominate. However, for higher power densities in short hot spots, the coupling is relatively weak and the thermal properties of the film alone are important. Here a connection is made between the critical current stability of superconducting films and a critical hot spot size for thermal propagation. As a result efficient heat removal is shown to dominate the stabilisation of superconducting films. The strong and weak coupling situations also lead to modifications of the models for propagation velocities on sapphire substrates. Self-healing of hot spots and other phenomena in superconducting film are explained. The potential use of the thermal propagation model in applications of superconductors, especially switches is discussed. (author)

Temperature dependence of the experimental penetration depth of superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fink, H.J.; Gruenfeld, V.; Pastawski, H.

1982-01-01

Experimental magnetic field penetration depths delta(t,d,H) of the stable and superheated Meissner state were calculated as a function of temperature for various applied magnetic fields and various film thicknesses for two cases: (1) lambda(t)/d<< kappa→infinity and (2) kappa< or approx. =2lambda(t)/d (lambda is the Ginzburg-Landau penetration depth, d is the film thickness, kappa is the GL parameter). The results of the first case should be a useful tool for obtaining lambda(0) of amorphous superconducting thin films

Magnetization Controlled Superconductivity in a Film with Magnetic Dots

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lyuksyutov, I.F.; Pokrovsky, V.; Pokrovsky, V.

1998-01-01

We consider a superconducting film with a magnetic dots array (MDA) placed upon it. Magnetic moments of the dots are normal to the film and strong enough to create vortices in the superconducting film. Magnetic interaction between dots is negligible. Zero-field cooling leads to random magnetization of the MDA well above the superconducting temperature. With this cooling, the film is in a resistive state below the (expected) superconducting transition. Paradoxically, when field cooled, the film with MDA can be superconducting. copyright 1998 The American Physical Society

Macroscopic Magnetic Coupling Effect: The Physical Origination of a High-Temperature Superconducting Flux Pump

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Wei; Coombs, Tim

2018-04-01

We have uncovered at the macroscopic scale a magnetic coupling phenomenon in a superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 -δ (YBCO) film, which physically explains the mechanism of the high-temperature superconducting flux pump. The coupling occurs between the applied magnetic poles and clusters of vortices induced in the YBCO film, with each cluster containing millions of vortices. The coupling energy is verified to originate from the inhomogeneous field of the magnetic poles, which reshapes the vortex distribution, aggregates millions of vortices into a single cluster, and accordingly moves with the poles. A contrast study is designed to verify that, to provide the effective coupling energy, the applied wavelength must be short while the field amplitude must be strong, i.e., local-field inhomogeneity is the crucial factor. This finding broadens our understanding of the collective vortex behavior in an applied magnetic field with strong local inhomogeneity. Moreover, this phenomenon largely increases the controlled vortex flow rate by several orders of magnitude compared with existing methods, providing motivation for and physical support to a new branch of wireless superconducting dc power sources, i.e., the high-temperature superconducting flux pump.

Some theories of high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cohen, M.L.

1990-01-01

In this paper a brief review is given of some historical aspects of theoretical research on superconductivity including a discussion of BCS theory and some theoretical proposals for mechanisms which can cause superconductivity at high temperatures

Magnetic Field Enhanced Superconductivity in Epitaxial Thin Film WTe2.

Science.gov (United States)

Asaba, Tomoya; Wang, Yongjie; Li, Gang; Xiang, Ziji; Tinsman, Colin; Chen, Lu; Zhou, Shangnan; Zhao, Songrui; Laleyan, David; Li, Yi; Mi, Zetian; Li, Lu

2018-04-25

In conventional superconductors an external magnetic field generally suppresses superconductivity. This results from a simple thermodynamic competition of the superconducting and magnetic free energies. In this study, we report the unconventional features in the superconducting epitaxial thin film tungsten telluride (WTe 2 ). Measuring the electrical transport properties of Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) grown WTe 2 thin films with a high precision rotation stage, we map the upper critical field H c2 at different temperatures T. We observe the superconducting transition temperature T c is enhanced by in-plane magnetic fields. The upper critical field H c2 is observed to establish an unconventional non-monotonic dependence on temperature. We suggest that this unconventional feature is due to the lifting of inversion symmetry, which leads to the enhancement of H c2 in Ising superconductors.

Transmission Level High Temperature Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Stewart, Gary [SuperPower, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)

2016-10-05

The primary objective of this project was to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of utilizing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials in a Transmission Level Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) application. During the project, the type of high-temperature superconducting material used evolved from 1^st generation (1G) BSCCO-2212 melt cast bulk high-temperature superconductors to 2^nd generation (2G) YBCO-based high-temperature superconducting tape. The SFCL employed SuperPower's “Matrix” technology, that offers modular features to enable scale up to transmission voltage levels. The SFCL consists of individual modules that contain elements and parallel inductors that assist in carrying the current during the fault. A number of these modules are arranged in an m x n array to form the current-limiting matrix.

Comparison of water degradation of YBaCuO superconducting films made from different structures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chang, C.; Tsai, J.A.

1988-01-01

Immersion of YBaCuO superconducting films in water has shown a large difference in degradation between structures with and without silver. For the structures containing silver layers and depositing at a high temperature, superconducting films with zero resistance at 87 K remain superconductive at 77 K after 5 h immersion in water, with an increase in room-temperature film resistance by a factor of 4; the contact resistance remains low after 60 h of immersion, allowing the measurement at low temperatures. For the structures containing no silver and depositing at room temperature, the contact resistance rapidly increases with immersion times, making the measurement at 77 K difficult after 5 min of immersion. Changes in the sharpness of the superconductive transition, and structures of the films due to the water immersion are also compared

Microwave effective surface impedance of structures including a high-Tc superconducting film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hartemann, P.

1992-01-01

The microwave effective surface impedances of different stacks made of high-temperature superconducting films, dielectric materials and bulk normal metals were computed. The calculations were based on the two-fluid model of superconductors and the conventional transmission line theory. These effective impedances are compared to the calculated intrinsic surface impedances of the stacked superconducting films. The considered superconducting material has been the oxide YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 epitaxially grown on crystalline substrates (MgO, LaAlO 3 , SrTiO 3 ), the film thickness ranging from a few nm to 1μm. Discrepancies between the effective surface resistances or reactances and the corresponding intrinsic values were determined at 10 GHz for non resonant or resonant structures. At resonance the surface resistance discrepancy exhibits a sharp peak which reaches 10 4 or more in relative value according to the geometry and the used materials. Obviously the effective surface reactance shows also huge variations about the resonance and may be negative. Moreover geometries allowing to obtain an effective resistance smaller than the film intrinsic value have been found. The effects of the resonance phenomenon on the electromagnetic wave reflectivity and reflection phase shift are investigated. Therefore the reported theoretical results demonstrate that the effective surface impedance of YBCO films with a thickness smaller than 500 nm can be very different from the intrinsic film impedance according to the structures. (Author). 3 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs

Spray pyrolysis process for preparing superconductive films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hsu, H.M.; Yee, I.Y.

1991-01-01

This paper describes a spray pyrolysis method for preparing thin superconductive film. It comprises: preparing a spray pyrolysis solution comprising Bi,Sr,Ca and Cu metals in a solvent; heating a substrate to a first temperature; spraying the solution onto the heated substrate to form a film thereon; heating the film and substrate to a second temperature of about 700 degrees-825 degrees C, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature; heating the film and substrate to a third temperature of about 870 degrees-890 degrees C to melt the film; once the film and substrate reach the third temperature, further heat treating the film and substrate; cooling the film and substrate to ambient temperature. This patent also describes a spray pyrolysis method for preparing thin superconductive films. It comprises: preparing a spray pyrolysis solution comprising Bi, Ca and Cu metals and fluxing agent in a solvent; heating a substrate to a first temperature; spraying the solution onto the heated substrate to form a film thereon; heating the film and substrate to a second temperature about 700 degrees-825 degrees C, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature; heating the film and substrate at a third temperature about 840 degrees-860 degrees C; and cooling the film and substrate to ambient temperature

Di- and tri-carboxylic-acid-based etches for processing high temperature superconducting thin films and related materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ginley, D.S.; Barr, L.; Ashby, C.I.H.; Plut, T.A.; Urea, D.; Siegal, M.P.; Martens, J.S.; Johansson, M.E.

1994-01-01

The development of passive and active electronics from high-temperature superconducting thin films depends on the development of process technology capable of producing appropriate feature sizes without degrading the key superconducting properties. We present a new class of chelating etches based on di- and tri-carboxylic acids that are compatible with positive photoresists and can produce sub-micron feature sizes while typically producing increases the microwave surface resistance at 94 GHz by less than 10%. This simple etching process works well for both the Y--Ba--Cu--O and Tl--Ba--Ca--Cu--O systems. In addition, we demonstrate that the use of chelating etches with an activator such as HF allows the etching of related oxides such as LaAlO 3 , which is a key substrate material, and Pb(Zr 0.53 Ti 0.47 )O 3 (PZT) which is a key ferroelectric material for HTS and other applications such as nonvolatile memories

High transition temperature superconducting integrated circuit

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

DiIorio, M.S.

1985-01-01

This thesis describes the design and fabrication of the first superconducting integrated circuit capable of operating at over 10K. The primary component of the circuit is a dc SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) which is extremely sensitive to magnetic fields. The dc SQUID consists of two superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) Josephson microbridges that are fabricated using a novel step-edge process which permits the use of high transition temperature superconductors. By utilizing electron-beam lithography in conjunction with ion-beam etching, very small microbridges can be produced. Such microbridges lead to high performance dc SQUIDs with products of the critical current and normal resistance reaching 1 mV at 4.2 K. These SQUIDs have been extensively characterized, and exhibit excellent electrical characteristics over a wide temperature range. In order to couple electrical signals into the SQUID in a practical fashion, a planar input coil was integrated for efficient coupling. A process was developed to incorporate the technologically important high transition temperature superconducting materials, Nb-Sn and Nb-Ge, using integrated circuit techniques. The primary obstacles were presented by the metallurgical idiosyncrasies of the various materials, such as the need to deposit the superconductors at elevated temperatures, 800-900 0 C, in order to achieve a high transition temperature

Pulsed laser deposition and characterisation of thin superconducting films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Morone, A [CNR, zona industriale di Tito Scalo, Potenza (Italy). Istituto per i Materiali Speciali

1996-09-01

Same concepts on pulsed laser deposition of thin films will be discussed and same examples of high transition temperature (HTc) BiSrCaCuO (BISCO) and low transition temperature NbN/MgO/NbN multilayers will be presented. X-ray and others characterizations of these films will be reported and discussed. Electrical properties of superconducting thin films will be realized as a function of structural and morphological aspect.

A study on the development of high Tc superconducting materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Won, D. Y.; Hong, G. Y.; Lee, H. G.; Lee, H. J.; Kim, C. J.; Kwon, S. C.; Kim, K. B.; Kang, Y. H.; Chang, I. S.; Choi, M. J.

1992-01-01

The major work of this project aims to develop the frictionless superconducting bearing with a high speed. The high magnetization YBaCuO bulk superconductor was prepared by Quasi-melt process. The frictionless superconducting magnetic bearing standed a rotating bar with a speed of 75,000 rpm, which were operated by an electric controller. The low temperature chemical vapor deposition technique was developed. YBaCuO superconducting film showing a superconductivity above 77K was successfully prepared at 650 deg C. Effect of oxygen partial pressure, substrate, deposition temperature on the film properties were also investigated. (Author)

Superconducting Electronic Film Structures

Science.gov (United States)

1991-02-14

Segmuller, A., Cooper, E.I., Chisholm, M.F., Gupta, A. Shinde, S., and Laibowitz, R.B. Lanthanum gallate substrates for epitaxial high-T superconducting thin...M. F. Chisholm, A. Gupta, S. Shinde, and R. B. Laibowitz, " Lanthanum Gallate Substrates for Epitaxial High-T c Superconducting Thin Films," Appl...G. Forrester and J. Talvacchio, " Lanthanum Copper Oxide Buffer Layers for Growth of High-T c Superconductor Films," Disclosure No. RDS 90-065, filed

Superconducting oxide thin films by ion beam sputtering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kobrin, P.H.; DeNatale, J.F.; Housley, R.M.; Flintoff, J.F.; Harker, A.B.

1987-01-01

Superconducting thin films of ternary copper oxides from the Y-Ba-Cu-O and La-Sr-Cu-O systems have been deposited by ion beam sputtering of ceramic targets. Crystallographic orientation of the polycrystalline films has been shown to vary with substrate identity, deposition temperature and annealing temperature. The onset of the superconductive transition occurs near 90K in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system. Fe impurities of < 0.2% have been found to inhibit the superconducting transition, probably by migrating to the grain boundaries

High field properties of superconducting BaFe{sub 2-x}Ni{sub x}As{sub 2} thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Richter, Stefan [Institute for Metallic Materials, IFW Dresden (Germany); Technical University Dresden (Germany); Kurth, Fritz; Grinenko, Vadim; Nielsch, Kornelius; Huehne, Ruben [Institute for Metallic Materials, IFW Dresden (Germany); Iida, Kazumasa [Nagoya University (Japan); Pervakov, Kirill [Russian Academy of Sciences (Russian Federation); Tarantini, Chiara; Jaroszynski, Jan [National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (United States); Pukenas, Aurimas; Skrotzki, Werner [Technical University Dresden (Germany)

2016-07-01

Fe based superconductors combine the advantages of cuprates (high upper critical field) with the small Hc{sub 2} anisotropy of classic low temperature superconductors, which makes them suitable candidates for high field applications. The study of Fe-based superconducting thin films is one crucial step to explore this potential in more detail. We present results for epitaxial BaFe{sub 2-x}Ni{sub x}As{sub 2} thin films, which have been successfully grown for the first time using pulsed laser deposition. Superconducting transition temperatures of up to 19 K have been realized in slightly overdoped films, which is in good agreement with results obtained for single crystals. The behavior of the upper critical field and critical current density has been measured in high magnetic fields up to 35 T. The results will be correlated to the observed microstructure and compared to high field data for single crystals with similar composition.

Application of High-Temperature Superconducting Thin-Film Devices to Electro-Optical and Electronic Warfare Systems

Science.gov (United States)

1990-02-01

superconducting dispersive (chirp) delay line. Bt currents (IB 1 and 1B 2) control states of write junctions (gates 1 and 2). (Counter) clockwise currents...Gavaler, and "S. A. Reihle, "Superconductive Convolver with June- A. I. Braginski, "Optical Response of Epitaxial Films tion Ring Nlixers," IELT Trans

Growth and characterization of high-Tc Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x superconducting thin films by chemical vapor deposition

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Feng, A.

1992-01-01

In chapter I, the current status of high-Tc superconductors (especially Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7-x ), their microstructures and their unique physical properties are reviewed. An introduction to the potential and importance of those high-Tc superconductors in practical applications, especially for the application of YBCO thin films in microelectronics, is given. A general description of the common YBCO thin film fabrication and characterization techniques is also presented in this first chapter. Chapter II describes a new CVD process, temperature-controlled chemical vapor deposition (TC-CVD) for the growth of YBCO superconducting thin films on substrates of practical importance, such as sapphire (Al 2 O 3 ) and on substrates of lattice matched perovskite-type single crystals, such as LaAlO 3 . In order to verify the viability of this new CVD process the qualities of YBCO superconducting thin films were examined by various characterization methods, such as resistivity vs. temperature (R vs. T), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and magnetic susceptibility (x) measurements. Chapter III deals with the effect of substrate temperature on the properties of YBCO thin films made by TC-CVD. The principle objective of this study is to raise the transition temperature and critical current densities of CVD YBCO superconducting thin films. Understanding the relations between YBCO film growth process and varying substrate temperatures proved to be crucial in reaching this goal. The authors present the characterization results of YBCO thin films produced by different temperature schemes, to illustrate the importance of varying substrate temperature during the film growth. In chapter IV, the Rutherford backscattering (RBS) channeling technique is described. They have used RBS channeling to characterize the epitaxial YBCO thin film's crystallinity and lattice alignment. Transmission electron microscopy studies are also included

Variable temperature superconducting microscope

Science.gov (United States)

Cheng, Bo; Yeh, W. J.

2000-03-01

We have developed and tested a promising type of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope, which can be used to detect vortex motion and can operate in magnetic fields over a large temperature range. The system utilizes a single-loop coupling transformer, consisting of a patterned high Tc superconducting thin film. At one end of the transformer, a 20 μm diam detecting loop is placed close to the sample. At the other end, a large loop is coupled to a NbTi coil, which is connected to a low Tc SQUID sensor. Transformers in a variety of sizes have been tested and calibrated. The results show that the system is capable of detecting the motion of a single vortex. We have used the microscope to study the behavior of moving vortices at various positions in a YBa2Cu3O7 thin film bridge.

Gold nanocrystals in high-temperature superconducting films: Creation of pinning patterns of choice

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Katzer, Christian; Michalowski, Peter; Schmidl, Frank; Seidel, Paul [Institut fuer Festkoerperphysik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena, 07743 Jena (Germany); Stahl, Claudia; Treiber, Sebastian; Schuetz, Gisela [Max-Planck-Institut fuer Intelligente Systeme, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany); Christiani, Georg [Max-Planck-Institut fuer Festkoerperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany); Albrecht, Joachim [Hochschule Aalen, Beethovenstrasse 1, 73430 Aalen (Germany)

2013-07-01

Many superconducting thin film devices require a spatially resolved current carrying capability due to different boundary conditions. On the one hand, the critical current density and the pinning of flux lines respectively should be high to reduce flux noise in the antenna regions of gradiometers; on the other hand, the critical current density of the Josephson junctions itself must not be too high to ensure a proper functionality. We report that adding gold nanoparticles during the preparation process of epitaxial YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} thin films offers the possibility of creating spatially varying flux pinning properties, thus allowing to locally enhance the critical current density up to a factor of two. Magneto-optical investigations as well as transport measurements will be presented, indicating that an Au particle induced modification of the YBCO pinning properties allows the engineering of the critical current landscape on the sub-micrometre scale.

Studies of the Superconducting Transition in the Mo/Au-Bilayer Thin Films

Science.gov (United States)

Sadleir, John; Smith, Stephen; Iyomoto, naoko; Bandler, Simon; Chervenak, Jay; Brown, Ari; Brekowsky, Regis; Kilbourne, Caroline; Robinson, Ian

2007-01-01

At NASA Goddard, microcalorimeter arrays using superconducting transition edge sensor thermometers (TESs) are under development for high energy resolution X-ray astrophysics applications. We report on our studies of the superconducting transition in our Mo/Au-bilayer TES films including: low current measurements of the superconducting bilayer's resistance transition versus temperature on pixels with different normal metal absorber attachment designs and measured temperature scaling of the critical current and critical magnetic field.

Abstracts of The First Polish-US Conference on High Temperature Superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1995-01-01

The current problems in high temperature superconductivity science have been presented at the conference. The two main topics have been mostly represented: superconducting material research and fundamental physical research on superconductivity mechanisms. Superconducting material preparation, chemical composition, magnetic and electrical properties of different type of high temperature superconductors, material structure and its influence on superconducting properties and related problems were included in the first of the general topics. In the range of second general topic of the two listed above, many theoretical models being applied for explanation of superconductivity mechanism in different systems up and below transition temperature were presented

Preparation and characterization of high-Tc superconducting thin films with high critical current densities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vase, P.

1991-08-01

The project was carried out in relation to possible cable and electronics applications of high-T c materials. Laser ablation was used as the deposition technique because of its stoichiometry conservation. Films were made in the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 compound due to its relatively simple stoichiometry compared to other High-T c compounds. Much attention was paid to the critical current density. A very high critical current density was reached. By using texture analysis by X-ray diffraction, it was found that films with high critical current densities were epitaxial, while films with low critical current densities contained several crystalline orientations. Four techniques for patterning the films were used - photo lithography and wet etch, laser ablation lithography, laser writing and electron beam lithography and ion milling. Sub-micron patterning has been demonstrated without degradation of the superconducting properties. The achieved patterning resolution is sufficient for preparation of many superconducting components. (AB)

YBa2Cu3O(7-x) based superconducting thin films by multitarget sputtering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bouteloup, E.; Mercey, B.; Poullain, G.; Brousse, T.; Murray, H.; Raveau, B.

1990-01-01

This paper reports a new technique to prepare superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O (7-x) thin films. The multitarget sputtering apparatus described below allows the simultaneous and reproducible production of numerous films with a metallic composition close to Y 17% Ba 33% Cu 50% . Superconducting films (R = 0) at 80 K have been produced on polycrystalline zirconia substrates after a high temperature annealing [fr

Superconducting films of YBaCuO

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Coelho, A.L.

1991-01-01

Thick films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - x have been prepared on alumina and YSZ (Yttria-stabilized zirconia) substrates by the screen printing technique. Several experimental conditions have been studied, for instance: sintering time, temperature, thickness and atmosphere annealed. The resulting films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, AC electrical resistance, AC susceptibility and scanning electron microscopy. The surface and cross-section have been observed with an optical microscope. The X-ray diffraction patterns have been compared with a typical pattern and that has indicated the good quality of the samples. AC resistance and its temperature dependence have been measured in the standard four-probe configuration. Films thickness has been estimated in the scanning electron microscope. This technique has been suitable for production of high T c superconducting films being a simple and inexpensive method. (author)

Size and dimensionality effects in superconducting Mo thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fabrega, L; Gil, O; Camon, A; Parra-BorderIas, M; Fernandez-MartInez, I; Costa-Kraemer, J L; Briones, F; Sese, J; Gonzalez-Arrabal, R

2011-01-01

Molybdenum is a low T c , type I superconductor whose fundamental properties are poorly known. Its importance as an essential constituent of new high performance radiation detectors, the so-called transition edge sensors (TESs) calls for better characterization of this superconductor, especially in thin film form. Here we report on a study of the basic superconducting features of Mo thin films as a function of their thickness. The resistivity is found to rise and the critical temperature decreases on decreasing film thickness, as expected. More relevant, the critical fields along and perpendicular to the film plane are markedly different, thickness dependent and much larger than the thermodynamic critical field of Mo bulk. These results are consistent with a picture of type II 2D superconducting films, and allow estimates of the fundamental superconducting lengths of Mo. The role of morphology in determining the 2D and type II character of the otherwise type I molybdenum is discussed. The possible consequences of this behaviour on the performance of radiation detectors are also addressed.

A Snapshot View of High Temperature Superconductivity 2002

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Schuller, Ivan K. [Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States); Bansil, Arun [Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA (United States); Basov, Dimitri N. [Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)

2002-04-05

This report outlines the conclusions of a workshop on High Temperature Superconductivity held April 5-8, 2002 in San Diego. The purpose of this report is to outline and highlight some outstanding and interesting issues in the field of High Temperature Superconductivity. The range of activities and new ideas that arose within the context of High Temperature Superconductors is so vast and extensive that it is impossible to summarize it in a brief document. Thus, this report does not pretend to be all-inclusive and cover all areas of activity. It is a restricted snapshot and it only presents a few viewpoints. The complexity and difficulties with high temperature superconductivity are well illustrated by the Buddhist parable of the blind men trying to describe “experimentally” an elephant. These very same facts clearly illustrate that this is an extremely active field, with many unanswered questions, and with a great future potential for discoveries and progress in many (sometimes unpredictable) directions. It is very important to stress that, independently of any current or future applications, this is a very important area of basic research.

High-temperature superconducting phase in rare earth alloys

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vedyaev, A.V.; Molodykh, O.Eh.; Savchenko, M.A.; Stefanovich, A.V.

1984-01-01

A possibility of high-temperature superconducting phase existence in rare e arth alloys with aluminium: TbAl-NdAl is predicted. Such a phase is shown t o exist at t approximately 40 k, however its existence is possible only in a nar row temperature range and it might be metastable. A possibility of a supercondu cting phase occurrence in spin glass is studied. It is shown that the first kin d phase transition to superconducting state may first occur under definite condi tions in the system. But the phase in question will be a low-temperature one be cause of rather inefficient elctron-phonon interaction. Further temperature dec rease would lead to an appearance of magnetic order and to disappearance of the superconductivity

Computer simulation of scattered ion and sputtered species effects in ion beam sputter-deposition of high temperature superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Krauss, A.R.; Auciello, O.

1992-01-01

Ion beam sputter-deposition is a technique currently used by many groups to produce single and multicomponent thin films. This technique provides several advantages over other deposition methods, which include the capability for yielding higher film density, accurate stoichiometry control, and smooth surfaces. However, the relatively high kinetic energies associated with ion beam sputtering also lead to difficulties if the process is not properly controlled. Computer simulations have been performed to determine net deposition rates, as well as the secondary erosion, lattice damage, and gas implantation in the films, associated with primary ions scattered from elemental Y, Ba and Cu targets used to produce high temperature superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O films. The simulations were performed using the TRIM code for different ion masses and kinetic energies, and different deposition geometries. Results are presented for primary beams of Ar + , Kr + and Xe + incident on Ba and Cu targets at 0 degrees and 45 degrees with respect to the surface normal, with the substrate positioned at 0 degrees and 45 degrees. The calculations indicate that the target composition, mass and kinetic energy of the primary beam, angle of incidence on the target, and position and orientation of the substrate affect the film damage and trapped primary beam gas by up to 5 orders of magnitude

High-temperature superconducting conductors and cables

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Peterson, D.E.; Maley, M.P.; Boulaevskii, L.; Willis, J.O.; Coulter, J.Y.; Ullmann, J.L.; Cho, Jin; Fleshler, S.

1996-01-01

This is the final report of a 3-year LDRD project at LANL. High-temperature superconductivity (HTS) promises more efficient and powerful electrical devices such as motors, generators, and power transmission cables; however this depends on developing HTS conductors that sustain high current densities J c in high magnetic fields at temperatures near liq. N2's bp. Our early work concentrated on Cu oxides but at present, long wire and tape conductors can be best made from BSCCO compounds with high J c at low temperatures, but which are degraded severely at temperatures of interest. This problem is associated with thermally activated motion of magnetic flux lines in BSCCO. Reducing these dc losses at higher temperatures will require a high density of microscopic defects that will pin flux lines and inhibit their motion. Recently it was shown that optimum defects can be produced by small tracks formed by passage of energetic heavy ions. Such defects result when Bi is bombarded with high energy protons. The longer range of protons in matter suggests the possibility of application to tape conductors. AC losses are a major limitation in many applications of superconductivity such as power transmission. The improved pinning of flux lines reduces ac losses, but optimization also involves other factors. Measuring and characterizing these losses with respect to material parameters and conductor design is essential to successful development of ac devices

Reduced thermal budget processing of Y--Ba--Cu--O high temperature superconducting thin films by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Singh, R.; Sinha, S.; Hsu, N.J.; Ng, J.T.C.; Chou, P.; Thakur, R.P.S.; Narayan, J.

1991-01-01

Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) has the potential of emerging as a viable technique to fabricate ribbons, tapes, coated wires, and the deposition of films of high temperature superconductors, and related materials. As a reduced thermal budget processing technique, rapid isothermal processing (RIP) based on incoherent radiation as the source of energy can be usefully coupled to conventional MOCVD. In this paper we report on the deposition and characterization of high quality superconducting thin films of Y--Ba--Cu--O (YBCO) on MgO and SrTiO 3 substrates by RIP assisted MOCVD. By using a mixture of N 2 O and O 2 as the oxygen source films deposited initially at 600 degree C for 1 min and then at 740 degree C for 30 min are primarily c-axis oriented and with zero resistance being observed at 84 and 89 K for MgO and SrTiO 3 substrates, respectively. The zero magnetic field current densities at 77 K for MgO and SrTiO 3 substrates are 1.2x10 6 and 1.5x10 6 A/cm 2 , respectively. It is envisaged that high energy photons from the incoherent light source and the use of a mixture of N 2 O and O 2 as the oxygen source, assist chemical reactions and lower overall thermal budget for processing of these films

Status and prospects on development of yttrium-based high-temperature superconducting coated conductor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Izumi, Teruo; Yanagi, Nagato

2017-01-01

Development of a large-sized large-current conductor using a high-temperature superconducting wire rod based on copper oxide has been started worldwide for the purpose of applying it as an option of a magnet for a nuclear fusion prototype reactor. There is yttrium-based thin film wire rod as a promising candidate. Japan is leading the development of this wire rod for many years, aiming to apply it to power equipment and the like. This paper explained the history of wire rod development, basic superconducting properties and manufacturing method, and latest achievements, and overviewed the feasibility of application to nuclear fusion reactor magnets. At present, the use of niobium-based low-temperature superconducting wire rod that is used in ITER is the basic idea. On the other hand, the development of wire rod using a copper oxide type high-temperature superconductor (HTS) has also been started. HTS wire rod is evaluated as suitable for application to nuclear fusion magnets due to its superior critical current characteristics and high mechanical rigidity up to high magnetic fields at high temperatures of yttrium. As current development progress, there are development of high-quality wire rod in the magnetic field and development of low AC loss wire rod. As future prospects, cost reduction due to mass production and improvement of yield, and investigation of low-resistance connection technology are being studied. The remaining future challenges of yttrium-based HTS are improvement of the anisotropy, influence on neutron irradiation, and problem of activation. (A.O.)

A Snapshot View of High Temperature Superconductivity 2002

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Schuller, Ivan K.; Bansil, Arun; Basov, Dimitri N.

2002-01-01

This report outlines the conclusions of a workshop on High Temperature Superconductivity held April 5-8, 2002 in San Diego. The purpose of this report is to outline and highlight some outstanding and interesting issues in the field of High Temperature Superconductivity. The range of activities and new ideas that arose within the context of High Temperature Superconductors is so vast and extensive that it is impossible to summarize it in a brief document. Thus, this report does not pretend to be all-inclusive and cover all areas of activity. It is a restricted snapshot and it only presents a few viewpoints. The complexity and difficulties with high temperature superconductivity are well illustrated by the Buddhist parable of the blind men trying to describe ''experimentally'' an elephant. These very same facts clearly illustrate that this is an extremely active field, with many unanswered questions, and with a great future potential for discoveries and progress in many (sometimes unpredictable) directions. It is very important to stress that, independently of any current or future applications, this is a very important area of basic research.

Quenching of superconductivity in disordered thin films by phase fluctuations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hebard, A.F.; Palaanen, M.A.

1992-01-01

The amplitude Ψ 0 and phase Φ of the superconducting order parameter in thin-film systems are affected differently by disorder and dimensionality. With increasing disorder superconducting long range order is quenched in sufficiently thin films by physical processes driven by phase fluctuations. This occurs at both the zero-field vortex-antivortex unbinding transition and at the zero-temperature magnetic-field-tuned superconducting-insulating transition. At both of these transitions Ψ 0 is finite and constant, vanishing only when temperature, disorder, and/or magnetic field are increased further. Experimental results on amorphous-composite InO x films are presented to illustrate these points and appropriate comparisons are made to other experimental systems. (orig.)

Hall effect of K-doped superconducting thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Son, Eunseon; Lee, Nam Hoon; Kang, Won Nam [Dept. of physics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon (Korea, Republic of); Hwang, Tae Jong; Kim, Dong Ho [Dept. of physics, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan(Korea, Republic of)

2013-09-15

We have studied Hall effect for potassium (K)-doped BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}superconducting thin films by analyzing the relation between the longitudinal resistivity (ρ{sub xy}) and the Hall resistivity (ρ{sub xy}). The thin films used in this study were fabricated on Al{sub O3} (000l) substrates by using an ex-situ pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique under a high-vacuum condition of ∼10{sup -6} Torr. The samples showed the high superconducting transition temperatures (T{sub C}) of ∼40 K. The ρ{sub xx} and ρ{sub xy}the for K-doped BaFeAs{sub 2} thin films were measured by using a physical property measurement system (PPMS) with a temperature sweep (T-sweep) mode at an applied current density of 100 A/cm{sup 2} and at magnetic fields from 0 up to 9 T. We report the T-sweep results of the ρ{sub xx} and the ρ{sub xy} to investigate Hall scaling behavior on the basis of the relation of ρ{sub xy} = A(ρ{sub xy}){sup β}. The ρ{sub xx} values are 3.0 ± 0.2 in the c-axis-oriented K-doped BaFeAs{sub 2} thin films, whereas the thin films with various oriented-directions like a polycrystal showed slightly lower β than that of c-axis-oriented thin films. Interestingly, the β value is decreased with increasing magnetic fields.

Contribution to the study of superconducting magnets using high transition temperature superconducting materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lecrevisse, Thibault

2012-01-01

The new industrial superconductors using high critical temperature compounds offer new possibilities for superconducting magnetism. Indeed they allow higher magnetic field with the same classical cryogenics at 4.2 K on one hand, and on the other hand they also pave the way for superconducting magnets working between 10 K and 30 K. The high temperature superconductors are then needed in order to produce magnetic fields higher than 16 T (case of HTS dipole insert for Large Hadron Collider at CERN) or to increase the specific density stored in one SMES (Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage, in the case of the SuperSMES ANR Project).Nevertheless the indisputable assets (critical temperature, critical magnetic field, mechanical stresses) brought by the use of High critical temperature superconductors like YBCO, used in superconducting magnets, require to solve some challenges. Their behavior is still badly understood, especially during the resistive transitions. To succeed in protecting these conductors we need a new reflection on protection schemes designed to avoid the thermal and mechanical damages. The answer to the question: 'Can we use those materials in the long run inside superconducting magnets?' is now inescapable.Some answers are given here. The use of the conductors is approached through various experimental studies to understand the material (electrical characterization and modeling of the critical surface) and to define the key stages of high critical temperature superconducting magnets manufacturing (work on the junctions between conductors and pancakes). This study led to the creation of two coils in order to identify the issues related to the use of YBCO tapes. A numerical thermo-electrical model of the high critical temperature superconductor has been developed and a numerical code based on the CEA software CASTEM (Finish Elements Model) allowed to study the resistive transition (or quench) behavior of those conductor and coil. The code has been

A Method for Suppressing Superconductivity of Thin Films

Science.gov (United States)

Suppula, Tarmo; Pekola, Jukka; Kauppinen, Juha

2003-03-01

We have developed a method for suppressing superconductivity of thin films. Thin stripes of cobalt grown by e-gun evaporation and patterned by e-beam lithography were placed in the vicinity of aluminium thin film structures. The cobalt stripes were magnetized at 4.2 K with a superconducting coil and the remanence suppressed superconductivity of the Al stripe at temperatures down to 50 mK at least. The magnetization remained in thermal cycling and in a longer storage at room temperature. Motivation for this work is the Coulomb Blockade Thermometer(CBT)^1 which has to be in a normal state to operate. The CBT sensor contains aluminium which is superconducting at temperatures below 1.4 K. An external magnetic field is not always available or acceptable in cryostats. A small grain of permanent magnet mounted to the sensor is another solution, but suspicious if the sensor is put in strong magnetic fields or if "zero field" environment is required. We have shown that suitably patterned and magnetized Co stripes in the vicinity of tunnel junctions of the CBT can solve this problem. The amount of magnetic material in the sensor, as well as the stray field, is very small. This technique may be useful in other low temperature thin film devices also. 1) Product of Nanoway Ltd.

Analysis of influence of buffer layers on microwave propagation through high-temperature superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ceremuga, J.; Barton, M.; Miranda, F.

1994-01-01

Methods of analysis of microwave propagation through superconducting thin films with buffer layers on dielectric substrates have been discussed. Expressions describing the transmission coefficient S 21 through the structure and the complex conductivity sigma of a superconductor in an analytical form have been derived. The derived equations are valid for microwave propagation in waveguides as well as in free space with relevant definition of impedances. Using the obtained solutions, the influences of buffer layers' parameters (thickness, relative permittivity and loss tangent) on the transmission coefficient has been investigated using MATLAB. Simulations have been performed for 10 GHz transmission through YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 films on sapphire with SrTiO 3 and CeO 2 buffer layers and on silicon with CaF 2 and YSZ buffer layers. To illustrate the simulations, measurements of the transmission through YBCO film on sapphire with SrTiO 3 buffer layer have been performed. It has been shown that even lossy buffer layers have very little impact (smaller than 1% in magnitude and 0.3% in phase) on the transmission coefficient through superconducting thin films, providing their thickness is below 10 mu m. (author)

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition for YBCO film fabrication of superconducting fault-current limiter

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jun, Byung Hyuk; Kim, Chan Joong

2006-05-15

Since the high-temperature superconductor of oxide type was founded, many researches and efforts have been performed for finding its application field. The YBCO superconducting film fabricated on economic metal substrate with uniform critical current density is considered as superconducting fault-current limiter (SFCL). There are physical and chemical processes to fabricate superconductor film, and it is understood that the chemical methods are more economic to deposit large area. Among them, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a promising deposition method in obtaining film uniformity. To solve the problems due to the high deposition temperature of thermal CVD, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is suggested. This report describes the principle and fabrication trend of SFCL, example of YBCO film deposition by PECVD method, and principle of plasma deposition.

Review of thin film superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kihlstrom, K.E.

1989-01-01

Advances in thin film superconductivity are critical to the success of many proposed applications. The authors review several of the prominent techniques currently used to produce thin films of the high temperature superconductors including electron beam co-deposition, sputtering (both multiple and composite source configurations) and laser ablation. The authors look at the relevant parameters for each and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. In addition, promising work on in situ oxidation is discussed. Also addressed are efforts to find optimum substrate materials and substrate buffer layers for various applications. The current state of the art for T c , J c and H c2 is presented for the yttrium, bismuth, and thallium compounds

Integrated high-transition temperature magnetometer with only two superconducting layers

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Kromann, R.; Kingston, J.J.; Miklich, A.H.

1993-01-01

We describe the fabrication and testing of an integrated YBa2Cu3O7-x thin-film magnetometer consisting of a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), with biepitaxial grain boundary junctions, integrated with a flux transformer on a single substrate. Only two superconducting layers...... are required, the SQUID body serving as the crossunder that completes the multiturn flux transformer. The highest temperature at which any of the magnetometers functioned was 76 K. At 60 K the magnetic field gain of this device was 63, and the magnetic field noise was 160 fT Hz-1/2 at 2 kHz, increasing to 3...

A Hall probe technique for characterizing high-temperature superconductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, J.; Sheldon, P.; Ahrenkiel, R.K.

1992-01-01

Thin-film GaAs Hall probes were fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy technology. A contactless technique was developed to characterize thin-film, high-temperature superconducting (HTSC) materials. The Hall probes detected the ac magnetic flux penetration through the high-temperature superconducting materials. The Hall detector has advantages over the mutual inductance magnetic flux detector

Evolution of superconducting properties with disorder in epitaxial NbN films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chockalingam, S P; Chand, Madhavi; Jesudasan, John; Raychaudhuri, Pratap; Tripathi, Vikram

2009-01-01

NbN is a conventional BCS superconductor in which disorder can be tuned from moderately clean limit to dirty limit without affecting its epitaxial nature. We studied the superconducting properties of epitaxial NbN films of different disorder characterized by k F l ranging from 8.77 to 2.56 through the transport measurements. Using reactive magnetron sputtering NbN films of different disorder are deposited by varying the sputtering power and amount of N 2 in Ar:N 2 mixture of sputtering gas. The disorder parameter k F l is obtained from the carrier density (n) and the resistivity (ρ) of the films. NbN films with higher disorder have lower transition temperature (T c ) and larger resistivity which decreases with decreasing disorder. The carrier density determined from Hall measurements show that highly disordered films have lower carrier density and vice versa. Our studies show that NbN is a good system to investigate the effects of disorder on superconductivity where the superconducting properties evolve with the disorder in thin films.

Possibility of high temperature superconducting phases in PdH

Science.gov (United States)

Tripodi, Paolo; Di Gioacchino, Daniele; Borelli, Rodolfo; Vinko, Jenny Darja

2003-05-01

Possible new superconducting phases with a high critical transition temperature (Tc) have been found in stable palladium-hydrogen (PdHx) samples for stoichiometric ratio x=H/Pd⩾1, in addition to the well-known low critical transition temperature (0⩽Tc⩽9) when x is in the range (0.75⩽x⩽1.00). Possible new measured superconducting phases with critical temperature in the range 51⩽Tc⩽295 K occur. This Tc varies considerably with every milli part of x when x exceeds unit. A superconducting critical current density Jc⩾6.1×104 A cm-2 has been measured at 77 K with HDC=0 T.

The discovery of high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Muller, K. A.; Bednorz, J.G.

1988-01-01

This article recalls the different stages which led to the display of high temperature superconductivity for Ba, La, Cu, O and the following avalanche of discoveries for other oxides; the numerous theoretical models which tentatively explain the current experimental results are also reviewed. 30 refs

The discovery of high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Muller, K.A.; Bednorz, J.G.

1988-01-01

This article recalls the different stages which led to the display of high temperature superconductivity for Ba La Cu O, and the following avalanche of discoveries for other oxides; the numerous theoretical models which tentatively explain the current experimental results are also reviewed [fr

Magnetic shield effect simulation of superconducting film shield covering directly coupled HTS dc-SQUID magnetometer

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Terauchi, N.; Noguchi, S.; Igarashi, H.

2011-01-01

A superconducting film shield over a SQUID ring improves the robustness of the SQUID with respect to magnetic noise. Supercurrent in the SQUID magnetometer and the superconducting film shield were simulated. The superconducting film shield reduces the influence of the external magnetic field on the SQUID ring. An HTS SQUID is a high sensitive magnetic sensor. In recent years, the HTS SQUID is widely used in various applications. In some applications, high robustness with respect to magnetic noise is required to realize stable operation at outside of a magnetic shielding room. The target of this paper is a directly coupled HTS dc-SQUID magnetometer. To enhance the robustness of the SQUID magnetometer, use of a superconducting thin film shield has been proposed. The magnetic field directly penetrating the SQUID ring causes the change of the critical current of Josephson junction, and then the SQUID magnetometer transitions into inoperative state. In order to confirm the magnetic shield effect of the superconducting film shield, electromagnetic field simulation with 3D edge finite element method was performed. To simulate the high temperature superconductor, E-J characteristics and c-axis anisotropy are considered. To evaluate the effect of the superconducting film shield, an external magnetic field which is supposed to be a magnetic noise is applied. From the simulation results, the time transition of the magnetic flux penetrating the SQUID ring is investigated and the effect of the superconducting film shield is confirmed. The amplitude of the magnetic flux penetrating the SQUID ring can be reduced to about one-sixth since the superconducting film shield prevents the magnetic noise from directly penetrating the SQUID ring.

Research briefing on high-temperature superconductivity

Science.gov (United States)

1987-10-01

The research briefing was prepared in response to the exciting developments in superconductivity in ceramic oxide materials announced earlier in 1987. The panel's specific charge was to examine not only the scientific opportunities in high-temperature superconductivity but also the barriers to commercial exploitation. While the base of experimental knowledge on the superconductors is growing rapidly, there is as yet no generally accepted theoretical explanation of their behavior. The fabrication and processing challenges presented by the materials suggest that the period or precommercial exploration for applications will probably extend for a decade or more. Near term prospects for applications include magnetic shielding, the voltage standard, superconducting quantum interference devices, infrared sensors, microwave devices, and analog signal processing. The panel also identified a number of longer-term prospects in high-field and large-scale applications, and in electronics. The United States' competitive position in the field is discussed, major scientific and technological objectives for research and development identified, and concludes with a series of recommendations.

Electric field dependence of excess electrical conductivity below transition temperature in thin superconducting lead films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ashwini Kumar, P K; Duggal, V P [Delhi Univ. (India). Dept. of Physics and Astrophysics

1976-01-26

Results of measurements of the electric field dependence of the excess electrical conductivity are reported in thin superconducting lead films below the transition temperature. It is observed that the normal state sheet resistance has some effect on the nonlinearity but the theory of Yamaji still fits well to the experimental data.

Effects of high-energy proton irradiation on the superconducting properties of Fe(Se,Te) thin films

Science.gov (United States)

Sylva, G.; Bellingeri, E.; Ferdeghini, C.; Martinelli, A.; Pallecchi, I.; Pellegrino, L.; Putti, M.; Ghigo, G.; Gozzelino, L.; Torsello, D.; Grimaldi, G.; Leo, A.; Nigro, A.; Braccini, V.

2018-05-01

In this paper we explore the effects of 3.5 MeV proton irradiation on Fe(Se,Te) thin films grown on CaF2. In particular, we carry out an experimental investigation with different irradiation fluences up to 7.30 · 1016 cm‑2 and different proton implantation depths, in order to clarify whether and to what extent the critical current is enhanced or suppressed, what are the effects of irradiation on the critical temperature, resistivity, and critical magnetic fields, and finally what is the role played by the substrate in this context. We find that the effect of irradiation on superconducting properties is generally small compared to the case of other iron-based superconductors. The irradiation effect is more evident on the critical current density Jc, while it is minor on the transition temperature Tc, normal state resistivity ρ, and on the upper critical field Hc2 up to the highest fluences explored in this work. In more detail, our analysis shows that when protons implant in the substrate far from the superconducting film, the critical current can be enhanced up to 50% of the pristine value at 7 T and 12 K; meanwhile, there is no appreciable effect on critical temperature and critical fields together with a slight decrease in resistivity. On the contrary, when the implantation layer is closer to the film–substrate interface, both critical current and temperature show a decrease accompanied by an enhancement of the resistivity and lattice strain. This result evidences that possible modifications induced by irradiation in the substrate may affect the superconducting properties of the film via lattice strain. The robustness of the Fe(Se,Te) system to irradiation-induced damage makes it a promising compound for the fabrication of magnets in high-energy accelerators.

Ultrathin NbN Films for Superconducting Single-Photon Detectors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Slysz, W.; Guziewicz, M.; Borysiewicz, M.

2011-01-01

We present our research on fabrication and structural and transport characterization of ultrathin superconducting NbN layers deposited on both single-crystal Al 2 O 3 and Si wafers, and SiO 2 and Si 3 N 4 buffer layers grown directly on Si wafers. The thicknesses of our films varied from 6 nm to 50 nm and they were grown using reactive RF magnetron sputtering on substrates maintained at the temperature 850 o C. We have performed extensive morphology characterization of our films using the X-ray diffraction method and atomic force microscopy, and related the results to the type of the substrate used for the film deposition. Our transport measurements showed that even the thinnest, 6 nm thick NbN films had the superconducting critical temperature of 10-12 K, which was increased to 14 K for thicker films. (author)

Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconducting thin films: theory and experiment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yavuz, M [Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering Program, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 (Canada); Boybay, M S [Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering Program, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 (Canada); Elbuken, C [Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering Program, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 (Canada); Andrews, M J [Los Alamos National Lab, PO Box 1663, Mail Stop B 296, Los Alamos, NM 87545 (United States); Hu, C R [Department of Physics, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (United States); Ross, J H [Department of Physics, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (United States)

2006-06-01

The interest of this paper centers on fabrication and characterization and modeling of vortices in high temperature superconducting thin films. As a first step, the magnetic vertices of the superconducting matrix were modeled. As a second, Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O thin films were grown using Pulsed Laser Ablation (PLD) on single crystal MgO substrates as magnetic templates for the potential use for Nano and Microelectronic circuits, and were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron, and atomic force microscopy. The third step (future work) will be observation and pinning of these vortices using Bitter decoration.

High temperature superconducting devices for SQUIDs, HF- and FIR-applications. Subproject: Thin-film heterostructures for devices and loss mechanisms in HTS. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Froehlich, O.

1994-06-01

The successful use of electronic devices fabricated from the High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) in SQUID systems as well as HF- and FIR-applications requires the development of a suitable thin-film and device technology. Within the present research project we successfully established the technological base for the deposition and patterning of epitaxial HTS thin-films (YBaCuO, NdCeCuO) and heterostructures of HTS and insulating materials (e.g. NdGaO 3 ). YBaCuO/NdCeCuO superlattices could be successfully fabricated such that both components of the hterostructure were in a superconducting state. This allows for the fabrication and study of superconducting p-n structures. With respect to the fabrication of single grain boundary Josephson junctions based on the bicrystal technique we could establish an international leadership. The small spread of the junction parameters (∝20%) allowed the controllable fabrication of simple devices such as SQUIDs or flux-flow transistors. By the development of a new measuring technique the homogeneity of the critical current density distribution in grain-boundary junctions could be investigated on a sub-μm-scale. Within this project we also could establish a good understanding of the physical background of the transport phenomena in the mixed state of HTS in the presence of a temperature gradient. (orig./MM) [de

Degradation of superconducting Nb/NbN films by atmospheric oxidation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Henry, Michael David; Wolfley, Steven L.; Young, Travis Ryan; Monson, Todd; Pearce, Charles Joseph; Lewis, Rupert M.; Clark, Blythe; Brunke, Lyle Brent; Missert, Nancy A.

2017-03-01

Niobium and niobium nitride thin films are transitioning from fundamental research toward wafer scale manufacturing with technology drivers that include superconducting circuits and electronics, optical single photon detectors, logic, and memory. Successful microfabrication requires precise control over the properties of sputtered superconducting films, including oxidation. Previous work has demonstrated the mechanism in oxidation of Nb and how film structure could have deleterious effects upon the superconducting properties. This study provides an examination of atmospheric oxidation of NbN films. By examination of the room temperature sheet resistance of NbN bulk oxidation was identified and confirmed by secondary ion mass spectrometry. As a result, Meissner magnetic measurements confirmed the bulk oxidation not observed with simple cryogenic resistivity measurements.

Superconducting Ferromagnetic Nanodiamond.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Gufei; Samuely, Tomas; Xu, Zheng; Jochum, Johanna K; Volodin, Alexander; Zhou, Shengqiang; May, Paul W; Onufriienko, Oleksandr; Kačmarčík, Jozef; Steele, Julian A; Li, Jun; Vanacken, Johan; Vacík, Jiri; Szabó, Pavol; Yuan, Haifeng; Roeffaers, Maarten B J; Cerbu, Dorin; Samuely, Peter; Hofkens, Johan; Moshchalkov, Victor V

2017-06-27

Superconductivity and ferromagnetism are two mutually antagonistic states in condensed matter. Research on the interplay between these two competing orderings sheds light not only on the cause of various quantum phenomena in strongly correlated systems but also on the general mechanism of superconductivity. Here we report on the observation of the electronic entanglement between superconducting and ferromagnetic states in hydrogenated boron-doped nanodiamond films, which have a superconducting transition temperature T c ∼ 3 K and a Curie temperature T Curie > 400 K. In spite of the high T Curie , our nanodiamond films demonstrate a decrease in the temperature dependence of magnetization below 100 K, in correspondence to an increase in the temperature dependence of resistivity. These anomalous magnetic and electrical transport properties reveal the presence of an intriguing precursor phase, in which spin fluctuations intervene as a result of the interplay between the two antagonistic states. Furthermore, the observations of high-temperature ferromagnetism, giant positive magnetoresistance, and anomalous Hall effect bring attention to the potential applications of our superconducting ferromagnetic nanodiamond films in magnetoelectronics, spintronics, and magnetic field sensing.

Possibility of high temperature superconducting phases in PdH

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Tripodi, Paolo; Di Gioacchino, Daniele; Borelli, Rodolfo; Vinko, Jenny Darja

2003-05-15

Possible new superconducting phases with a high critical transition temperature (T{sub c}) have been found in stable palladium-hydrogen (PdH{sub x}) samples for stoichiometric ratio x=H/Pd{>=}1, in addition to the well-known low critical transition temperature (0{<=}T{sub c}{<=}9) when x is in the range (0.75{<=}x{<=}1.00). Possible new measured superconducting phases with critical temperature in the range 51{<=}T{sub c}{<=}295 K occur. This T{sub c} varies considerably with every milli part of x when x exceeds unit. A superconducting critical current density J{sub c}{>=}6.1x10{sup 4} A cm{sup -2} has been measured at 77 K with H{sub DC}=0 T.

Preparation of YBCO superconducting films by spray pyrolysis method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mora Alonso, M.; Leyva Fabelo, A.; Rubio Frias, E.; Pupo Gonzalez, I.; Lopez Sanchez, D.

1994-01-01

The methodology for the preparation of YBCO superconducting films on Zr 2O (Y) substrates by spray pyrolysis method is reported. The transition temperature of these films is superior than the boiling temperature of liquid 2N . Other critical parameters are similar to those reported by other authors using the same technique

Stoichiometry and superconductive properties of YBaCuO films deposited by spray pyrolysis

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Conde-Gallardo, A.; Falcony, C.; Ortiz, A.

1994-01-01

The dependence of the stoichiometry and the superconducting characteristics of YBaCuO films deposited by spray pyrolysis on the spraying solution composition and the deposition conditions is reported. It has been found that a proper optimization of the starting materials concentration in the spraying solution results in superconducting films with zero resistance temperature of 91 K and a transition to superconducting state within a 3 K range. X-ray diffraction and resistance vs temperature measurements have been used to monitor the crystal composition and the conductive characteristics of the films as a function of the spraying solution composition and the deposition parameters

Infrared refractive index of thin YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Z.M.; Choi, B.I.; Le, T.A.; Flik, M.I.; Siegal, M.P.; Phillips, J.M.

1992-01-01

This work investigates whether thin-film optics with a constant refractive index can be applied to high-T c superconducting thin films. The reflectance and transmittance of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 films on LaAlO 3 substrates are measured using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer at wavelengths from 1 to 100 μm at room temperature. The reflectance of these superconducting films at 10K in the wavelength region from 2.5 to 25 μm is measured using a cryogenic reflectance accessory. The film thickness varies from 10 to 200 nm. By modeling the frequency-dependent complex conductivity in the normal and superconducting states and applying electromagnetic-wave theory, the complex refractive index of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 films is obtained with a fitting technique. It is found that a thickness-independent refractive index can be applied even to a 25nm film, and average values of the spectral refractive index for film thicknesses between 25 and 200 nm are recommended for engineering applications

Alternative designs of high-temperature superconducting synchronous generators

OpenAIRE

Goddard, K. F.; Lukasik, B.; Sykulski, J. K.

2010-01-01

This paper discusses the different possible designs of both cored and coreless superconducting synchronous generators using high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes, with particular reference to demonstrators built at the University of Southampton using BiSCCO conductors. An overview of the electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical issues is provided, the advantages and drawbacks of particular designs are highlighted, the need for compromises is explained, and practical solutions are offer...

Disappearance of superconductivity and critical resistance in thin indium films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Okuma, Satoshi; Nishida, Nobuhiko

1991-01-01

In thin granular films composed of two-dimensionally coupled indium particles, we have studied influences of average particle sizes anti d on the superconducting transition. For films with anti d=280A and 224A, superconducting transition temperature stays almost constant with increasing the sheet resistance R n in the normal state, while for a film with anti d=140A, it decreases linearly with R n . This means that the system changes to a dirty superconductor by reducing anti d. With further increasing R n , superconductivity disappears when R n exceeds the value R c of order h/4e 2 , which seems to correlate with anti d. (orig.)

Quantification of oxygen and carbon in high Tc superconducting films by (α,α) elastic resonance technique

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vizkelethy, G.; Revesz, P.

1993-01-01

The quantification of oxygen and carbon in high-temperature (T c ) superconducting oxide thin films was made by employing elastic resonance in He backscattering analysis. A method combining the oxygen resonance technique and channeling was presented for measuring the nature of the oxygen disorder near the surface and the interface in a YBCO superconducting film grown on an MgO substrate. The oxygen resonance technique was used to quantify the oxygen profiling in the metal/YBCO contacts, showing that Zr and Nb act as sinks to oxygen from YBCO films and are oxidized in the forms Zr/ZrO 2 /YBCO/MgO and Nb 0.2 O/YBCO/MgO after annealing in a vacuum at 350 o C. We combined the carbon and oxygen resonances to determine the carbon contamination and oxygen concentration changes on the YBCO surface after coating and baking the photoresist. Residual carbon on the surface and a thin layer of oxygen depletion near the YBCO surface have been observed. The residual carbon in Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 films made by the decomposition of metallo-organic precursors was quantified using carbon resonance. (author)

High temperature superconducting YBCO microwave filters

Science.gov (United States)

Aghabagheri, S.; Rasti, M.; Mohammadizadeh, M. R.; Kameli, P.; Salamati, H.; Mohammadpour-Aghdam, K.; Faraji-Dana, R.

2018-06-01

Epitaxial thin films of YBCO high temperature superconductor are widely used in telecommunication technology such as microwave filter, antenna, coupler and etc., due to their lower surface resistance and lower microwave loss than their normal conductor counterparts. Thin films of YBCO were fabricated by PLD technique on LAO substrate. Transition temperature and width were 88 K and 3 K, respectively. A filter pattern was designed and implemented by wet photolithography method on the films. Characterization of the filter at 77 K has been compared with the simulation results and the results for a made gold filter. Both YBCO and gold filters show high microwave loss. For YBCO filter, the reason may be due to the improper contacts on the feedlines and for gold filter, low thickness of the gold film has caused the loss increased.

Low-temperature electrical transport in B-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Li, Lin; Zhao, Jing; Hu, Zhaosheng; Quan, Baogang; Li, Junjie; Gu, Changzhi

2014-01-01

B-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films are grown using hot-filament chemical vapor deposition method, and their electrical transport properties varying with temperature are investigated. When the B-doped concentration of UNCD film is low, a step-like increase feature of the resistance is observed with decreasing temperature, reflecting at least three temperature-modified electronic state densities at the Fermi level according to three-dimensional Mott's variable range hopping transport mechanism, which is very different from that of reported B-doped nanodiamond. With increasing B-doped concentration, a superconductive transformation occurs in the UNCD film and the highest transformation temperature of 5.3 K is observed, which is higher than that reported for superconducting nanodiamond films. In addition, the superconducting coherence length is about 0.63 nm, which breaks a reported theoretical and experimental prediction about ultra-nanoscale diamond's superconductivity

Superconductivity of Rock-Salt Structure LaO Epitaxial Thin Film.

Science.gov (United States)

Kaminaga, Kenichi; Oka, Daichi; Hasegawa, Tetsuya; Fukumura, Tomoteru

2018-06-06

We report a superconducting transition in a LaO epitaxial thin film with the superconducting transition onset temperature ( T c ) at around 5 K. This T c is higher than those of other lanthanum monochalcogenides and opposite to their chemical trend: T c = 0.84, 1.02, and 1.48 K for LaX (X = S, Se, Te), respectively. The carrier control resulted in a dome-shaped T c as a function of electron carrier density. In addition, the T c was significantly sensitive to epitaxial strain in spite of the highly symmetric crystal structure. This rock-salt superconducting LaO could be a building block to design novel superlattice superconductors.

Vitaly Ginzburg and high temperature superconductivity: Personal reminiscences

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mazin, Igor I.

2008-01-01

This article is an attempt to give Western readers, as well as young researchers in Russia, a glance at the atmosphere in one of the leading physics institutions in the USSR from 1977-1988, through the eye of a graduate student and later a posdoc in the theory group led by Vitaly Ginzburg, arguably the most enthusiatic proponent of high-temperature superconductivity before the discovery of Bednorz and Muller. This is a very personal narration, wherein the events of my own life and career are inevitably intertwined with scientific events and with my reminiscences of great Russian physicists whom I had the pleasure to meet with while working in the 'High-Temperature Superconductivity Section' at the Lebedev Institute within the aforementioned 12 years

Effect of point disorder on superconducting properties of ultrathin epitaxial NbN films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jesudasan, John; Bagwe, Vivas; Mondal, Mintu; Chand, Madhavi; Kamlapure, Anand; Pai, S.P.; Raychaudhuri, Pratap; Mishra, Archana

2009-01-01

We synthesized homogeneously disordered epitaxial NbN films on MgO(100) substrates using reactive dc magnetron sputtering. The disorder of the films is characterized by the Loffe-Regel parameter k F I. The superconducting properties are studied through transport, ac-susceptibility measurements and electron tunneling. The superconducting transition temperature is studied as a function of thickness for films of different disorder. In the case of the less disordered film, there is a smooth decrease in T c with decreasing thickness but for the more disordered film, the T c shows a sharp decrease to zero at a threshold thickness. The superconducting energy gap is studied via planar tunnel junctions. It is found that for the less disordered films, the temperature dependence of the gap follows the BCS variation but for the more disordered ones, there is a significant deviation from the BCS curve, and the gap remains finite at T c indicating that the superconducting transition is either governed by phase fluctuations or a first order phase transition. (author)

Superconducting properties of iron chalcogenide thin films

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Paolo Mele

2012-01-01

Full Text Available Iron chalcogenides, binary FeSe, FeTe and ternary FeTexSe1−x, FeTexS1−x and FeTe:Ox, are the simplest compounds amongst the recently discovered iron-based superconductors. Thin films of iron chalcogenides present many attractive features that are covered in this review, such as: (i easy fabrication and epitaxial growth on common single-crystal substrates; (ii strong enhancement of superconducting transition temperature with respect to the bulk parent compounds (in FeTe0.5Se0.5, zero-resistance transition temperature Tc0bulk = 13.5 K, but Tc0film = 19 K on LaAlO3 substrate; (iii high critical current density (Jc ~ 0.5 ×106 A cm2 at 4.2 K and 0 T for FeTe0.5Se0.5 film deposited on CaF2, and similar values on flexible metallic substrates (Hastelloy tapes buffered by ion-beam assisted deposition with a weak dependence on magnetic field; (iv high upper critical field (~50 T for FeTe0.5Se0.5, Bc2(0, with a low anisotropy, γ ~ 2. These highlights explain why thin films of iron chalcogenides have been widely studied in recent years and are considered as promising materials for applications requiring high magnetic fields (20–50 T and low temperatures (2–10 K.

Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting film on oxidized silicon

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gupta, R.P.; Khokle, W.S.; Dubey, R.C.; Singhal, S.; Nagpal, K.C.; Rao, G.S.T.; Jain, J.D.

1988-01-01

We report thick superconducting films of Y-Ba-Cu-O on oxidized silicon substrates. The critical temperatures for onset and zero resistance are 96 and 77 K, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis predicts 1, 2, 3 composition and orthorhombic phase of the film

Critical currents in multilayered superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Raffy, Helene

1977-01-01

The superconducting critical currents Isub(c) were measured as a function of magnetic field H and temperature T, on multilayered films. These films consist of alternating layers of two different superconductors S 1 and S 2 being a weaker superconductor acting as a flux pinning barrier region. A strong anisotropy was observed between the two situations where the magnetic field H is applied parallel or perpendicular to the layers. In the case discussed, there is a peak effect in the curves Isub(c)H well defined at the highest temperatures, and disappearing at low temperatures. The anisotropy of the critical current at constant field presents a maximum at a temperature T* close to the critical temperature Tsub(c 2 ) of S 2 [fr

NbN thin films for superconducting radio frequency cavities

Science.gov (United States)

Roach, W. M.; Skuza, J. R.; Beringer, D. B.; Li, Z.; Clavero, C.; Lukaszew, R. A.

2012-12-01

NbN thin films have the potential to be incorporated into radio frequency cavities in a multilayer coating to overcome the fundamental field gradient limit of 50 MV m-1 for the bulk niobium based technology that is currently implemented in particle accelerators. In addition to having a larger critical field value than bulk niobium, NbN films develop smoother surfaces which are optimal for cavity performance and lead to fewer losses. Here, we present a study on the correlation of film deposition parameters, surface morphology, microstructure, transport properties and superconducting properties of NbN thin films. We have achieved films with bulk-like lattice parameters and superconducting transition temperatures. These NbN films have a lower surface roughness than similarly grown niobium films of comparable thickness. The potential application of NbN thin films in accelerator cavities is discussed.

NbN thin films for superconducting radio frequency cavities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Roach, W M; Clavero, C; Lukaszew, R A; Skuza, J R; Beringer, D B; Li, Z

2012-01-01

NbN thin films have the potential to be incorporated into radio frequency cavities in a multilayer coating to overcome the fundamental field gradient limit of 50 MV m −1 for the bulk niobium based technology that is currently implemented in particle accelerators. In addition to having a larger critical field value than bulk niobium, NbN films develop smoother surfaces which are optimal for cavity performance and lead to fewer losses. Here, we present a study on the correlation of film deposition parameters, surface morphology, microstructure, transport properties and superconducting properties of NbN thin films. We have achieved films with bulk-like lattice parameters and superconducting transition temperatures. These NbN films have a lower surface roughness than similarly grown niobium films of comparable thickness. The potential application of NbN thin films in accelerator cavities is discussed. (paper)

A conceptual design of high-temperature superconducting isochronous cyclotron magnet

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jiao, F.; Tang, Y.; Li, J.; Ren, L.; Shi, J.

2011-01-01

A design of High-temperature superconducting (HTS) isochronous cyclotron magnet is proposed. The maximum magnetic field of cyclotron main magnet reaches 3 T. Laying the HTS coil aboard the magnetic pole will raise the availability of the magnetic Field. Super-iron structure can provide a high uniformity and high gradient magnetic field. Super-iron structure can raise the availability of the HTS materials. Along with the development of High-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials, the technology of HTS magnet is becoming increasingly important in the Cyclotron, which catches growing numbers of scholars' attentions. Based on the analysis of the problems met in the process of marrying superconducting materials with ferromagnetic materials, this article proposes a design of HTS isochronous cyclotron magnet. The process of optimization of magnet and the methods of realizing target parameters are introduced after taking finite element software as analyzing tools.

Microscopic Superconductivity and Room Temperature Electronics of High-Tc Cuprates

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Liu Fusui; Chen Wanfang

2008-01-01

This paper points out that the Landau criterion for macroscopic superfluidity of He II is only a criterion for microscopic superfluidity of 4 He, extends the Landau criterion to microscopic superconductivity in fermions (electron and hole) system and system with Cooper pairs without long-range phase coherence. This paper gives another three non-superconductive systems that are of microscopic superconductivity. This paper demonstrates that one application of microscopic superconductivity is to establish room temperature electronics of the high-T c cuprates

RF Characterization of Niobium Films for Superconducting Cavities

CERN Document Server

Aull† , S; Doebert, S; Junginger, T; Ehiasarian, AP; Knobloch, J; Terenziani, G

2013-01-01

The surface resistance RS of superconductors shows a complex dependence on the external parameters such as temperature, frequency or radio-frequency (RF) field. The Quadrupole Resonator modes of 400, 800 and 1200 MHz allow measurements at actual operating frequencies of superconducting cavities. Niobium films on copper substrates have several advantages over bulk niobium cavities. HIPIMS (High-power impulse magnetron sputtering) is a promising technique to increase the quality and therefore the performance of niobium films. This contribution will introduce CERNs recently developed HIPIMS coating apparatus. Moreover, first results of niobium coated copper samples will be presented, revealing the dominant loss mechanisms.

High critical temperature superconducting composite and fabrication process

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dubots, P.; Legat, D.

1989-01-01

The core comprises a high temperature superconducting sintered oxide coated with alumina or barium oxide covered with a first sheath in aluminum, a second sheath in niobium and a third sheath in copper [fr

Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting thin films by simultaneous or sequential evaporation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mogro-Campero, A.; Hunt, B.D.; Turner, L.G.; Burrell, M.C.; Balz, W.E.

1988-01-01

Superconducting thin films of Y-Ba-Cu-O near the 1:2:3 stoichiometry were produced by simultaneous (coevaporation) and sequential (multilayer) evaporation in the same evaporator. The best film obtained on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) had a superconducting onset temperature of 104 K, a midpoint T/sub c/ of 92 K, and zero resistance at T≤74 K. Stoichiometry was deduced by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, and elemental depth profiles were obtained by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Film stoichiometry changes only near the film/substrate boundary for films on YSZ. Films on Si/SiO 2 were not superconducting; depth profiling shows severe changes of film composition with depth. A major theme of this work is process reproducibility, which was found to be poor for coevaporation but improved considerably for sequential evaporation

Lead-doped electron-beam-deposited Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconducting thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Agnihotry, S.A.; Saini, K.K.; Kant, C.; Sharma, C.P.; Ekbote, S.N.; Asthana, P.; Nagpal, K.C.; Chandra, S. (National Physical Lab., New Delhi (India))

1991-03-20

Superconducting thin films of the lead-doped Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system have been prepared on (100) single-crystal SrTiO{sub 3} substrates by an electron beam deposition technique using a single sintered pellet as the evaporation source. As-deposited films are amorphous and non-superconducting; post-deposition annealing at an optimized temperature in air has been found to result in crystalline and superconducting films. The superconducting characteristics of the films have been observed to be sensitive not only to the duration and temperature of post-deposition annealing but also to the lead content and the sintering parameters for the pellet to be used as the evaporation source. A pellet with nominal composition Bi{sub 3}Pb{sub 1}Sr{sub 3}Ca{sub 3}Cu{sub 4}O{sub y} that had been sintered for 200 h zero resistivity Tc{sup 0}=112 K. However, films deposited using such a pellet as the evaporation source had Tc{sup 0} {approx equal} 73-78 K, as had the films deposited from a pellet without any lead. We investigated systematically films deposited from pellets with more lead and sintered for different durations. It is evident from these investigations that pellets with nominal composition Bi{sub 3}Pb{sub 2}Sr{sub 3}Ca{sub 3}Cu{sub 4}O{sub y}, i.e. with an excess of lead, and sintered for about 75 h when used as the evaporation source yield films with Tc{sup 0} {approx equal} 100 K when annealed between 835 and 840deg C for an optimized long duration. The films are characterized by X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive spectroscopy techniques and have been found to be highly c axis oriented. The effect of lead in promoting a high Tc{sup 0}=110 K phase seems to be similar to that in bulk ceramics. (orig.).

Substitutions in cation Nd/Ba subsystem in thin films of high-temperature superconductor NdBa2Cu3Oy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mozhaev, P.B.; Komissinskij, F.V.; Ivanov, Z.G.; Ovsyannikov, G.A.

2000-01-01

Thin films of the Nd 1+x Ba 2-x Cu 3 O y (NBCO) high-temperature superconductor with various neodymium and barium ratio are obtained through the method of combined laser spraying of targets with different elements composition. The films with neodymium excess (x >0) had low density of particles on the surface and roughness, however the critical temperature decreased with growth of x. The films with barium excess (x z particles. The NbCO structure and superconducting properties demonstrate strong dependence on the conditions of the films saturation with oxygen [ru

Thin Film Technology of High-Critical-Temperature Superconducting Electronics.

Science.gov (United States)

1985-12-11

ANALISIS OF THIN-FILM SUPERCONDUCTORS J. Talvacchio, M. A. Janocko, J. R. Gavaler, and A...in the areas of substrate preparation, niobum nitride, nlobium-tin, and molybdenum-rhenium. AN INTEGRATED DEPOSITION AND ANALISI - FACILITT The four...mobility low (64). The voids are separating 1-3 nm clusters of dense deposit. At low deposition temperatures this microstructure will persist near

Vortex variable range hopping in a conventional superconducting film

Science.gov (United States)

Percher, Ilana M.; Volotsenko, Irina; Frydman, Aviad; Shklovskii, Boris I.; Goldman, Allen M.

2017-12-01

The behavior of a disordered amorphous thin film of superconducting indium oxide has been studied as a function of temperature and magnetic field applied perpendicular to its plane. A superconductor-insulator transition has been observed, though the isotherms do not cross at a single point. The curves of resistance versus temperature on the putative superconducting side of this transition, where the resistance decreases with decreasing temperature, obey two-dimensional Mott variable-range hopping of vortices over wide ranges of temperature and resistance. To estimate the parameters of hopping, the film is modeled as a granular system and the hopping of vortices is treated in a manner analogous to hopping of charges. The reason the long-range interaction between vortices over the range of magnetic fields investigated does not lead to a stronger variation of resistance with temperature than that of two-dimensional Mott variable-range hopping remains unresolved.

Ultrathin NbN film superconducting single-photon detector array

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Smirnov, K; Korneev, A; Minaeva, O; Divochiy, A; Tarkhov, M; Ryabchun, S; Seleznev, V; Kaurova, N; Voronov, B; Gol'tsman, G; Polonsky, S

2007-01-01

We report on the fabrication process of the 2 x 2 superconducting single-photon detector (SSPD) array. The SSPD array is made from ultrathin NbN film and is operated at liquid helium temperatures. Each detector is a nanowire-based structure patterned by electron beam lithography process. The advances in fabrication technology allowed us to produce highly uniform strips and preserve superconducting properties of the unpatterned film. SSPD exhibit up to 30% quantum efficiency in near infrared and up to 1% at 5-μm wavelength. Due to 120 MHz counting rate and 18 ps jitter, the time-domain multiplexing read-out is proposed for large scale SSPD arrays. Single-pixel SSPD has already found a practical application in non-invasive testing of semiconductor very-large scale integrated circuits. The SSPD significantly outperformed traditional single-photon counting avalanche diodes

Y1Ba2Cu3O(7-delta) thin film dc SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference device)

Science.gov (United States)

Racah, Daniel

1991-03-01

Direct current superconducting quantum interferometers (SQUIDs) based on HTSC thin films have been measured and characterized. The thin films used were of different quality: (1) Granular films on Sapphire substrates, prepared either by e-gun evaporation, by laser ablation or by MOCVD (metal oxide chemical vapor deposition), (2) Epitaxial films on MgO substrates. Modulations of the voltage on the SQUIDs as a function of the applied flux have been observed in a wide range of temperatures. The nature of the modulation was found to be strongly dependent on the morphology of the film and on its critical current. The SQUIDs based on granular films were relatively noisy, hysteretic and with a complicated V-phi shape. Those devices based on low quality (lowIc) granular films could be measured only at low temperatures (much lower than 77 K). While those of higher quality (granular films with high Ic) could be measured near to the superconductive transition. The SQUID based on high quality epitaxial film was measured near Tc and showed an anomalous, time dependent behavior.

Analysis of mechanical characteristics of superconducting field coil for 17 MW class high temperature superconducting synchronous motor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kim, J. H.; Park, S. I.; Im, S. H.; Kim, H. M.

2013-01-01

Superconducting field coils using a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wires with high current density generate high magnetic field of 2 to 5 [T] and electromagnetic force (Lorentz force) acting on the superconducting field coils also become a very strong from the point of view of a mechanical characteristics. Because mechanical stress caused by these powerful electromagnetic force is one of the factors which worsens the critical current performance and structural characteristics of HTS wire, the mechanical stress analysis should be performed when designing the superconducting field coils. In this paper, as part of structural design of superconducting field coils for 17 MW class superconducting ship propulsion motor, mechanical stress acting on the superconducting field coils was analyzed and structural safety was also determined by the coupling analysis system that is consists of commercial electromagnetic field analysis program and structural analysis program.

Disorder and fluctuations in superconducting YBa2Cu3O6.9 films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gauzzi, A.

1993-01-01

We have developed the technique of ion-beam sputtering to grow thin (∼ 100 nm) superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6.9 (YBCO) films. We demonstrate that this technique is suitable for the in-situ deposition at low temperatures ( o C) of uniform films over large areas (≤30 cm 2 ). We found that preferential sputtering effects disappear if low-power ions-beams are used, thus enabling the control of the 1:2:3 composition by using a single stoichiometric target. We have found that the disorder in the crystal, introduced by too high or too low growth temperatures, affects strikingly both, the superconducting and the transport properties of the films. We report evidence that disorder on the atomic scale plays a role equivalent to oxygen doping. The similarity observed between the effects of crystal disorder in our films and the effects of oxygen depletion or Co-doping reported in the literature suggests that the disorder affects mainly the CuO chains. This implies that the local order of the chains controls not only the superconducting properties, as already established in the literature, but also the transport of the carriers in the normal state. Finally, we have investigated the local character of the superconducting state of YBCO by studying the paraconductivity in our films. We have found no indication of critical fluctuations at temperatures ≥5 mK above the zero-resistance critical temperature. Our analysis indicates that the spectrum of mean-field fluctuations is dominated by short-wavelength components and is affected by disorder. As a consequence, the temperature dependence of the critical exponents becomes complex and deviates from the universal predictions of conventional theories. We have explained quantitatively our experimental data and clarified the controversy existing in the literature by using a three-dimensional cut-off approach applied to the Lorentzian spectrum of the Ginzburg-Landau theory. (author) figs., tabs., refs

Research On Bi-Based High-Temperature Superconductors

Science.gov (United States)

Banks, Curtis; Doane, George B., III; Golben, John

1993-01-01

Brief report describes effects of melt sintering on Bi-based high-temperature superconductor system, as well as use of vibrating-sample magnetometer to determine hysteresis curves at 77 K for partially melt-sintered samples. Also discussed is production of high-temperature superconducting thin films by laser ablation: such films potentially useful in detection of signals of very low power.

Laser patterning of superconducting oxide films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gupta, A.; Hussey, B.W.; Koren, G.; Cooper, E.I.; Jagannathan, R.

1988-01-01

The focused output of an argon ion laser (514.5 nm) has been used for wiring superconducting lines of Y/sub 1/Ba/sub 2/CU/sub 3/O/sub 7-δ/ using films prepared from nitrate and trifluoroacetate solution precursors. A stoichiometric solution of the precursors is sprayed or spun on to the substrate to form a film. The film is patterned by irradiating in selected areas to convert the irradiated layers to an intermediate oxide or fluoride state, the nonirradiated areas being unchanged. The nonirradiated areas are then dissolved away, leaving a pattern of the oxide or fluoride material. This patterned layer is converted to the superconducting 1-2-3 oxide in a subsequent annealing step. Maskless patterning of superconducting films has also been demonstrated by laser-assisted etching of the films in aqueous KOH solution. Although superconductivity is destroyed when the films are placed in solution, it can be restored after a brief anneal in oxygen

High temperature superconductivity and cold fusion

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rabinowitz, M.

1990-01-01

There are numerous historical and scientific parallels between high temperature superconductivity (HTSC) and the newly emerging field of cold fusion (CF). Just as the charge carrier effective mass plays an important role in SC, the deuteron effective mass may play a vital role in CF. A new theory including effects of proximity, electron shielding, and decreased effective mass of the fusing nuclei can account for the reported CF results. A quantum-gas model that covers the range from low temperature to superhigh temperature SC indicates an increased T c with reduced dimensionality. A reduced dimensionality effect may also enhance CF. A relation is shown between CF and the significant cluster-impact fusion experiments

Spatial characterization of the edge barrier in wide superconducting films

Science.gov (United States)

Sivakov, A. G.; Turutanov, O. G.; Kolinko, A. E.; Pokhila, A. S.

2018-03-01

The current-induced destruction of superconductivity is discussed in wide superconducting thin films, whose width is greater than the magnetic field penetration depth, in weak magnetic fields. Particular attention is paid to the role of the boundary potential barrier (the Bin-Livingston barrier) in critical state formation and detection of the edge responsible for this critical state with different mutual orientations of external perpendicular magnetic field and transport current. Critical and resistive states of the film were visualized using the space-resolving low-temperature laser scanning microscopy (LTLSM) method, which enables detection of critical current-determining areas on the film edges. Based on these observations, a simple technique was developed for investigation of the critical state separately at each film edge, and for the estimation of residual magnetic fields in cryostats. The proposed method only requires recording of the current-voltage characteristics of the film in a weak magnetic field, thus circumventing the need for complex LTLSM techniques. Information thus obtained is particularly important for interpretation of studies of superconducting film single-photon light emission detectors.

Vortex imaging in superconducting films by scanning Hall probe microscopy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Oral, A.; Bending, S.J.; Humphreys, R.G.

1996-01-01

The authors have used a low noise Scanning Hall Probe Microscope (SHPM) to study vortex structures in superconducting films. The microscope has high magnetic field (∼2.9 x 10 -8 T/√Hz at 77K) and spatial resolution, ∼0.85 μm. Magnetic field profiles of single vortices in High T c YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ thin films have been successfully measured and the microscopic penetration depth of the superconductor has been extracted as a function of temperature. Flux penetration into the superconductor has been imaged in real time (∼8s/frame)

Memory effect in the high-temperature superconducting bulks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Xing-Yi; Zhou, Jun; Zhou, You-He

2013-01-01

Highlights: •Effects of temperature cycles on levitation force relaxation are investigated. •Memory effect of the YBCO bulks is observed in experiments. •With an increase of temperature, memory of the superconductor is gradually lost. -- Abstract: We present an experimental investigation of the relaxation of vertical force components in a high-temperature superconducting levitation system with different temperature cycle processes. For a selected ambient temperature (T 1 ) of the system, the experimental results show that the relaxations of the levitation forces are strongly dependent on the initial temperature. When the sample was submitted to temperature jumps around T 1 , the sample temperature was regulated at T 2 , and there were two cases of the experiments, ΔT = T 2 − T 1 0 (positive temperature cycle). It was found that in the case of negative temperature cycle, the superconducting samples have memory effect. And for the positive temperature cycle, with the experimental temperature increase, the memory effect of samples is gradually losing. Additionally, with the increase of temperature, the influences of the negative and positive temperature cycle on the levitation force relaxation are unsymmetrical. All the results are interpreted by using the characteristics of the free energy ‘ground’ plot of the Spin-glasses qualitatively

Low-temperature transport in ultra-thin tungsten films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chiatti, Olivio [Neue Materialien, Institut fuer Physik, Humboldt-Univ. Berlin (Germany); London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London (United Kingdom); Nash, Christopher; Warburton, Paul [London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London (United Kingdom)

2012-07-01

Tungsten-containing films, fabricated by focused-ion-beam-induced chemical vapour deposition, are known to have an enhanced superconducting transition temperature compared to bulk tungsten, and have been investigated previously for film thickness down to 25 nm. In this work, by using ion-beam doses below 50 pC/{mu}m{sup 2} on a substrate of amorphous silicon, we have grown continuous films with thickness below 20 nm. The electron transport properties were investigated at temperatures down to 350 mK and in magnetic fields up to 3 T, parallel and perpendicular to the films. The films in this work are closer to the limit of two-dimensional systems and are superconducting at low temperatures. Magnetoresistance measurements yield upper critical fields of the order of 1 T, and the resulting coherence length is smaller than the film thickness.

Superconducting properties of clustered PbBi films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lobb, C.J.; Tinkham, M.; Klapwijk, T.M.; Smith, A.D.; Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA

1981-01-01

Superconducting films with high resistance/square have been widely studied as a model of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. We show that the behavior of high R clean films near the thickness at which electrical conduction begins is dominated by a few paths across the film and thus should not be interpreted as a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. Instead, this behavior is consistent with a simple percolation model for the connectivity fluctuations across the film. (orig.)

Recovery time of high temperature superconducting tapes exposed in liquid nitrogen

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sheng, Jie; Zeng, Weina; Yao, Zhihao; Zhao, Anfeng; Hu, Daoyu; Hong, Zhiyong

2016-01-01

Highlights: • A novel method based on a sequence of AC pulses is presented. • Liquid nitrogen temperature is used as criterion to judge whether the sample has recovered. • Recovery time of some tape doesn't increase with the amplitude of fault current. • This phenomenon is caused by boiling heat transfer process of liquid nitrogen. • This phenomenon can be used in optimizing both the limiting rate and reclosing system. - Abstract: The recovery time is a crucial parameter to high temperature superconducting tapes, especially in power applications. The cooperation between the reclosing device and the superconducting facilities mostly relies on the recovery time of the superconducting tapes. In this paper, a novel method is presented to measure the recovery time of several different superconducting samples. In this method criterion used to judge whether the sample has recovered is the liquid nitrogen temperature, instead of the critical temperature. An interesting phenomenon is observed during the testing of superconducting samples exposed in the liquid nitrogen. Theoretical explanations of this phenomenon are presented from the aspect of heat transfer. Optimization strategy of recovery characteristics based on this phenomenon is also briefly discussed.

Materials Science of High-Temperature Superconducting Coated Conductor Materials

National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

Beasley, M. R

2007-01-01

This program was broadly focused on the materials science of high temperature superconducting coated conductors, which are of potential interest for application in electric power systems of interest to the Air Force...

Electronic properties of rocksalt copper monoxide: a proxy structure for high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Grant, Paul M

2008-01-01

Cubic rocksalt copper monoxide, in contrast to its lighter transition metal neighbours, does not exist in nature nor has it yet been successfully synthesized. Nonetheless, its numerical study as a structurally much simpler proxy for the layered cuprate perovskites may prove useful in probing the source of high temperature superconductivity in the latter family of compounds. Here we report such a study employing density functional theory (DFT) abetted by the local density approximation including cation on-site Hubbard interactions (LDA+U). Rather surprisingly, we find that unlike oxides of the light transition metals, cubic CuO remains metallic for all physically reasonable values of U and does not result in a Mott- Hubbard induced charge transfer insulator as might be expected, and, in fact, displays a Fermi surface with clearly nesting tendencies. Preliminary calculations of the net dimensionless electron-phonon coupling constant, λ, yield values in the range 0.6 - 0.7 similar to those found for the superconducting fullerenes and magnesium diboride. On the other hand, we do find as we gradually introduce a tetragonal distortion away from pure cubic symmetry that a charge- transfer insulator emerges for values of U ∼ 5 eV and c/a ∼ 1.3 in agreement with recent experimental data on forced-epitaxial growth of 2-4 ML thick films of tetragonal rocksalt CuO. We preliminarily conclude from these computational studies that high temperature superconductivity in the copper oxide compounds is at least initially mediated by Jahn-Teller driven electron-phonon coupling as originally suggested by Bednorz and Mueller.

Miniaturized high-temperature superconducting multiplexer with cascaded quadruplet structure

Science.gov (United States)

Xu, Zhang; Jingping, Liu; Shaolin, Yan; Lan, Fang; Bo, Zhang; Xinjie, Zhao

2015-06-01

In this paper, compact high temperature superconducting (HTS) multiplexers are presented for satellite communication applications. The first multiplexer consists of an input coupling node and three high-order bandpass filters, which is named triplexer. The node is realized by a loop microstrip line instead of conventional T-junction to eliminate the redundant susceptance due to combination of three filters. There are two eight-pole band-pass filters and one ten-pole band-pass filter with cascaded quadruplet structure for realizing high isolation. Moreover, the triplexer is extended to a multiplexer with six channels so as to verify the expansibility of the suggested approach. The triplexer is fabricated using double-sided YBa2Cu3O7 thin films on a 38 × 25 mm2 LaAlO3 substrate. The experimental results, when compared with those ones from the T-junction multiplexer, show that our multiplexer has lower insertion loss, smaller sizes and higher isolation between any two channels. Also, good agreement has been achieved between simulations and measurements, which illustrate the effectiveness of our methods for the design of high performance HTS multiplexers.

Influence of annealing atmosphere on structural and superconducting properties of MgB{sub 2} thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gregor, M., E-mail: gregor@fmph.uniba.sk; Plecenik, T.; Sobota, R.; Brndiarova, J.; Roch, T.; Satrapinskyy, L.; Kus, P.; Plecenik, A.

2014-09-01

Highlights: • Superconducting MgB{sub 2} thin film were deposited by co-deposition using the thermal and e-beam evaporation. • Ex situ annealing process was done using various atmospheres. • Influence of annealing atmosphere and temperature on superconducting and structural properties were studied. • Possible mechanisms of the formation and crystallization of MgB{sub 2} thin film are discussed. - Abstract: Influence of an ex situ annealing temperature and atmosphere on chemical composition and structural and superconducting properties of MgB{sub 2} thin films deposited by vacuum evaporation has been investigated. The annealing has been done in Ar, N{sub 2} and Ar + 5%H{sub 2} atmospheres at pressure of 700 Pa and temperature varying from 700 to 800 °C. It has been shown that annealing in Ar and N{sub 2} atmosphere at 700–800 °C produces relatively thick MgO layer on the surface of the films, while creation of such layer is highly reduced if the annealing is done in reducing Ar + 5%H{sub 2} atmosphere. The XPS and XRD results suggest that the MgO layer prevents out-diffusion of Mg from the film during the annealing, what assures better stoichiometry of the films as well as creation of larger MgB{sub 2} grains. The films with the highest amount of MgO on the surface, annealed in nitrogen atmosphere, thus paradoxically exhibited the highest critical temperature of T{sub c0} = 34.8 K with very sharp transition width of 0.1 K.

Colloquium: High pressure and road to room temperature superconductivity

Science.gov (United States)

Gor'kov, Lev P.; Kresin, Vladimir Z.

2018-01-01

This Colloquium is concerned with the superconducting state of new high-Tc compounds containing hydrogen ions (hydrides). Recently superconductivity with the record-setting transition temperature of Tc=203 K was reported for sulfur hydrides under high pressure. In general, high pressure serves as a path finding tool toward novel structures, including those with very high Tc . The field has a rich and interesting history. Currently, it is broadly recognized that superconductivity in sulfur hydrides owes its origin to the phonon mechanism. However, the picture differs from the conventional one in important ways. The phonon spectrum in sulfur hydride is both broad and has a complex structure. Superconductivity arises mainly due to strong coupling to the high-frequency optical modes, although the acoustic phonons also make a noticeable contribution. A new approach is described, which generalizes the standard treatment of the phonon mechanism and makes it possible to obtain an analytical expression for Tc in this phase. It turns out that, unlike in the conventional case, the value of the isotope coefficient (for the deuterium-hydrogen substitution) varies with the pressure and reflects the impact of the optical modes. The phase diagram, that is the pressure dependence of Tc , is rather peculiar. A crucial feature is that increasing pressure results in a series of structural transitions, including the one which yields the superconducting phase with the record Tc of 203 K. In a narrow region near P ≈150 GPa the critical temperature rises sharply from Tc≈120 to ≈200 K . It seems that the sharp structural transition, which produces the high-Tc phase, is a first-order phase transition caused by interaction between the order parameter and lattice deformations. A remarkable feature of the electronic spectrum in the high-Tc phase is the appearance of small pockets at the Fermi level. Their presence leads to a two-gap spectrum, which can, in principle, be observed with the

Superconductivity applications for infrared and microwave devices; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Apr. 19, 20, 1990

Science.gov (United States)

Bhasin, Kul B.; Heinen, Vernon O.

1990-10-01

Various papers on superconductivity applications for IR and microwave devices are presented. The individual topics addressed include: pulsed laser deposition of Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O films, patterning of high-Tc superconducting thin films on Si substrates, IR spectra and the energy gap in thin film YBa2Cu3O(7-delta), high-temperature superconducting thin film microwave circuits, novel filter implementation utilizing HTS materials, high-temperature superconductor antenna investigations, high-Tc superconducting IR detectors, high-Tc superconducting IR detectors from Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films, Y-Ba-Cu0-O thin films as high-speed IR detectors, fabrication of a high-Tc superconducting bolometer, transition-edge microbolometer, photoresponse of YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) granular and epitaxial superconducting thin films, fast IR response of YBCO thin films, kinetic inductance effects in high-Tc microstrip circuits at microwave frequencies.

A novel selenization technique for fabrication of superconducting FeSex thin film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chai Qinglin; Tu Hailing; Hua Zhiqiang; Wang Lei; Qu Fei

2011-01-01

A novel selenization technique was applied to prepare superconducting FeSe x films with pre-set FeS films. The combination of reactive sputtering deposition with elemental diffusion technique would extend to prepare films of other iron-based superconductors. The results of transport measurement got close or greater than that of previous reports. T c,onset and T c,0 got to 10.2 K and 4 K respectively. We believe that increase of the content of Fe 7 Se 8 could not only reduce T c but also slow down the decline of resistivity. A combinative method with reactive sputtering deposition and selenization technique was applied to prepare superconducting FeSe x films on LaAlO 3 substrates successfully. The influence of selenizing temperature on film components was studied. FeSe 0.96 and FeSe films had similar and good performances in transport measurement but little difference in magnetic property. The critical onset temperature got to 11.2 K and T c,0 got to 4 K approximately. X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the ratio of constituents and morphology of several selenized films. FeSe x film had a porous structure on surface and no well preferred orientation, which were confirmed to have little influence on superconducting properties.

Vortex loops in the critical Casimir effect in superfluid and superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Williams, Gary A.

2004-01-01

Vortex-loop renormalization techniques are used to calculate the magnitude of the critical Casimir forces in superfluid and superconducting thin films. The force is found to become appreciable when the size of the thermally excited vortex loops is comparable to the film thickness, and the results for T c are found to match very well with perturbative renormalization-group theories that can only be carried out for T>T c . In helium films the Casimir force leads to a change in the film thickness close to T c that has been observed experimentally. A similar effect is predicted to occur near the transition temperature of high-T c superconducting films, which is also a vortex-loop phase transition. In this case the Casimir force takes the form of a voltage difference that will appear at the junction between a thin film and a bulk sample. Estimates show that this voltage can be appreciable (tens of microvolts), and it may be possible to observe the effect by measuring the voltage across two Josephson tunnel junctions to the film and to the bulk, using a SQUID voltmeter

High temperature superconducting material: Bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide. (Latest citations from the Aerospace database). Published Search

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1993-11-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning the development, fabrication, and analysis of a high temperature superconducting material based on bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper-oxides (Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O). Topics include the physical properties, structural and compositional analysis, magnetic field and pressure effects, and noble metal dopings of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O based systems. The highest transition temperature recorded to date for this material was 120 degrees Kelvin. Fabrication methods and properties of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O films and ceramics are also considered. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Contribution of ion beam analysis methods to the development of 2nd generation high temperature superconducting (HTS) wires

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Usov, Igor O [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Arendt, Paul N [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Stan, Liliana [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Holesinger, Terry G [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Foltyn, Steven R [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Depaula, Raymond F [Los Alamos National Laboratory

2009-01-01

One of the crucial steps in the second generation high temperature superconducting wire program was development of the buffer layer architecture. The architecture designed at the Superconductivity Technology Center at Los Alamos National Laboratory consists of several oxide layers wherein each layer plays a specific role, namely: nucleation layer, diffusion barrier, biaxially textured template, and an intermediate layer with a good match to the lattice parameter of superconducting Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} (YBCO) compound. This report demonstrates how a wide range of ion beam analysis techniques (SIMS, RBS, channeling, PIXE, PIGE, NRA, ERD) was employed for analysis of each buffer layer and the YBCO films. These results assisted in understanding of a variety of physical processes occurring during the buffet layer fabrication and helped to optimize the buffer layer architecture as a whole.

Development of Strontium Titanate Thin films on Technical Substrates for Superconducting Coated Conductors

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Pallewatta, Pallewatta G A P; Yue, Zhao; Grivel, Jean-Claude

2012-01-01

SrTiO3 is a widely studied perovskite material due to its advantages as a template for high temperature superconducting tapes. Heteroepitaxial SrTiO3 thin films were deposited on Ni/W tapes using dip-coating in a precursor solution followed by drying and annealing under reducing conditions. Nearl...

Highly oriented as-deposited superconducting laser ablated thin films of Y1Ba2Cu3O/sub 7-//sub δ/ on SrTiO3, zirconia, and Si substrates

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Koren, G.; Polturak, E.; Fisher, B.; Cohen, D.; Kimel, G.

1988-01-01

KrF excimer laser ablation of an Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O/sub 7-//sub δ/ pellet in 0.1--0.2 Torr of O 2 ambient was used to deposit thin superconducting films onto SrTiO 3 , yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), and silicon substrates at 600--700 0 C. The as-deposited 1-μm-thick films at 650--700 0 C substrate temperature were superconducting, without further high-temperature annealing. All films had a similar T/sub c/ onset of ∼92 K but different zero-resistance T/sub c/ of 90, 85, and 70 K for the films on SrTiO 3 , YSZ, and Si substrates, respectively. Angular x-ray diffraction analysis showed that all the films were highly oriented with the c axis perpendicular to their surface. Critical current densities at 77 K were about 40 000 and 10 000 A/cm 2 for the films on SrTiO 3 and YSZ, respectively. Smooth surface morphology was observed in all films, with occasional defects and cracks in the films on YSZ, which seems to explain the lower critical current in these films

Analysis of thermodynamic properties for high-temperature superconducting oxides

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kushwah, S.S.; Shanker, J.

1993-01-01

Analysis of thermodynamic properties such as specific heat, Debye temperature, Einstein temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, bulk modulus, and Grueneisen parameter is performed for rare-earth-based, Tl-based, and Bi-based superconducting copper oxides. Values of thermodynamic parameters are calculated and reported. The relationship between the Debye temperature and the superconducting transition temperature is used to estimate the values of T c using the interaction parameters from Ginzburg. (orig.)

Use of a High-Temperature Superconducting Coil for Magnetic Energy Storage

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fagnard, J-F; Crate, D; Jamoye, J-F; Laurent, Ph; Mattivi, B; Cloots, R; Ausloos, M; Genon, A; Vanderbemden, Ph

2006-01-01

A high temperature superconducting magnetic energy storage device (SMES) has been realised using a 350 m-long BSCCO tape wound as a ''pancake'' coil. The coil is mounted on a cryocooler allowing temperatures down to 17.2 K to be achieved. The temperature dependence of coil electrical resistance R(T) shows a superconducting transition at T = 102.5 K. Measurements of the V(I) characteristics were performed at several temperatures between 17.2 K and 101.5 K to obtain the temperature dependence of the critical current (using a 1 μV/cm criterion). Critical currents were found to exceed 100 A for T < 30 K. An electronic DC-DC converter was built in order to control the energy flow in and out of the superconducting coil. The converter consists of a MOS transistor bridge switching at a 80 kHz frequency and controlled with standard Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques. The system was tested using a 30 V squared wave power supply as bridge input voltage. The coil current, the bridge input and output voltages were recorded simultaneously. Using a 10 A setpoint current in the superconducting coil, the whole system (coil + DC-DC converter) can provide a stable output voltage showing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capabilities over 1 s

Direct growth of superconducting NdFeAs(O,F) thin films by MBE

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chihara, Masashi, E-mail: chihara@iku.xtal.nagoya-u.ac.jp [Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603 (Japan); Sumiya, Naoki; Arai, Kenta [Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603 (Japan); Ichinose, Ataru; Tsukada, Ichiro [Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa 240-0101 (Japan); Hatano, Takafumi; Iida, Kazumasa; Ikuta, Hiroshi [Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603 (Japan)

2015-11-15

Highlights: • Highly textured NdFeAs(O,F) thin films were obtained by a direct growth method. • Enhancing the migration was crucial to realize the direct growth. • The critical current density exceeded 3 MA/cm{sup 2} at self-field and 1 MA/cm{sup 2} at 9 T. • A two-dimensional growth was confirmed by the observation of surface morphology. - Abstract: We report on the growth of NdFeAs(O,F) superconducting thin films by molecular beam epitaxy without having a NdOF secondary layer that was necessary for fluorine doping in our previous studies. The key to realizing the direct growth of a superconducting film was the enhancement of migration of the raw materials on the substrate, which was accomplished by two steps. Firstly, we increased the growth temperature that improved the crystalline quality of parent NdFeAsO thin films. Secondly, the atmosphere in the chamber during the growth was improved by changing the crucible material of the Fe source cell. Highly textured NdFeAs(O,F) thin films with critical temperatures up to 50 K were obtained, and terraces were observed by atomic force microscope, indicating a two-dimensional growth. However, precipitates were also found on the surface, which suggests that enhancing further the migration is necessary for obtaining a NdFeAs(O,F) thin film with a better quality.

Growth of epitaxial Ba2YCu3O(7-delta) thin films and control of their superconducting properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Siegal, M.P.; Phillips, J.M.

1992-01-01

The relationship is experimentally defined between the superconducting behavior of Ba2YCu3O(7-delta) (BYCO) films and their structural characteristics. The BYCO films are grown on LaAlO3 100-plane by coevaporating BaF2, Y, and Cu followed by ex situ annealing, and the crystalline quality is tested by Rutherford backscattering ion channeling. SEM is employed to study film morphology, and several techniques are used to measure the transition temperature (Tc), critical current density (Jc), and the penetration length. It is found that point defects and dislocations decrease as the high-temperature stage (Ta) increases; crevices, pinholes, and microcracks are also noted which are related to specific values of Tc, Ta, and penetration length. The results of the present experiments indicate that the material properties of superconducting materials should be examined closely to distinguish between pure superconducting behavior and characteristics related to material structure. 21 refs

Studies on room temperature electrochemical oxidation and its effect on the transport properties of TBCCO films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shirage, P M; Shivagan, D D; Pawar, S H

2004-01-01

A novel room temperature electrochemical process for the synthesis of single-phase Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10 (TBCCO/Tl-2223) superconducting films has been developed. Electrochemical parameters were optimized by studying linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) for the deposition of Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu alloy at room temperature. The superconducting films of the TBCCO were obtained by two oxidation techniques. In the first technique, the electrodeposited Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu alloyed films were oxidized at various temperatures in flowing oxygen atmosphere. In the second technique, stoichiometric electrocrystallization to get Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10 (Tl-2223) was completed by electrochemically intercalating oxygen species into Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu alloy at room temperature for various lengths of time. The oxygen content in the samples was varied by varying the electrochemical oxidation period, and the changes in the crystal structure, superconducting transition temperature (T c ) and critical current density (J c ) were recorded. The high temperature furnace oxidation technique was replaced by the room temperature electrochemical oxidation technique. The dependence of superconducting parameters on oxygen content is correlated with structure-property relations

Superconducting technology program Sandia 1996 annual report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Roth, E.P.

1997-02-01

Sandia's Superconductivity Technology Program is a thallium-based high-temperature superconductor (HTS) research and development program consisting of efforts in powder synthesis and process development, open-system thick film conductor development, wire and tape fabrication, and HTS motor design. The objective of this work is to develop high-temperature superconducting conductors (wire and tape) capable of meeting requirements for high-power electrical devices of interest to industry. The research efforts currently underway are: (1) Process development and characterization of thallium-based high-temperature superconducting closed system wire and tape, (2) Investigation of the synthesis and processing of thallium-based thick films using two-zone processing, and (3) Cryogenic design of a 30K superconducting motor. This report outlines the research that has been performed during FY96 in each of these areas

Proceedings of a high temperature superconductivity strategy workshop

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kurzfeld, A.

1987-07-01

The paper contains the proceedings of a high temperature superconductivity strategy workshop, held at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, United Kingdom, 1987. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the U.K. strategy to be adopted for the high Tsub(c) superconductors and their application. The notes are presented of five Working Groups examining the following subjects: materials preparation, structural evaluation, physical properties, theoretical studies, and applications. (UK)

THz spectroscopy on superconducting NbN thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Daschke, Lena; Pracht, Uwe S.; Dressel, Martin; Scheffler, Marc [1. Physikalisches Institut, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany); Ilin, Konstantin S.; Siegel, Michael [Institut fuer Mikro- und Nanoelektronische Systeme, Karlsruher Institut fuer Technologie (Germany)

2015-07-01

Epitaxial thin-film niobium nitride (NbN) is a conventional BCS superconductor. In presence of strong disorder, however, electronic inhomogeneities appear, which is not fully understood yet. To obtain a better insight into the physics of such disordered materials, studies on model systems such as structurally tailored films might be useful. Furthermore, disordered NbN films are used for single-photon detection devices, whose proper performance depends on a profound understanding of the superconducting properties. The studied NbN films have a T{sub c} ranging from 10 to 15 K and the superconducting energy gap is easily accessible with THz spectroscopy (0.4 - 5.6 meV). We investigate thin films of NbN sputtered on a sapphire substrate. With a Mach-Zehnder interferometer we measure the amplitude and phase shift of radiation transmitted through the thin-film sample. From there we can determine the real and imaginary parts of the optical conductivity. These results give information about the energy gap, Cooper pair density, and quasiparticle dynamics, including the temperature evolution of these quantities. We found that a film with 10 nm thickness roughly follows the BCS behavior, as expected. We will present results of our measurements on several different NbN samples.

Specific feature of critical fields of inhomogeneous superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Glazman, L.I.; Dmitrenko, I.M.; Kolin'ko, A.E.; Pokhila, A.S.; Fogel', N.Ya.; Cherkasova, V.G.

1988-01-01

Experimental studies on thin vanadium films (d=250-400 A) have revealed anomaly in the temperature dependence of the upper critical field H cparallel (T), when H is parallel to the sample plane. At certain temperature T 0 the dependence H cparallel 2 (T) has a sharp kink separating two linear portions. The anomalous behaviour of H cparallel (T) of thin V films can be accounted for assuming the film separation into two parallel layers having different parameters (critical temperature T c , coherence length ξ, thickness d). At temperatures above and lower T 0 the dependence H cparallel (T) is mainly dependent on the characteristics of only one layer. The kink in the dependence H cparallel 2 (T) is due to a jump-like transition of the superconducting nucleus from one layer to the other at T c . The anomalous behaviour of the dependence H cparallel (T) is also observed in sandwiches consisting of two identical films separated with a high (about 30 A) dielectric interlayer; however, the transition from one linear portion to the other is smooth. In the case of identical films a specific crossover occurs if at T-T c the critical field H cparallel (T) coinsides with that for the layer of doubled thickness, then at lowering temperature H cparallel (T) asymptotically approaches the critical field of one layer. The calculation within the model described provides a good description for the experimental results

Superconducting Technology Program: Sandia 1993 annual report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Roth, E.P.

1994-05-01

Sandia's STP program is a four-part high-temperature superconductor (HTS) research and development program consisting of efforts in powder synthesis and process development, thallium-based HTS film development, wire and tape fabrication, and HTS motor design. The objective of this work is to develop high-temperature superconducting conductors (wire and tape) capable of meeting requirements for high-power electrical devices of interest to industry. The four research efforts currently underway are: (1) process research on the material synthesis of high-temperature superconductors; (2) investigation of the synthesis and processing of thallium-based high-temperature superconducting thick films; (3) process development and characterization of high-temperature superconducting wire and tape, and (4) cryogenic design of a high-temperature superconducting motor. This report outlines the research that has been performed during FY93 in each of these four areas. A brief background of each project is included to provide historical context and perspective. Major areas of research are described, although no attempt has been made to exhaustively include all work performed in each of these areas

Temperature dependence of the superconducting proximity effect quantified by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Stępniak

2015-01-01

Full Text Available Here, we present the first systematic study on the temperature dependence of the extension of the superconducting proximity effect in a 1–2 atomic layer thin metallic film, surrounding a superconducting Pb island. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS measurements reveal the spatial variation of the local density of state on the film from 0.38 up to 1.8 K. In this temperature range the superconductivity of the island is almost unaffected and shows a constant gap of a 1.20 ± 0.03 meV. Using a superconducting Nb-tip a constant value of the proximity length of 17 ± 3 nm at 0.38 and 1.8 K is found. In contrast, experiments with a normal conductive W-tip indicate an apparent decrease of the proximity length with increasing temperature. This result is ascribed to the thermal broadening of the occupation of states of the tip, and it does not reflect an intrinsic temperature dependence of the proximity length. Our tunneling spectroscopy experiments shed fresh light on the fundamental issue of the temperature dependence of the proximity effect for atomic monolayers, where the intrinsic temperature dependence of the proximity effect is comparably weak.

Influence of pulse electric current on structure and superconducting properties of high temperature superconductor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rajchenko, A.I.; Flis, A.A.; Chernenko, L.I.; Kryuchkova, N.I.

1998-01-01

The influence of high-density pulse current treatment at room temperature on structure and superconducting properties of HTSC Y Ba 2 Cu 3 O x ceramics is studied. The structures of the samples are found to undergo appreciable changes as the density of pulse current is gradually increased from its minimum value; as a certain threshold value is attained, there occurs a melting-off of coarse grains with a partial destroying of intergrain contact areas followed by superconductivity loss. A further increase in the treatment current density results in a restoration of the superconducting properties probably due to the occurrence of aligned-with-current superconducting bridges between the melted-off grains. The superconducting transition temperature in the samples does not charge but subsequent thermal treatment causes this temperature to increase

High temperature superconductivity: Hope of a new technology

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Anon.

1989-01-01

Following the sensational report in 1986 from the IBM laboratory in Rueschlikon, Switzerland, that superconductivity - that permanent flow of current at temperatures close to absolute zero - is also possible at higher temperatures, the waves of enthusiasm among scientists at first rose high. They talked of a revolution in electrotechnology, especially since superconductors at room temperature seemed to have almost come within reach. In the meantime their thoughts on the matter are much more down to earth. What are the realistic fields of application for the 'new superconductors'? The questions are discussed by scientists, politicians and engineers. (orig.) [de

Project in fiscal 1989 for research and development of basic technologies in next generation industries. Research and development of superconducting materials and superconducting elements (Achievement report on forecast and research of superconducting element technology); 1990 nendo chodendo soshi gijutsu yosoku kenkyu seika hokokusho

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1991-03-01

With an objective to forecast the ways the future superconducting elements and the related technologies should proceed, investigations and researches were performed on the progress in research and development of high-temperature superconducting elements, and the superconduction in a wide range. This paper summarizes the achievements in fiscal 1990. The high-temperature superconducting thin film technology has made remarkable advancement. The correlation of film forming conditions with characteristics of thin films was studied by using the sputtering process, laser deposition process and CVD process, having made production of thin films sufficiently applicable to electronics possible. A technology has been developed to suppress deterioration of characteristics for high-temperature conductors in thin film patterning, surface treatment and lamination structure fabrication. However, the problem of characteristics deterioration on interface of tri-terminal elements still remain unsolved. The bonded structure elements using high-temperature superconductors is the central technology in electronics application, but such problems exist as the coherence length being short, deterioration of characteristics at interfaces, and the electric characteristics being sensitive to crystalline orientation. Technological development to overcome these problems is under way. (NEDO)

Related electrical, superconducting and structural characteristics of low temperature indium films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Belevtsev, B.I.; Pilipenko, V.V.; Yatsuk, L.Ya.

1981-01-01

Reported are results of a complex study of electrical, superconducting and structural properties of indium films vacuum evaporated onto a liquid helium-cooled substrate. Structural electron diffraction investigations gave a better insight into the general features of the annealing during the warming-up of cold-deposited films. It is found that the annealing of indium films to about 80 to 100 K entails an irreversible growth of interplanar separations due to decreasing inhomogeneous microstresses. As the films are warmed from 100 to 300 K, the principal annealing processes are determined by crystallite growth and development of dominating orientation. The changes in the residual resistance and in Tsub(c) with warming the cold-deported films are explained on the base of structural data obtained. In particular, a direct relationship is revealed between the crystallite size and Tsub(c) [ru

Superconducting thin films of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O by laser ablation

Science.gov (United States)

Bedekar, M. M.; Safari, A.; Wilber, W.

1992-11-01

Superconducting thin films of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O have been deposited by KrF excimer laser ablation. The best in situ films showed a Tc onset of 110 K and a Tc(0) of 76 K. A study of the laser plume revealed the presence of two distinct regimes. The forward directed component increased with fluence and the film composition was stoichiometric in this region. This is in agreement with the results on the 123 system by Venkatesan et al. [1]. The film properties were found to be critically dependent on the substrate temperature and temperatures close to melting gave rise to 2212 and 2223 phases. At lower temperatures, 2201 and amorphous phases were obtained. The film morphology and superconducting properties were a function of the target to substrate distance and the oxygen pressure during deposition and cooling. An increase in the target to substrate distance led to a deterioration of the properties due to the energy consideration for the formation of 2212 and 2223 phases. The best films were obtained using cooling pressures of 700 Torr. The microwave surface resistance of the films measured at 35 GHz dropped below that of copper at 30 K. Film growth was studied using X-ray diffraction and STM/AFM. This work is a discussion of the role of the different variables on the film properties.

High-temperature change of the creep rate in YBa2Cu3O7-δ films with different pinning landscapes

Science.gov (United States)

Haberkorn, N.; Miura, M.; Baca, J.; Maiorov, B.; Usov, I.; Dowden, P.; Foltyn, S. R.; Holesinger, T. G.; Willis, J. O.; Marken, K. R.; Izumi, T.; Shiohara, Y.; Civale, L.

2012-05-01

Magnetic relaxation measurements in YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) films at intermediate and high temperatures show that the collective vortex creep based on the elastic motion of the vortex lattice has a crossover to fast creep that significantly reduces the superconducting critical current density (Jc). This crossover occurs at temperatures much lower than the irreversibility field line. We study the influence of different kinds of crystalline defects, such as nanorods, twin boundaries, and nanoparticles, on the high-temperature vortex phase diagram of YBCO films. We found that the magnetization relaxation data is a fundamental tool to understand the pinning at high temperatures. The results indicate that high Jc values are directly associated with small creep rates. Based on the analysis of the depinning temperature in films with columnar defects, our results indicate that the size of the defects is the relevant parameter that determines thermal depinning at high temperatures. Also, the extension of the collective creep regime depends on the density of the pinning centers.

A study on the development of high Tc superconducting materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Won, Dong Yeon; Lee, Hee Gyoun; Kim, Chan Joong

1990-01-01

The microstructure, crystal structure and formation kinetics for the superconducting phases were studied in the lead-doped BiSrCaCuO system. The formation kinetics was also investigated in the samples with different Pb/Bi ratio and it was observed that the 30 % Pb addition is most perferable for the formation of the high T c phase. The formation of the high T c phase was delayed by the excessive addition of Pb. The lattice parameter (c) of the unit cell of both low T c and high T c phases increased with increasing Pb content. Superconducting thin film was sucessfully prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Film deposited on MgO substrate showed a T c , onset of 85 K and did not reach to zero resistivity down to 77 K. Superconducting 124 phase in Y-system, which is more stable than 123 phase at high temperature showed a T c , onser of 84 K. Additionally, 0.1 mole of Pb, Sn and Ca was substituted for yttrium in 124 phase, respectively. For Pb and Sn-subsituted specimens, 124 phase was formed and for Ca substituted specimen, 124 phase was not formed and revealed no superconductivity down to 77 K. For Sn-substituted specimens, 124 phase was formed but showed no superconductivity down to 77 K. (author)

Low-frequency noise in high-Tc superconducting thick films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aponte, J.M.; Gutierrez, G.; Octavio, M.

1990-01-01

In this paper experimental results on the resistance noise in thick films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ in the vicinity of the superconducting transition are reported. The measurements were performed in samples with broad resistive transitions and in the frequency range from 1Hz to 100 Hz. The power spectral density S v /V 2 of the excess noise is obtained by subtracting the current-independent background noise from the total measured noise. The authors observed that at the transition, the magnitude of S v /V 2 rises above its level at room temperature exhibiting peaks at the same temperatures at which R -1 dR/dT has maxima. The authors performed measurements of S v /V 2 as a function of the current through the sample and the authors found that it diverges as the critical current is approached from above and that it is zero below the critical current. This transition is found to be described quite well by a percolation model

Superconducting thin films of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O by laser ablation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bedekar, M.M.

1992-01-01

The discovery of a new class of copper oxide superconductors has led to the development of three major systems that exhibit superconducting properties. The Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors offer intrinsic advantages due to the high T c , chemical inertness and tolerance for a range of compositions. However, thin film research on these materials has progressed more slowly than the other cuprate systems. This dissertation examines the film growth, by laser ablation, of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors and the effect of the deposition parameters such as the laser target interaction, substrate temperature, target to substrate distance, deposition and cooling pressure, target type and processing and the substrate type. CO 2 laser ablation was shown to give rise to a non-stoichiometric material transfer due to the low fluences and long pulse lengths. In situ superconducting thin films with T c(0) 's of 76 K could be deposited using the KrF laser at substrate temperatures of 5 degrees C to 20 degrees C below phases. Lower temperatures gave rise to a mixture of 2201 and glassy phases. An increase in the target to substrate distance led to a deterioration of the electrical and structural properties of the films due to a decrease in the energy for film formation. A maximum in T c(0) was observed at 450 mtorr as the deposition pressure was varied between 200 to 700 mtorr. Optimum oxygen incorporation could be achieved by cooling the films in high oxygen pressures and the best films were obtained with 700 torr cooling pressure. The oxygen deficiency of the hot pressed targets led to inferior properties compared to the conventionally sintered targets. The microwave surface resistance of the films measured at 35 GHz showed an onset at 80 K and dropped below that of copper at 30 K. The study of the laser ablation process in this system revealed the presence of a stoichiometric forward directed component and a diffuse evaporation component

New Fast Response Thin Film-Based Superconducting Quench Detectors

CERN Document Server

Dudarev, A; van de Camp, W; Ravaioli, E; Teixeira, A; ten Kate, H H J

2014-01-01

Quench detection on superconducting bus bars and other devices with a low normal zone propagation velocity and low voltage build-up is quite difficult with conventional quench detection techniques. Currently, on ATLAS superconducting bus bar sections, superconducting quench detectors (SQD) are mounted to detect quench events. A first version of the SQD essentially consists of an insulated superconducting wire glued to a superconducting bus line or windings, which in the case of a quench rapidly builds up a relatively high resistance that can be easily and quietly detected. We now introduce a new generation of drastically improved SQDs. The new version makes the detection of quenches simpler, more reliable, and much faster. Instead of a superconducting wire, now a superconducting thin film is used. The layout of the sensor shows a meander like pattern that is etched out of a copper coated 25 mu m thick film of Nb-Ti glued in between layers of Kapton. Since the sensor is now much smaller and thinner, it is easi...

Anomalous magnetism of superconducting Mg-doped InN film

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

P. H. Chang

2016-02-01

Full Text Available We report on the Meissner effect of Mg-doped InN film with superconducting transition onset temperature Tc,onset of 5 K. Mg-doped InN is magnetically ordered and exhibits a simultaneous first-order magnetic and electric transition near 50 K. Its behavior is similar to that of iron-based superconductors. A strong correlation is proposed to exist between structural distortion and superconductivity when Mg is doped into InN. The suppression of magnetic ordering close to Tc by doping is further demonstrated by anisotropic magnetoresistance and M-H measurements. The findings suggest that the superconducting mechanism in the system may not be conventional BCS.

Superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hebard, A.F.; Vandenberg, J.M.

1982-01-01

This invention relates to granular metal and metal oxide superconducting films formed by ion beam sputter deposition. Illustratively, the films comprise irregularly shaped, randomly oriented, small lead grains interspersed in an insulating lead oxide matrix. The films are hillock-resistant when subjected to thermal cycling and exhibit unusual josephson-type switching characteristics. Depending on the oxygen content, a film may behave in a manner similar to that of a plurality of series connected josephson junctions, or the film may have a voltage difference in a direction parallel to a major surface of the film that is capable of being switched from zero voltage difference to a finite voltage difference in response to a current larger than the critical current

Laser writing of superconducting patterns on YBa2Cu3Ox films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dye, R.C.; Muenchausen, R.E.; Nogar, N.S.; Mukherjee, A.; Brueck, S.R.J.

1990-01-01

A novel process for the direct laser writing of thin-film high T c patterns is demonstrated. The process consists of deposition of a high quality film (308 nm laser ablation from a YBa 2 Cu 3 O x target with a 750 degree C substrate temperature and a 150 mTorr O 2 ambient), annealing in an inert atmosphere (Ar at 400 degree C for 5--20 min) to reduce the oxygen content and depress or eliminate the superconducting transition temperature, and direct-write laser heating (1.06 μm at ∼0.5 kW/cm 2 for ∼5 min) in an oxygen atmosphere at ∼590 Torr to selectively regenerate the high T c material. rf eddy current and four-point resistivity probe results confirm this process for both SrTiO 3 and LaAlO 3 substrates. Scanning electron micrographs indicate that this is a very mild processing sequence with no observable changes in film morphology

High-Tc superconducting electric motors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Schiferl, R.; Stein, J.

1992-01-01

In this paper, the advantages and limitations of using superconductors in motors are discussed. A synchronous motor with a high temperature superconducting field winding for pump and fan drive applications is described and some of its unique design features are identified. A 10,000 horsepower superconducting motor design is presented. The critical field and current density requirements for high temperature superconducting wire in motors is discussed. Finally, recent progress in superconducting wire performance is presented

Superconductive properties, interaction mechanisms, materials preparation and electronic transport in high-Tc superconductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Saemann-Ischenko, G.

1993-01-01

The final report is composed of eight chapters dealing with the following aspects: I. Mixed state, critical currents, anisotropy, intrinsic and extrinsic pinning. II. Microwave properties and far-infrared reflectivity of epitactic HTSC films. III. Hall effect at the states of normal conductivity and superconductivity, magnetoresistance, superconducting fluctuation phenomena. IV. Effects of the nuclear and the electronic energy loss. V. Scanning electron microscopy. VI. p- and n-doped high-Tc superconductors: Charge symmetry and magnetism. VII. Preparation methods. VIII. Electrochemical examinations of HTSC films and HTSC monocrystals at low temperatures. (orig./MM) [de

High temperature superconductivity the road to higher critical temperature

CERN Document Server

Uchida, Shin-ichi

2015-01-01

This book presents an overview of material-specific factors that influence Tc and give rise to diverse Tc values for copper oxides and iron-based high- Tc superconductors on the basis of more than 25 years of experimental data, to most of which the author has made important contributions. The book then explains why both compounds are distinct from others with similar crystal structure and whether or not one can enhance Tc, which in turn gives a hint on the unresolved pairing mechanism. This is an unprecedented new approach to the problem of high-temperature superconductivity and thus will be inspiring to both specialists and non-specialists interested in this field.   Readers will receive in-depth information on the past, present, and future of high-temperature superconductors, along with special, updated information on what the real highest Tc values are and particularly on the possibility of enhancing Tc for each member material, which is important for application. At this time, the highest Tc has not been...

Two-dimensional superconductivity in ultrathin disordered thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Beasley, M.R.

1992-01-01

The status of the understanding of two-dimensional superconductivity in ultrathin, disordered thin films is reviewed. The different consequences of microscopic versus macroscopic disorder are stressed. It is shown that microscopic disorder leads to a rapid suppression of the mean-field transition temperature. The consequences of macroscopic disorder are not well understood, but a universal behavior of the zero-bias resistance as a function of field and temperature has been observed. (orig.)

Stability of Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O Superconducting Thin Films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Siegal, M.P.; Overmyer, D.L.; Venturini, E.L.; Padilla, R.R.; Provencio, P.N.

1999-08-23

We report the stability of TlBa{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 7} (Tl-1212) and Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8} (T1-2212) thin films and by inference, the stability of TlBa{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 9} (Tl-1223) and Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 10} (Tl-2223) thin films, under a variety of conditions. In general, we observe that the stability behavior of the single Tl-O layer materials (Tl-1212 and Tl-1223)are similar and the double Tl-O layer materials (Tl-2212 and Tl-2223) are similar. All films are stable with repeated thermal cycling to cryogenic temperatures. Films are also stable in acetone and methanol. Moisture degrades film quality rapidly, especially in the form of vapor. Tl-1212 is more sensitive to vapor than Tl-2212. These materials are stable to high temperatures in either N{sub 2}, similar to vacuum for the cuprates, and O{sub 2} ambients. While total degradation of properties (superconducting and structural) occur at the same temperatures for all phases, 600 C in N{sub 2} and 700 C in O{sub 2}, the onset of degradation occurs at somewhat lower temperatures for Tl-1212 than for Tl-2212 films. In all cases, sample degradation is associated with Tl depletion from the films.

Structural and superconducting properties of epitaxial Fe{sub 1+y}Se{sub 1-x}Te{sub x} thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Richter, Stefan; Yuan, Feifei; Grinenko, Vadim; Huehne, Ruben [Institute for Metallic Materials, IFW Dresden (Germany); Sala, Alberto; Putti, Marina [Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Genova (Italy)

2015-07-01

The iron based superconductor Fe(Se,Te) is in the center of much ongoing research. The reason for this is on the one hand its simple crystal structure, that consists only of stacked Fe(Se,Te) layers so that structural and superconducting properties can be connected more easily, on the other hand FeSe itself shows a high sensibility for strain and changes in stoichiometry and can have potentially very high critical temperatures under hydrostatic pressure or in monolayers. We investigate epitaxial thin films of Fe{sub 1+y}Se{sub 1-x}Te{sub x} grown by pulsed laser deposition on different single crystalline substrates. A high crystalline quality and a superconducting transition of up to about 20 K can be achieved using optimized deposition parameters. The influence of growth conditions, Te-doping, film thickness and post growth oxygen treatment on the structural and superconducting properties on these films will be presented in detail.

Superconducting thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-x

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hudner, J.

1993-01-01

Thin films of the high temperature superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (YBCO) are of significance in fundamental studies of oxide superconductors and for prospected electronic applications based on superconductors operating at liquid nitrogen temperatures (T= 77 K). Synthesis of YBCO thin films is complex and a large part of this thesis has been devoted to the elaboration of various techniques in forming YBCO thin films. A general observation was that synthesis of YBCO films exhibiting high zero-resistivity temperatures temperatures (T c ) ≥ 88 K and elevated critical current densities (J c ) ≥ 10 6 A/cm 2 at 77 K was possible under widely different conditions of film growth. For the BaF 2 -based method, various substrate materials were investigated. Among perovskite related substrates with low losses in the high frequency regime, LaA10 3 was found to yield YBCO films exhibiting the highest quality electrical properties. A study of YBCO film interaction with sapphire substrates was performed. It was suggested that the YBCO film on sapphire consists of weakly coupled superconducting grains. Compositional effects of Y, BA and Cu for MOCVD-YBCO films were examined with respect to morphology, structure, resistivity, as susceptibility and J c (T). High T c :s and J c :s were observed for an anomalous large compositional range of Cu in off-compositional YBCO films. This was shown to be related to the formation of Cu-rich precipitates embedded within a c-Axis oriented stoichiometric YBCO film matrix. Thermal critical current behavior at zero field in thin films of YBCO fabricated by various methods has been studied by three techniques: transport measurements on patterned microbridges, dc magnetization hysteresis loops using the Bean model and non-linear ac susceptibility analysis. Absolute critical current values obtained form the two former techniques when measured on the same YBCO film were observed to differ about a factor of two. The feasibility of non-linear ac

Leaders in high temperature superconductivity commercialization win superconductor industry award

CERN Multimedia

2007-01-01

CERN's Large Hadron Collider curretn leads project head Amalia Ballarino named superconductor industry person of the year 2006. Former high temperature superconductivity program manager at the US Department of energy James Daley wins lifetime achievement award. (1,5 page)

Superconducting niobium nitride films deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Olaya, J.J. [Departamento de Ingenieria Mecanica y Mecatronica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria, Carrera 30 Numero 45-03, Bogota (Colombia); Huerta, L. [Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito exterior s/n, CU Coyoacan, Mexico D.F. 04510 (Mexico); Rodil, S.E. [Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito exterior s/n, CU Coyoacan, Mexico D.F. 04510 (Mexico)], E-mail: ser42@iim.unam.mx; Escamilla, R. [Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito exterior s/n, CU Coyoacan, Mexico D.F. 04510 (Mexico)

2008-10-01

Niobium nitride (NbN) thin films were deposited under different configurations of the magnetic field using a magnetron sputtering system. The magnetic field configuration varied from balanced to unbalanced leading to different growth conditions and film properties. The aim of the paper was to identify correlations between deposition conditions, film properties and the electrical properties, specially the superconductive critical temperature (T{sub C}). The results suggested that there is a critical deposition condition, having an optimum ion-atom arrival ratio that promotes a well ordered and textured nanocrystalline structure (cubic phase) with the minimum residual stress and only under this condition a high critical temperature (16K) was obtained. Lower T{sub C} values around 12K were obtained for the NbN samples having a lower degree of structural perfection and texture, and a larger fraction of intergranular voids. On the other hand, analysis of valence-band spectra showed that the contribution of the Nb 4d states remained essentially constant while the higher T{sub C} was correlated to a higher contribution of the N 2p states.

Superconducting niobium nitride films deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Olaya, J.J.; Huerta, L.; Rodil, S.E.; Escamilla, R.

2008-01-01

Niobium nitride (NbN) thin films were deposited under different configurations of the magnetic field using a magnetron sputtering system. The magnetic field configuration varied from balanced to unbalanced leading to different growth conditions and film properties. The aim of the paper was to identify correlations between deposition conditions, film properties and the electrical properties, specially the superconductive critical temperature (T C ). The results suggested that there is a critical deposition condition, having an optimum ion-atom arrival ratio that promotes a well ordered and textured nanocrystalline structure (cubic phase) with the minimum residual stress and only under this condition a high critical temperature (16K) was obtained. Lower T C values around 12K were obtained for the NbN samples having a lower degree of structural perfection and texture, and a larger fraction of intergranular voids. On the other hand, analysis of valence-band spectra showed that the contribution of the Nb 4d states remained essentially constant while the higher T C was correlated to a higher contribution of the N 2p states

High Temperature Superconducting Underground Cable

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Farrell, Roger A.

2010-01-01

The purpose of this Project was to design, build, install and demonstrate the technical feasibility of an underground high temperature superconducting (HTS) power cable installed between two utility substations. In the first phase two HTS cables, 320 m and 30 m in length, were constructed using 1st generation BSCCO wire. The two 34.5 kV, 800 Arms, 48 MVA sections were connected together using a superconducting joint in an underground vault. In the second phase the 30 m BSCCO cable was replaced by one constructed with 2nd generation YBCO wire. 2nd generation wire is needed for commercialization because of inherent cost and performance benefits. Primary objectives of the Project were to build and operate an HTS cable system which demonstrates significant progress towards commercial progress and addresses real world utility concerns such as installation, maintenance, reliability and compatibility with the existing grid. Four key technical areas addressed were the HTS cable and terminations (where the cable connects to the grid), cryogenic refrigeration system, underground cable-to-cable joint (needed for replacement of cable sections) and cost-effective 2nd generation HTS wire. This was the worlds first installation and operation of an HTS cable underground, between two utility substations as well as the first to demonstrate a cable-to-cable joint, remote monitoring system and 2nd generation HTS.

Nanoscale wedge polishing of superconducting thin films-an easy way to obtain depth dependent information by surface analysis techniques

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shapoval, T; Engel, S; Gruendlich, M; Meier, D; Backen, E; Neu, V; Holzapfel, B; Schultz, L

2008-01-01

A mechanical wedge polishing procedure that offers a simple, cost-effective and rapid way to look into the depth of a thin film with different surface-sensitive scanning techniques has been developed. As an example of its wide applicability, this method was utilized for the investigation of two differently prepared superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ thin films: an Hf-doped film prepared by chemical solution deposition and an undoped film grown by pulsed laser deposition. Upon polishing, the roughness of the samples was reduced to less than 5 nm (peak-to-valley) without influencing the superconducting properties of the films. Thus, nanoscale polishing opens up a unique possibility for microscopic studies with various surface-sensitive techniques. We demonstrate the successful imaging of flux lines by low temperature magnetic force microscopy after polishing a formerly rough as-prepared film. By applying the wedge polishing procedure to the Hf-doped sample, high resolution electron backscattering diffraction investigations reveal the homogeneous distribution of non-superconducting BaHfO 3 nanoparticles in the whole volume of the film

Noise measurements of YBa2Cu3O7 thin film high-temperature superconductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hall, J.J.

1992-01-01

The characteristics of thin-film YBa2Cu3O7 superconductors were studied from the superconducting region through the transition region and into the normal region. The properties studied included the resistance-temperature, current-voltage, and electrical noise with concentration of measurements in the transition region. The resistance vs. temperature measurements show a zero resistance followed by a small rise in magnitude at the onset of resistance followed by a sharp increase until the resistance tapers off in the fully normal region. The a-axis films had a larger normal resistivity, a lower critical temperature, and a broader transition than the similar c-axis films. The current(I) - voltage(V) measurements were concentrated in the transition region. A power relation between I and V was found to be V varies as I a(T) where a(T) is temperature dependent starting high the onset of vortex formation, approaches 3 at the vortex unbinding temperature, and goes to 1 when fully normal. This behavior was predicted by the Kosterlitz-Thouless theory and was found experimentally in all four films measured. The current-induced electrical noise characteristics were measured for four samples varying in thickness and axis orientation. Each film exhibited a widely varying magnitude of the noise voltage spectral density (S V ) in the transition region with a leveling off when fully normal. The normalized noise (S V /V squared) showed a sharp decrease in magnitude from the onset of measurable noise continually decreasing until flattening out when fully normal. The a-axis films exhibited S V /V squared over 3 order of magnitude larger than the c-axis films in the transition and normal regions. The normalized temperature coefficient of resistance (beta) was plotted against S V /V squared on a log-log scale to see if the noise generated was due to temperature fluctuations (slope = 2)

Capital and operating cost estimates for high temperature superconducting magnetic energy storage

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Schoenung, S.M.; Meier, W.R.; Fagaly, R.L.; Heiberger, M.; Stephens, R.B.; Leuer, J.A.; Guzman, R.A.

1992-01-01

Capital and operating costs have been estimated for mid-scale (2 to 200 Mwh) superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) designed to use high temperature superconductors (HTS). Capital costs are dominated by the cost of superconducting materials. Operating costs, primarily for regeneration, are significantly reduced for HTS-SMES in comparison to low temperature, conventional systems. This cost component is small compared to other O and M and capital components, when levelized annual costs are projected. In this paper, the developments required for HTS-SMES feasibility are discussed

Niobium thin film deposition studies on copper surfaces for superconducting radio frequency cavity applications

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

W. M. Roach, D. B. Beringer, J. R. Skuza, W. A. Oliver, C. Clavero, C. E. Reece, R. A. Lukaszew

2012-06-01

Thin film coatings have the potential to increase both the thermal efficiency and accelerating gradient in superconducting radio frequency accelerator cavities. However, before this potential can be realized, systematic studies on structure-property correlations in these thin films need to be carried out since the reduced geometry, combined with specific growth parameters, can modify the physical properties of the materials when compared to their bulk form. Here, we present our systematic studies of Nb thin films deposited onto Cu surfaces to clarify possible reasons for the limited success that this process exhibited in previous attempts. We compare these films with Nb grown on other surfaces. In particular, we study the crystal structure and surface morphology and their effect on superconducting properties, such as critical temperature and lower critical field. We found that higher deposition temperature leads to a sharper critical temperature transition, but also to increased roughness indicating that there are competing mechanisms that must be considered for further optimization.

Niobium thin film deposition studies on copper surfaces for superconducting radio frequency cavity applications

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

W. M. Roach

2012-06-01

Full Text Available Thin film coatings have the potential to increase both the thermal efficiency and accelerating gradient in superconducting radio frequency accelerator cavities. However, before this potential can be realized, systematic studies on structure-property correlations in these thin films need to be carried out since the reduced geometry, combined with specific growth parameters, can modify the physical properties of the materials when compared to their bulk form. Here, we present our systematic studies of Nb thin films deposited onto Cu surfaces to clarify possible reasons for the limited success that this process exhibited in previous attempts. We compare these films with Nb grown on other surfaces. In particular, we study the crystal structure and surface morphology and their effect on superconducting properties, such as critical temperature and lower critical field. We found that higher deposition temperature leads to a sharper critical temperature transition, but also to increased roughness indicating that there are competing mechanisms that must be considered for further optimization.

Niobium thin film deposition studies on copper surfaces for superconducting radio frequency cavity applications

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Roach, W.M.; Beringer, D.B.; Skuza, J.R.; Oliver, W.A.; Clavero, C.; Reece, C.E.; Lukaszew, R.A.

2012-01-01

Thin film coatings have the potential to increase both the thermal efficiency and accelerating gradient in superconducting radio frequency accelerator cavities. However, before this potential can be realized, systematic studies on structure-property correlations in these thin films need to be carried out since the reduced geometry, combined with specific growth parameters, can modify the physical properties of the materials when compared to their bulk form. Here, we present our systematic studies of Nb thin films deposited onto Cu surfaces to clarify possible reasons for the limited success that this process exhibited in previous attempts. We compare these films with Nb grown on other surfaces. In particular, we study the crystal structure and surface morphology and their effect on superconducting properties, such as critical temperature and lower critical field. We found that higher deposition temperature leads to a sharper critical temperature transition, but also to increased roughness indicating that there are competing mechanisms that must be considered for further optimization.

Performance of a conduction-cooled high-temperature superconducting bearing

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Strasik, M.; Hull, J.R.; Johnson, P.E.; Mittleider, J.; McCrary, K.E.; McIver, C.R.; Day, A.C.

2008-01-01

We report rotational loss measurements for a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) bearing whose cooling consists of a thermal conduction path to the cold head of a cryocooler. Losses have been measured for rotational rates up to 14,500 rpm at different HTS temperatures. The rotational losses decrease with decreasing HTS temperature. For temperatures that can be obtained in a liquid-nitrogen thermosiphon system, at a given speed and gap, the loss of the conduction-cooled HTS bearing is not significantly higher than the loss of a nearly identical HTS bearing cooled by flowing nitrogen from the thermosiphon

Excessive current in wide superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Volotskaya, V.G.; Sivakov, A.G.; Turutanov, O.G.

1986-01-01

The resistive state of a wide long film due to superconductivity destruction by current is studied. The voltage-independent excess current I 0 is observed on I-V curves at high transport currents. The two-dimensional image of the current-carrying sample obtained by laser scanning technique in this current range indicates that the whole film is in the resistive state. The current I 0 is measured as a function of magnetic field and SHF power

The power processor of a high temperature superconducting energy storage system

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ollila, J. [Power Electronics, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere (Finland)

1997-12-31

This report introduces the structure and properties of a power processor unit for a high temperature superconducting magnetic energy storage system which is bused in an UPS demonstration application. The operation is first demonstrated using simulations. The software based operating and control system utilising combined Delta-Sigma and Sliding-Mode control is described shortly. Preliminary test results using a conventional NbTi superconducting energy y storage magnet operating at 4.2 K is shown. (orig.)

High temperature superconducting current lead test facility with heat pipe intercepts

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Blumenfeld, P.E.; Prenger, C.; Roth, E.W.; Stewart, J.A.

1998-01-01

A high temperature superconducting (HTS) current lead test facility using heat pipe thermal intercepts is under development at the Superconducting Technology Center at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The facility can be configured for tests at currents up to 1,000 A. Mechanical cryocoolers provide refrigeration to the leads. Electrical isolation is maintained by intercepting thermal energy from the leads through cryogenic heat pipes. HST lead warm end temperature is variable from 65 K to over 90 K by controlling heat pipe evaporator temperature. Cold end temperature is variable up to 30 K. Performance predictions in terms of heat pipe evaporator temperature as a function of lead current are presented for the initial facility configuration, which supports testing up to 200 A. Measurements are to include temperature and voltage gradient in the conventional and HTS lead sections, temperature and heat transfer rate in the heat pipes. as well as optimum and off-optimum performance of the conventional lead sections

Electronic and magnetic interactions in high temperature superconducting and high coercivity materials. Final performance report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cooper, B.R.

1997-01-01

The issue addressed in the research was how to understand what controls the competition between two types of phase transition (ordering) which may be present in a hybridizing correlated-electron system containing two transition-shell atomic species; and how the variation of behavior observed can be used to understand the mechanisms giving the observed ordered state. This is significant for understanding mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity and other states of highly correlated electron systems. Thus the research pertains to magnetic effects as related to interactions giving high temperature superconductivity; where the working hypothesis is that the essential feature governing the magnetic and superconducting behavior of copper-oxide-type systems is a cooperative valence fluctuation mechanism involving the copper ions, as mediated through hybridization effects dominated by the oxygen p electrons. (Substitution of praseodymium at the rare earth sites in the 1·2·3 material provides an interesting illustration of this mechanism since experimentally such substitution strongly suppresses and destroys the superconductivity; and, at 100% Pr, gives Pr f-electron magnetic ordering at a temperature above 16K). The research was theoretical and computational and involved use of techniques aimed at correlated-electron systems that can be described within the confines of model hamiltonians such as the Anderson lattice hamiltonian. Specific techniques used included slave boson methodology used to treat modification of electronic structure and the Mori projection operator (memory function) method used to treat magnetic response (dynamic susceptibility)

Method And Apparatus For Evaluatin Of High Temperature Superconductors

Science.gov (United States)

Fishman, Ilya M.; Kino, Gordon S.

1996-11-12

A technique for evaluation of high-T.sub.c superconducting films and single crystals is based on measurement of temperature dependence of differential optical reflectivity of high-T.sub.c materials. In the claimed method, specific parameters of the superconducting transition such as the critical temperature, anisotropy of the differential optical reflectivity response, and the part of the optical losses related to sample quality are measured. The apparatus for performing this technique includes pump and probe sources, cooling means for sweeping sample temperature across the critical temperature and polarization controller for controlling a state of polarization of a probe light beam.

Specific heat measurement set-up for quench condensed thin superconducting films.

Science.gov (United States)

Poran, Shachaf; Molina-Ruiz, Manel; Gérardin, Anne; Frydman, Aviad; Bourgeois, Olivier

2014-05-01

We present a set-up designed for the measurement of specific heat of very thin or ultra-thin quench condensed superconducting films. In an ultra-high vacuum chamber, materials of interest can be thermally evaporated directly on a silicon membrane regulated in temperature from 1.4 K to 10 K. On this membrane, a heater and a thermometer are lithographically fabricated, allowing the measurement of heat capacity of the quench condensed layers. This apparatus permits the simultaneous thermal and electrical characterization of successively deposited layers in situ without exposing the deposited materials to room temperature or atmospheric conditions, both being irreversibly harmful to the samples. This system can be used to study specific heat signatures of phase transitions through the superconductor to insulator transition of quench condensed films.

Analysis of a flip-chip bonded tunable high-temperature superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator using the conformal mapping technique

CERN Document Server

Misra, M; Murakami, H; Tonouchi, M

2003-01-01

We have studied the tuning properties of a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) half-wavelength coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonator operating at 5 GHz. The tuning schemes are based on flip-chip bonding of an electrically tunable ferroelectric (FE) thin film and a mechanically movable low-loss single crystal on top of the resonator. Using the conformal mapping method, closed-form analytical expressions have been derived for a flip-chip bonded conductor-backed and top-shielded CPW transmission line. The obtained expressions are used to analyse the volume effect of the FE thin film and the gap between the flip-chip and the CPW resonator on the tuning properties of the device. It has been found that large frequency modulation of the resonator produces impedance mismatch, which can considerably enhance the insertion loss of high-performance HTS microwave devices. Analysis also suggests that, for electrically tunable devices, flip-chip bonded FE thin films on HTS CPW devices provide a relatively higher performance...

Characterization of 3-dimensional superconductive thin film components for gravitational experiments in space

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hechler, S.; Nawrodt, R.; Nietzsche, S.; Vodel, W.; Seidel, P. [Friedrich-Schiller-Univ. Jena (Germany). Inst. fuer Festkoerperphysik; Dittus, H. [ZARM, Univ. Bremen (Germany); Loeffler, F. [Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig (Germany)

2007-07-01

Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are used for high precise gravitational experiments. One of the most impressive experiments is the satellite test of the equivalence principle (STEP) of NASA/ESA. The STEP mission aims to prove a possible violation of Einstein's equivalence principle at an extreme level of accuracy of 1 part in 10{sup 18} in space. In this contribution we present an automatically working measurement equipment to characterize 3-dimensional superconducting thin film components like i.e. pick-up coils and test masses for STEP. The characterization is done by measurements of the transition temperature between the normal and the superconducting state using a special built anti-cryostat. Above all the setup was designed for use in normal LHe transport Dewars. The sample chamber has a volume of 150 cm{sup 3} and can be fully temperature controlled over a range from 4.2 K to 300 K with a resolution of better then 100 mK. (orig.)

High-Tc Superconducting Thick-Film Spiral Magnet: Development and Characterization of a Single Spiral Module

National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

McGinnis, W

1997-01-01

The objective of this project was to make characterized and numerically model prototype modules of a new type of superconducting electromagnet based on stacked spirals of superconducting thick films...

Enhanced pinning in superconducting thin films with graded pinning landscapes

Science.gov (United States)

Motta, M.; Colauto, F.; Ortiz, W. A.; Fritzsche, J.; Cuppens, J.; Gillijns, W.; Moshchalkov, V. V.; Johansen, T. H.; Sanchez, A.; Silhanek, A. V.

2013-05-01

A graded distribution of antidots in superconducting a-Mo79Ge21 thin films has been investigated by magnetization and magneto-optical imaging measurements. The pinning landscape has maximum density at the sample border, decreasing linearly towards the center. Its overall performance is noticeably superior than that for a sample with uniformly distributed antidots: For high temperatures and low fields, the critical current is enhanced, whereas the region of thermomagnetic instabilities in the field-temperature diagram is significantly suppressed. These findings confirm the relevance of graded landscapes on the enhancement of pinning efficiency, as recently predicted by Misko and Nori [Phys. Rev. B 85, 184506 (2012)].

Observation of distinct, temperature dependent flux noise near bicrystal grain boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7-x films

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bukh, K. R.; Jacobsen, Claus Schelde; Hansen, Jørn Bindslev

2000-01-01

The characteristics of the magnetic flux noise in high temperature superconducting thin-films of yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBa2Cu3O7) in the vicinity of artificial grain boundaries have been studied by means of a low critical temperature superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID...

Response of high Tc superconducting Josephson junction to nuclear radiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ding Honglin; Zhang Wanchang; Zhang Xiufeng

1992-10-01

The development of nuclear radiation detectors and research on high T c superconducting nuclear radiation detectors are introduced. The emphases are the principle of using thin-film and thick-film Josephson junctions (bridge junction) based on high T c YBCO superconductors to detect nuclear radiation, the fabrication of thin film and thick-film Josephson junction, and response of junction to low energy gamma-rays of 59.5 keV emitted from 241 Am and beta-rays of 546 keV. The results show that a detector for measuring nuclear radiation spectrum made of high T c superconducting thin-film or thick-film, especially, thick-film Josephson junction, certainly can be developed

Design prospect of remountable high-temperature superconducting magnet

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hashizume, Hidetoshi, E-mail: hidetoshi.hashizume@qse.tohoku.ac.jp; Ito, Satoshi

2014-10-15

The remountable (mountable and demountable repeatedly) high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet has been proposed for huge and complex superconducting magnets in future fusion reactors to fabricate and repair easily the magnet and access inner structural components. This paper summarizes progress in R and D activities of mechanical joints of HTS conductors in terms of the electrical resistance and heat transfer performance at the joint region. The latest experimental results show the low joint resistance, 4 nΩ under 70 kA current condition using REBCO HTS conductor with mechanical lap joint system, and for the cooling system the maximum heat flux of 0.4 MW/m{sup 2} is removed by using bronze sintered porous media with sub-cooled liquid nitrogen. These values indicate that there is large possibility to design the remountable HTS magnet for fusion reactors.

Effect of localized electron states on superconductivity of ultrathin beryllium films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tutov, V.I.; Semenenko, E.E.

1988-01-01

A wide spectrum of distortions is induced in ultrathin beryllium films of thickness less than 10 A, which are responsible for the system transition from the strong localization state completely suppressing superconductivity (in this case R □ of the layer reaches 97600 Ohm) to the weak localization stae coexisting with superconductivity at comparatively high T c (5 K). The resistance per square R □ of the films decreases more than by an order of magnitude. The superconductivity with T c =1.7 K occurs at rather strong localization, when R □ of the layer is 34000 Ohm

Thermal coupling effect on the vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films: time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau simulations

Science.gov (United States)

Jing, Ze; Yong, Huadong; Zhou, Youhe

2018-05-01

In this paper, vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films are numerically investigated by the generalized time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau (TDGL) theory. Interactions between vortex motion and the motion induced energy dissipation is considered by solving the coupled TDGL equation and the heat diffusion equation. It is found that thermal coupling has significant effects on the vortex dynamics of superconducting thin films. Branching in the vortex penetration path originates from the coupling between vortex motion and the motion induced energy dissipation. In addition, the environment temperature, the magnetic field ramp rate and the geometry of the superconducting film also greatly influence the vortex dynamic behaviors. Our results provide new insights into the dynamics of superconducting vortices, and give a mesoscopic understanding on the channeling and branching of vortex penetration paths during flux avalanches.

High-temperature superconducting nanowires for photon detection

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Arpaia, R. [Quantum Device Physics Laboratory, Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, S-41296 Göteborg (Sweden); CNR SPIN Institute – Superconductors, Innovative Materials and Devices, UOS–Napoli, I-80100 Napoli (Italy); Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II’, I-80125 Napoli (Italy); Ejrnaes, M. [CNR SPIN Institute – Superconductors, Innovative Materials and Devices, UOS–Napoli, I-80100 Napoli (Italy); Parlato, L. [CNR SPIN Institute – Superconductors, Innovative Materials and Devices, UOS–Napoli, I-80100 Napoli (Italy); Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II’, I-80125 Napoli (Italy); Tafuri, F. [CNR SPIN Institute – Superconductors, Innovative Materials and Devices, UOS–Napoli, I-80100 Napoli (Italy); Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale e dell’Informazione, Seconda Università di Napoli, I-81031 Aversa, CE (Italy); Cristiano, R. [CNR SPIN Institute – Superconductors, Innovative Materials and Devices, UOS–Napoli, I-80100 Napoli (Italy); Golubev, D. [Low Temperature Laboratory (OVLL), Aalto University School of Science, P.O. Box 13500, FI-00076 Aalto (Finland); Sobolewski, Roman, E-mail: roman.sobolewski@rochester.edu [Institute of Electron Technology, PL-02668 Warszawa (Poland); Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, NY 14627-0231 (United States); Bauch, T.; Lombardi, F. [Quantum Device Physics Laboratory, Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, S-41296 Göteborg (Sweden); and others

2015-02-15

Highlights: • Homogeneous YBCO nanowires have been fabricated for photon detection applications. • Serial-parallel nanowire configuration leads to a large detector active area. • The YBCO nanowires exhibit critical current densities up to 106 A/cm{sup 2}. • The devices have been excited using a 1550-nm wavelength, pulsed laser irradiation. • Photoresponse signals have been measured and analyzed from 4 K up to the device T{sub c}. - Abstract: The possible use of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) for realizing superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors is a challenging, but also promising, aim because of their ultrafast electron relaxation times and high operating temperatures. The state-of-the-art HTS nanowires with a 50-nm thickness and widths down to 130 nm have been fabricated and tested under a 1550-nm wavelength laser irradiation. Experimental results presenting both the amplitude and rise times of the photoresponse signals as a function of the normalized detector bias current, measured in a wide temperature range, are discussed. The presence of two distinct regimes in the photoresponse temperature dependence is clearly evidenced, indicating that there are two different response mechanisms responsible for the HTS photoresponse mechanisms.

Stable superconducting magnet. [high current levels below critical temperature

Science.gov (United States)

Boom, R. W. (Inventor)

1967-01-01

Operation of a superconducting magnet is considered. A method is described for; (1) obtaining a relatively high current in a superconducting magnet positioned in a bath of a gas refrigerant; (2) operating a superconducting magnet at a relatively high current level without training; and (3) operating a superconducting magnet containing a plurality of turns of a niobium zirconium wire at a relatively high current level without training.

Routes to High-Temperature Superconductivity: A Lesson from FeSe/SrTiO3

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Dung-Hai

2018-03-01

Raising the superconducting transition temperature to a point where applications are practical is one of the most important challenges in science. In this review, we aim at gaining insights on the Tc controlling factors for a particular high-temperature superconductor family - the FeSe-based superconductors. In particular, we discuss the mechanisms by which the Cooper pairing temperature is enhanced from ˜8 K in bulk FeSe to ˜80 K in the interface between an atomic layer of FeSe and SrTiO3. This includes the experimental hints and the theoretical simulation of the involved mechanisms. We end by applying these insights to suggest some possible high-temperature superconducting systems.

Conduction cooled high temperature superconducting dipole magnet for accelerator applications

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Zangenberg, N.; Nielsen, G.; Hauge, N.

2012-01-01

A 3T proof-of-principle dipole magnet for accelerator applications, based on 2nd generation high temperature superconducting tape was designed, built, and tested by a consortium under the lead of Danfysik. The magnet was designed to have a straight, circular bore with a good field region of radius...

Superconducting TlCa2Ba2Cu3O9 thick films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1994-01-01

GE Corporate Research and Development's (GE-CRD) program to develop the two-zone silver addition (TZSA) process for fabricating superconducting films of TlCa 2 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 9 has activities in the areas of (1) precursor preparation, (2) the thallium oxide vapor process, (3) the effects of post-synthesis annealing ambient and temperature on superconducting properties, (4) the influence of film stoichiometry and composition on superconducting properties, (5) microstructure and film growth mechanism, (6) the preparation of thicker films, (7) the fabrication of films on flexible substrates, and (8) process scale-up. As part of its effort under the ANL Pilot Center Agreement, GE-CRD has supplied to ANL a complete two-zone furnace, has provided consultation on its use and on the planning of experiments, has processed ANL samples in GE's furnaces to help define optimum process conditions, and has provided precursor and finished films as requested. These contributions are described more fully in the descriptions of the work performed at ANL presented elsewhere in this report. Under the Pilot Center Agreement work at GE-CRD has been directed toward the optimization of the TZSA process with emphasis on (A) process improvement, (B) effects of silver content on film properties, (C) the relationship between microstructure and J c , and (D) toward the assessment of the compatibility of silver substrates with the process chemistry

Transport in reversibly laser-modified YBa2Cu3O/sub 7-//sub x/ superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Krchnavek, R.R.; Chan, S.; Rogers, C.T.; De Rosa, F.; Kelly, M.K.; Miceli, P.F.; Allen, S.J.

1989-01-01

A focused argon ion laser beam in a controlled ambient is used to modify the transport properties of superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O/sub 7-//sub x/ thin films. The laser-modified region shows a sharp transition temperature (T/sub c/≅76 K) that is reduced from the unmodified regions of the film (T/sub c/≅87 K). In situ monitoring of the room-temperature electrical resistance is used to control the laser processing and prevent formation of the semiconducting phase. The original properties of the superconducting film can be recovered by plasma oxidation indicating that the laser-induced phase is oxygen deficient

Enhanced superconductivity and superconductor to insulator transition in nano-crystalline molybdenum thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sharma, Shilpam; Amaladass, E.P. [Condensed Matter Physics Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603102 (India); Sharma, Neha [Surface & Nanoscience Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603102 (India); Harimohan, V. [Condensed Matter Physics Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603102 (India); Amirthapandian, S. [Materials Physics Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603102 (India); Mani, Awadhesh, E-mail: mani@igcar.gov.in [Condensed Matter Physics Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603102 (India)

2017-06-01

Disorder driven superconductor to insulator transition via intermediate metallic regime is reported in nano-crystalline thin films of molybdenum. The nano-structured thin films have been deposited at room temperature using DC magnetron sputtering at different argon pressures. The grain size has been tuned using deposition pressure as the sole control parameter. A variation of particle sizes, room temperature resistivity and superconducting transition has been studied as a function of deposition pressure. The nano-crystalline molybdenum thin films are found to have large carrier concentration but very low mobility and electronic mean free path. Hall and conductivity measurements have been used to understand the effect of disorder on the carrier density and mobilities. Ioffe-Regel parameter is shown to correlate with the continuous metal-insulator transition in our samples. - Highlights: • Thin films of molybdenum using DC sputtering have been deposited on glass. • Argon background pressure during sputtering was used to tune the crystallite sizes of films. • Correlation in deposition pressure, disorder and particle sizes has been observed. • Disorder tuned superconductor to insulator transition along with an intermediate metallic phase has been observed. • Enhancement of superconducting transition temperature and a dome shaped T{sub C} vs. deposition pressure phase diagram has been observed.

Q factor of megahertz LC circuits based on thin films of YBaCuO high-temperature superconductor

Science.gov (United States)

Masterov, D. V.; Pavlov, S. A.; Parafin, A. E.

2008-05-01

High-frequency properties of resonant structures based on thin films of YBa2Cu3O7 δ high-temperature superconductor are studied experimentally in the frequency range 30 100 MHz. The structures planar induction coils with a self-capacitance fabricated on neodymium gallate and lanthanum aluminate substrates. The unloaded Q factor of the circuits exceeds 2 × 105 at 77 K and 40 MHz. Possible loss mechanisms that determine the Q factor of the superconducting resonant structures in the megahertz range are considered.

AC Losses and Their Thermal Effect in High Temperature Superconducting Machines

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Song, Xiaowei (Andy); Mijatovic, Nenad; Zou, Shengnan

2015-01-01

In transient operations or fault conditions, high temperature superconducting (HTS) machines suffer AC losses which have an influence on the thermal stability of superconducting windings. In this paper, a method to calculate AC losses and their thermal effect in HTS machines is presented....... The method consists of three sub-models that are coupled only in one direction. The magnetic field distribution is first solved in a machine model, assuming a uniform current distribution in HTS windings. The magnetic fields on the boundaries are then used as inputs for an AC loss model which has...

High temperature superconductor thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Correra, L.

1992-01-01

Interdisciplinary research on superconducting oxides is the main focus of the contributors in this volume. Several aspects of the thin film field from fundamental properties to applications are examined. Interesting results for the Bi system are also reviewed. The 132 papers, including 8 invited, report mainly on the 1-2-3 system, indicating that the Y-Ba-Cu-O and related compounds are still the most intensively studied materials in this field. The volume attests to the significant progress that has been made in this field, as well as reporting on the challenging problems that still remain to be solved. The papers are presented in five chapters, subsequently on properties, film growth and processing, substrates and multilayers, structural characterization, and applications

Electron scattering rate in epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting films

Science.gov (United States)

Flik, M. I.; Zhang, Z. M.; Goodson, K. E.; Siegal, M. P.; Phillips, Julia M.

1992-09-01

This work determines the electron scattering rate in the a-b plane of epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7 films using two techniques. Infrared spectroscopy yields the scattering rate at temperatures of 10, 78, and 300 K by fitting reflectance data using thin-film optics and a model for the free-carrier conductivity. The scattering rate is also obtained using kinetic theory and an extrapolation of normal-state electrical resistivity data to superconducting temperatures based on the Bloch theory for the phonon-limited electrical resistivity of metals. The scattering rates determined using both techniques are in agreement and show that the electron mean free path in the a-b plane of YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting films is three to four times the coherence length. Hence YBa2Cu3O7 is pure but not in the extreme pure limit. An average defect interaction range of 4 nm is obtained using the defect density resulting from flux-pinning considerations.

6. Trilateral German-Russian-Ukrainian seminar on high-temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aksenov, V.L.; Kornilov, E.I.

1993-01-01

The proceedings of the 6. Trilateral German-Russian-Ukrainian seminar on high-temperature superconductivity are reported. Nuclear methods (neutron diffraction, neutron polarization, Raman scattering, ESR) applied to study rare earth cuprates are described. The reports dealing with fundamental experimental studies and theoretical investigations are presented. The source materials for preparation of high-tc superconductors and the ways of their preparation, as well as their physico-chemical properties are considered

Study of flow fractionation characteristics of magnetic chromatography utilizing high-temperature superconducting bulk magnet

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Satoshi Fukui, Yoshihiro Shoji, Jun Ogawa, Tetsuo Oka, Mitsugi Yamaguchi, Takao Sato, Manabu Ooizumi, Hiroshi Imaizumi and Takeshi Ohara

2009-01-01

Full Text Available We present numerical simulation of separating magnetic particles with different magnetic susceptibilities by magnetic chromatography using a high-temperature superconducting bulk magnet. The transient transport is numerically simulated for two kinds of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities. The time evolutions were calculated for the particle concentration in the narrow channel of the spiral arrangement placed in the magnetic field. The field is produced by the highly magnetized high-temperature superconducting bulk magnet. The numerical results show the flow velocity difference of the particle transport corresponding to the difference in the magnetic susceptibility, as well as the possible separation of paramagnetic particles of 20 nm diameter.

Study of flow fractionation characteristics of magnetic chromatography utilizing high-temperature superconducting bulk magnet.

Science.gov (United States)

Fukui, Satoshi; Shoji, Yoshihiro; Ogawa, Jun; Oka, Tetsuo; Yamaguchi, Mitsugi; Sato, Takao; Ooizumi, Manabu; Imaizumi, Hiroshi; Ohara, Takeshi

2009-02-01

We present numerical simulation of separating magnetic particles with different magnetic susceptibilities by magnetic chromatography using a high-temperature superconducting bulk magnet. The transient transport is numerically simulated for two kinds of particles having different magnetic susceptibilities. The time evolutions were calculated for the particle concentration in the narrow channel of the spiral arrangement placed in the magnetic field. The field is produced by the highly magnetized high-temperature superconducting bulk magnet. The numerical results show the flow velocity difference of the particle transport corresponding to the difference in the magnetic susceptibility, as well as the possible separation of paramagnetic particles of 20 nm diameter.

Calorimeters for Precision Power Dissipation Measurements on Controlled-Temperature Superconducting Radiofrequency Samples

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Xiao, Binping P.; Kelley, Michael J.; Reece, Charles E.; Phillips, H. L.

2012-01-01

Two calorimeters, with stainless steel and Cu as the thermal path material for high precision and high power versions, respectively, have been designed and commissioned for the surface impedance characterization (SIC) system at Jefferson Lab to provide low temperature control and measurement for CW power up to 22 W on a 5 cm dia. disk sample which is thermally isolated from the RF portion of the system. A power compensation method has been developed to measure the RF induced power on the sample. Simulation and experimental results show that with these two calorimeters, the whole thermal range of interest for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) materials has been covered. The power measurement error in the interested power range is within 1.2% and 2.7% for the high precision and high power versions, respectively. Temperature distributions on the sample surface for both versions have been simulated and the accuracy of sample temperature measurements have been analysed. Both versions have the ability to accept bulk superconductors and thin film superconducting samples with a variety of substrate materials such as Al, Al 2 O 3 , Cu, MgO, Nb and Si

High-temperature superconducting fault-current limiter - optimisation of superconducting elements

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2004-01-01

This report summarises the findings of a study initiated to continue the work of a DTI-LINK Collaborative Research Programme 'Enhancing the Properties of Bulk High Temperature Superconductors and their Potential Application as Fault Current Limiters (FCL). Details are given of computer modelling of the quenching process involving the transition from superconducting to normal conducting states undergone by the material when large currents are present. The design of compound elements, and a multi-element model are described along with FCL design covering distribution bus-coupler, embedded generator connection, larger generator connection, hazardous area safety, and interconnection to fault-prone network. The evaluation of thermal loss, test equipment and schedule, the optimised element, installed cost data, and the UK market are considered

Design and application consideration of high temperature superconducting current leads

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wu, J.L.

1994-01-01

As a potential major source of heat leak and the resultant cryogen boiloff, cryogenic current leads can significantly affect the refrigeration power requirement of cryogenic power equipment. Reduction of the heat leak associated with current leads can therefore contribute to the development and application of this equipment. Recent studies and tests have demonstrated that, due to their superconducting and low thermal conductivity properties, ceramic high temperature superconductor (HTSC) can be employed in current leads to significantly reduce the heat leak. However, realization of this benefit requires special design considerations pertaining to the properties and the fabrication technology of the relatively new ceramic superconductor materials. Since processing and fabrication technology are continuously being developed in the laboratories, data on material properties unrelated to critical states are quite limited. Therefore, design analysis and experiments have to be conducted in tandem to achieve a successful development. Due to the rather unique combination of superconducting and thermal conductivities which are orders of magnitude lower than copper, ceramic superconductors allow expansion of the operating scenarios of current leads. In addition to the conventional vapor-cooled lead type application, low heat leak conduction-cooled type current leads may be practical and are being developed. Furthermore, a current lead with an intermediate heat leak intercept has been successfully demonstrated in a multiple current lead assembly employing HTSC. These design and application considerations of high temperature superconducting current leads are addressed here

Feasibility study of electric motors constructed with high temperature superconducting materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jordan, H.E.

1989-01-01

The potential application of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) materials to electric motors is discussed. The specific application area of motors in electric power generating stations has been selected and a feasible study has been initiated on the use of HTSC materials in the design of motors for this application. A progress report on this feasibility study is presented. Technical challenges in both the development of HTSC wire and the design of a motor to utilize this wire are discussed. Finally, the results of design calculations comparing a superconducting motor with one of conventional design are presented assuming that success can be achieved in overcoming the technical problems which must be resolved to produce a high performance HTSC wire

Electro-physical properties of superconducting ceramic thick film prepared by partial melting method.

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Sang Heon

2013-05-01

BiSrCaCuO superconductor thick films were prepared at several curing temperatures, and their electro-physical properties were determined to find an optimum fabrication conditions. Critical temperatures of the superconductors were decreased with increasing melting temperature, which was related to the amount of equilibrium phases of the superconducting materials with temperature. The critical temperature of BiSrCaCuO bulk and thick film superconductors were 107 K and 96 K, respectively. The variation of susceptibility of the superconductor thick film formed at 950 degrees C had multi-step-type curve for 70 G externally applied field, whereas, a superconductor thick film formed at 885 degrees C had a single step-type curve like a bulk BiSrCaCuO ceramic superconductor in the temperature-susceptibility curves. A partial melting at 865 degrees C is one of optimum conditions for making a superconductor thick film with a relatively homogeneous phase.

A visualization instrument to investigate the mechanical-electro properties of high temperature superconducting tapes under multi-fields

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liu, Wei; Zhang, Xingyi, E-mail: zhangxingyi@lzu.edu.cn; Liu, Cong; Zhang, Wentao; Zhou, Jun; Zhou, YouHe [Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China Attached to the Ministry of Education of China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People’s Republic of China and Department of Mechanics and Engineering Sciences, College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000 (China)

2016-07-15

We construct a visible instrument to study the mechanical-electro behaviors of high temperature superconducting tape as a function of magnetic field, strain, and temperature. This apparatus is directly cooled by a commercial Gifford-McMahon cryocooler. The minimum temperature of sample can be 8.75 K. A proportion integration differentiation temperature control is used, which is capable of producing continuous variation of specimen temperature from 8.75 K to 300 K with an optional temperature sweep rate. We use an external loading device to stretch the superconducting tape quasi-statically with the maximum tension strain of 20%. A superconducting magnet manufactured by the NbTi strand is applied to provide magnetic field up to 5 T with a homogeneous range of 110 mm. The maximum fluctuation of the magnetic field is less than 1%. We design a kind of superconducting lead composed of YBa2Cu3O7-x coated conductor and beryllium copper alloy (BeCu) to transfer DC to the superconducting sample with the maximum value of 600 A. Most notably, this apparatus allows in situ observation of the electromagnetic property of superconducting tape using the classical magnetic-optical imaging.

Materials for superconducting cavities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bonin, B.

1996-01-01

The ideal material for superconducting cavities should exhibit a high critical temperature, a high critical field, and, above all, a low surface resistance. Unfortunately, these requirements can be conflicting and a compromise has to be found. To date, most superconducting cavities for accelerators are made of niobium. The reasons for this choice are discussed. Thin films of other materials such as NbN, Nb 3 Sn, or even YBCO compounds can also be envisaged and are presently investigated in various laboratories. It is shown that their success will depend critically on the crystalline perfection of these films. (author)

Superconductivity effects near metal-insulator transition in granular idnium films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Belevtsev, B.I.; Komnik, Yu.F.; Fomin, A.V.

1986-01-01

The influence of granules superconductivity on the electric properties of granular indium films is investigated under the conditions of partial or full granular localization of electrons. At temperatures below 5 K a minimum of electric resistance and negative magnetoresistance are revealed which are attributed to the competition of hopping conductivity and Josephson intergranular tunneling of electrons

Thin Film Approaches to the SRF Cavity Problem Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Thin Films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Beringer, Douglas [College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (United States)

2017-08-01

Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cavities are responsible for the acceleration of charged particles to relativistic velocities in most modern linear accelerators, such as those employed at high-energy research facilities like Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory’s CEBAF and the LHC at CERN. Recognizing SRF as primarily a surface phenomenon enables the possibility of applying thin films to the interior surface of SRF cavities, opening a formidable tool chest of opportunities by combining and designing materials that offer greater performance benefit. Thus, while improvements in radio frequency cavity design and refinements in cavity processing techniques have improved accelerator performance and efficiency – 1.5 GHz bulk niobium SRF cavities have achieved accelerating gradients in excess of 35 MV/m – there exist fundamental material bounds in bulk superconductors limiting the maximally sustained accelerating field gradient (≈ 45 MV/m for Nb) where inevitable thermodynamic breakdown occurs. With state of the art Nb based cavity design fast approaching these theoretical limits, novel material innovations must be sought in order to realize next generation SRF cavities. One proposed method to improve SRF performance is to utilize thin film superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) multilayer structures to effectively magnetically screen a bulk superconducting layer such that it can operate at higher field gradients before suffering critically detrimental SRF losses. This dissertation focuses on the production and characterization of thin film superconductors for such SIS layers for radio frequency applications. Correlated studies on structure, surface morphology and superconducting properties of epitaxial Nb and MgB2 thin films are presented.

Superconducting Mercury-Based Cuprate Films with a Zero-Resistance Transition Temperature of 124 Kelvin

Science.gov (United States)

Tsuei, C. C.; Gupta, A.; Trafas, G.; Mitzi, D.

1994-03-01

The synthesis of high-quality films of the recently discovered mercury-based cuprate films with high transition temperatures has been plagued by problems such as the air sensitivity of the cuprate precursor and the volatility of Hg and HgO. These processing difficulties have been circumvented by a technique of atomic-scale mixing of the HgO and cuprate precursors, use of a protective cap layer, and annealing in an appropriate Hg and O_2 environment. With this procedure, a zero-resistance transition temperature as high as 124 kelvin in c axis-oriented epitaxial HgBa_2CaCu_2O6+δ films has been achieved.

Superconducting mercury-based cuprate films with a zero-resistance transition temperature of 124 Kelvin.

Science.gov (United States)

Tsuei, C C; Gupta, A; Trafas, G; Mitzi, D

1994-03-04

The synthesis of high-quality films of the recently discovered mercury-based cuprate films with high transition temperatures has been plagued by problems such as the air sensitivity of the cuprate precursor and the volatility of Hg and HgO. These processing difficulties have been circumvented by a technique of atomic-scale mixing of the HgO and cuprate precursors, use of a protective cap layer, and annealing in an appropriate Hg and O(2) environment. With this procedure, a zero-resistance transition temperature as high as 124 kelvin in c axis-oriented epitaxial HgBa(2)CaCu(2)O(6+delta) films has been achieved.

Probing the local microwave properties of superconducting thin films by a scanning microwave near-field microscope

CERN Document Server

Wu, L Y; Wang, K L; Jiang, T; Kang, L; Yang, S Z; Wu, P H

2002-01-01

In this paper, we present our approach to probe the local microwave properties of superconducting thin films by using the microwave near-field scanning technique. We have employed a coaxial cavity together with a niobium tip as the probe and established a scanning sample stage cooled by liquid nitrogen to study thin film devices at low temperature in our scanning microwave near-field microscope. Nondestructive images have been obtained on the inhomogeneity of the YBaCuO superconducting thin films at microwave frequency. We believe that these results would be helpful in evaluating the microwave performance of the devices.

Shock-induced synthesis of high temperature superconducting materials

Science.gov (United States)

Ginley, D.S.; Graham, R.A.; Morosin, B.; Venturini, E.L.

1987-06-18

It has now been determined that the unique features of the high pressure shock method, especially the shock-induced chemical synthesis technique, are fully applicable to high temperature superconducting materials. Extraordinarily high yields are achievable in accordance with this invention, e.g., generally in the range from about 20% to about 99%, often in the range from about 50% to about 90%, lower and higher yields, of course, also being possible. The method of this invention involves the application of a controlled high pressure shock compression pulse which can be produced in any conventional manner, e.g., by detonation of a high explosive material, the impact of a high speed projectile or the effect of intense pulsed radiation sources such as lasers or electron beams. Examples and a discussion are presented.

Vortex pinning in superconducting Nb thin films deposited on nanoporous alumina templates

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Vinckx, W.; Vanacken, J.; Moshchalkov, V.V.

2006-01-01

We present a study of magnetization and transport properties of superconducting Nb thin films deposited on nanoporous aluminium oxide templates. Periodic oscillations in the critical temperature vs. field, matching effects in fields up to 700 mT and strongly enhanced critical currents were observed...

Switching, storage, and erasure effects in a superconducting thin film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Testardi, L.R.

1976-01-01

Thin niobium films can be switched from a superconducting to a resistive state permanently by application of a short electrical pulse. Application of a short pulse of opposite polarity returns the film to the superconducting state

Superconducting Properties of Lead-Bismuth Films Controlled by Ferromagnetic Nanowire Arrays

Science.gov (United States)

Ye, Zuxin; Lyuksyutov, Igor F.; Wu, Wenhao; Naugle, Donald G.

2011-03-01

Superconducting properties of lead-bismuth (82% Pb and 18% Bi) alloy films deposited on ferromagnetic nanowire arrays have been investigated. Ferromagnetic Co or Ni nanowires are first electroplated into the columnar pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. Superconducting Pb 82 Bi 18 films are then quench-condensed onto the polished surface of the AAO membranes filled with magnetic nanowires. A strong dependence of the Pb 82 Bi 18 superconducting properties on the ratio of the superconducting film thickness to the magnetic nanowire diameter and the material variety was observed.

Contribution of nuclear microanalysis and of 18O tracer technique to study the oxygen sublattice in high Tc superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Siejka, J.

1994-01-01

At first a short review of IBA contribution to the determination of composition and structure, including phonon properties of high T c superconducting oxides is presented. In the second part, IBA contribution to the elucidation of the mechanisms of thin film growth is presented. The emphasis is on the complementarity of IBA, Raman spectroscopy and XRD techniques to characterize thin films of high T c superconducting oxides. In the third part, some recent results related mainly to YBaCuO films grown on (100) oriented single crystalline bulk materials (MgO, LaAlO 3 , SrTiO 3 ) is discussed. In these experiments, IBA, XRD and Raman spectroscopies were used to study the oxygen content in a series of YBaCuO films prepared in different conditions of pressure and temperature. In the case of c-axis oriented films a good agreement between these three methods was found for the films cooled down at high oxygen pressure and a significant disagreement for the films cooled down at low oxygen pressure, showing structures with anomalous c-axis parameter. In the case of a-axis oriented films grown on SrTiO 3 substrates it was found that the low T c values (∼ 70-80 K) are not correlated with the oxygen content but rather with a disorder in the oxygen sublattice. The disorder in the oxygen sublattice was studied using the 16 O(α, α) 16 O resonance in random and channeling geometry. These results are correlated with the data provided by Raman spectroscopy. The 18 O tracer technique was used to estimate the diffusion coefficient in the a-axis oriented YBaCuO films showing a huge anisotropy of the 18 O labelling. Combining Raman and IBA techniques, the selective 18 O labelling of the CuO chain-planes was evidenced. The defects in the 18 O enriched CuO chain-planes were studied using the 18 O(p, α) 15 N nuclear resonant reaction in random and channeling geometries. Some preliminary results related to roughness of YBaCuO films are also discussed. The physical implications of these

Critical region of a type II superconducting film near Hsub(c2): rational approximants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ruggeri, G.J.

1979-01-01

The high-temperature perturbative expansions for the thermal quantities of a type II superconducting film are extrapolated to the critical region near Hsub(c2) by means of new rational approximants of the Pade type. The new approximants are forced to reproduce the leading correction to the flux lattice contribution on the low-temperature side of the transition. Compared to those previously considered in the literature: (i) the mutual consistency of the approximants is improved; and (ii) they are nearer to the exact solution of the zero-dimensional Landau-Ginsburg model. (author)

What is strange about high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates?

Science.gov (United States)

Božović, I.; He, X.; Wu, J.; Bollinger, A. T.

2017-10-01

Cuprate superconductors exhibit many features, but the ultimate question is why the critical temperature (Tc) is so high. The fundamental dichotomy is between the weak-pairing, Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) scenario, and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of strongly-bound pairs. While for underdoped cuprates it is hotly debated which of these pictures is appropriate, it is commonly believed that on the overdoped side strongly-correlated fermion physics evolves smoothly into the conventional BCS behavior. Here, we test this dogma by studying the dependence of key superconducting parameters on doping, temperature, and external fields, in thousands of cuprate samples. The findings do not conform to BCS predictions anywhere in the phase diagram.

Superconductivity in volumetric and film ceramics Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sukhanov, A.A.; Ozmanyan, Kh.R.; Sandomirskij, B.B.

1988-01-01

A superconducting transition with T c0 =82-95 K and T c (R=0)=82-72 K was observed in volumetric and film Bi(Sr 1-x Ca x ) 2 Cu 3 O y samples obtained by solid-phase reaction. Temperature dependences of resistance critical current and magnetic susceptibility are measured

Superconductivity in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O bulk and film ceramics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sukhanov, A A; Ozmanian, KH R; Sandomirskii, B B

1988-07-01

A superconducting transition with Tc0 = 82-95 K and Tc(R = 0) = 82-72 K was observed in Bi(Sr/1-x/Ca/x/)2Cu3O(y) bulk and film specimens obtained via a solid-phase reaction. Temperature dependences of the resistance, critical current, and magnetic susceptibility were measured.

High temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSSE)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nisenoff, M.; Gubser, D.V.; Wolf, S.A.; Ritter, J.C.; Price, G.

1991-01-01

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is exploring the feasibility of deploying high temperature superconductivity (HTS) devices and components in space. A variety of devices, primarily passive microwave and millimeter wave components, have been procured and will be integrated with a cryogenic refrigerator system and data acquisition system to form the space package, which will be launched late in 1992. This Space Experiment will demonstrate that this technology is sufficiently robust to survive the space environment and has the potential to significantly improved space communications systems. The devices for the initial launch (HTSSE-I) have been received by NRL and evaluated electrically, thermally and mechanically and will be integrated into the final space package early in 1991. In this paper the performance of the devices are summarized and some potential applications of HTS technology in space system are outlined

Ultrasensitive interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity in NbGd composite thin films

Science.gov (United States)

Bawa, Ambika; Gupta, Anurag; Singh, Sandeep; Awana, V. P. S.; Sahoo, Sangeeta

2016-01-01

A model binary hybrid system composed of a randomly distributed rare-earth ferromagnetic (Gd) part embedded in an s-wave superconducting (Nb) matrix is being manufactured to study the interplay between competing superconducting and ferromagnetic order parameters. The normal metallic to superconducting phase transition appears to be very sensitive to the magnetic counterpart and the modulation of the superconducing properties follow closely to the Abrikosov-Gor’kov (AG) theory of magnetic impurity induced pair breaking mechanism. A critical concentration of Gd is obtained for the studied NbGd based composite films (CFs) above which superconductivity disappears. Besides, a magnetic ordering resembling the paramagnetic Meissner effect (PME) appears in DC magnetization measurements at temperatures close to the superconducting transition temperature. The positive magnetization related to the PME emerges upon doping Nb with Gd. The temperature dependent resistance measurements evolve in a similar fashion with the concentration of Gd as that with an external magnetic field and in both the cases, the transition curves accompany several intermediate features indicating the traces of magnetism originated either from Gd or from the external field. Finally, the signatures of magnetism appear evidently in the magnetization and transport measurements for the CFs with very low (<1 at.%) doping of Gd.

Interface-Induced Zeeman-Protected Superconductivity in Ultrathin Crystalline Lead Films

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Yi; Wang, Ziqiao; Zhang, Xuefeng; Liu, Chaofei; Liu, Yongjie; Zhou, Zhimou; Wang, Junfeng; Wang, Qingyan; Liu, Yanzhao; Xi, Chuanying; Tian, Mingliang; Liu, Haiwen; Feng, Ji; Xie, X. C.; Wang, Jian

2018-04-01

Two-dimensional (2D) superconducting systems are of great importance for exploring exotic quantum physics. The recent development of fabrication techniques has stimulated studies of high-quality single-crystalline 2D superconductors, where intrinsic properties give rise to unprecedented physical phenomena. Here, we report the observation of Zeeman-type spin-orbit interaction protected superconductivity (Zeeman-protected superconductivity) in 4-monolayer (ML) to 6-ML crystalline Pb films grown on striped incommensurate Pb layers on Si(111) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. An anomalously large in-plane critical field far beyond the Pauli limit is detected, which can be attributed to the Zeeman-protected superconductivity due to the in-plane inversion symmetry breaking at the interface. Our work demonstrates that, in superconducting heterostructures, the interface can induce Zeeman-type spin-orbit interactions and modulate the superconductivity.

Investigation on the bisoliton mechanism of high-temperature superconductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang Lingyun; Li Bozang; Pu Fucho; Lin Jiatih

1996-01-01

Microscopic parameters in the Davydov model are calculated on the basis of the bisoliton idea. The energy gap is obtained from combining the condition for the solution of Davydov's equation with the condensation energy of the superconductive state in zero field, and some characteristic parameters of high-temperature superconductors such as coherence length, penetration depth, and density of critical current for a thin film in weak magnetic field are given. It is also proved that lattice displacement in Davydov's equation satisfies the φ 4 field form. The critical temperature and the coefficient of linear specific heat of high-temperature superconductors are studied from the statistics of lattice kinks. The agreement between theoretical and experimental values for YBaCuO oxide ceramics suggests that the bisoliton model gives a reasonable explanation of high-temperature superconductivity. (orig.)

Analyses, algorithms, and computations for models of high-temperature superconductivity. Final technical report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gunzburger, M.D.; Peterson, J.S.

1998-01-01

Under the sponsorship of the Department of Energy, the authors have achieved significant progress in the modeling, analysis, and computation of superconducting phenomena. Their work has focused on mezoscale models as typified by the celebrated ginzburg-Landau equations; these models are intermediate between the microscopic models (that can be used to understand the basic structure of superconductors and of the atomic and sub-atomic behavior of these materials) and the macroscale, or homogenized, models (that can be of use for the design of devices). The models the authors have considered include a time dependent Ginzburg-Landau model, a variable thickness thin film model, models for high values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter, models that account for normal inclusions and fluctuations and Josephson effects, and the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau and Lawrence-Doniach models for layered superconductors, including those with high critical temperatures. In each case, they have developed or refined the models, derived rigorous mathematical results that enhance the state of understanding of the models and their solutions, and developed, analyzed, and implemented finite element algorithms for the approximate solution of the model equations

Research and development project for flywheel energy storage system using high-temperature superconducting magnetic bearing

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shinagawa, Jiro; Ishikawa, Fumihiko

1996-01-01

Recent progress in the research and development of an yttrium-based oxide high-temperature superconductor has enabled the production of a large-diameter bulk with a strong flux-pinning force. A combination of this superconductor and a permanent magnet makes it feasible to fabricate a non-contact, non-controlled superconducting magnetic bearing with a very small rotational loss. Use of the superconducting magnetic bearing for a flywheel energy storage system may pave the way to the development of a new energy storage system that has great energy storage efficiency. >From relevant data measured with a miniature model of the high-temperature superconducting magnetic bearing, a conceptual design of an 8 MWh flywheel energy storage system was developed, using the new bearing which proved to be potentially capable of achieving a high energy storage efficiency of 84%. A 100 Wh-class experimental system was install that attained a high revolution rate of 17.000 rpm. (author)

Short Circuits of a 10 MW High Temperature Superconducting Wind Turbine Generator

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Song, X.; Polinder, H.; Liu, D.; Mijatovic, Nenad; Holbøll, Joachim; Jensen, Bogi Bech

Direct drive high temperature superconducting (HTS) wind turbine generators have been proposed to tackle challenges for ever increasing wind turbine ratings. Due to smaller reactances in HTS generators, higher fault currents and larger transient torques could occur if sudden short circuits happen at

High magnetic field properties of Fe-pnictide thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kurth, Fritz

2015-11-20

The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in Fe-based materials triggered worldwide efforts to investigate their fundamental properties. Despite a lot of similarities to cuprates and MgB{sub 2}, important differences like near isotropic behaviour in contrast to cuprates and the peculiar pairing symmetry of the order parameter (OP) have been reported. The OP symmetry of Fe-based superconductors (FBS) was theoretically predicted to be of so-called s± state prior to various experimental works. Still, most of the experimental results favour the s± scenario; however, definitive evidence has not yet been reported. Although no clear understanding of the superconducting mechanisms yet exists, potential applications such as high-field magnets and Josephson devices have been explored. Indeed, a lot of reports about FBS tapes, wires, and even SQUIDs have been published to this date. In this thesis, the feasibility of high-field magnet applications of FBS is addressed by studying their transport properties, involving doped BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} (Ba-122) and LnFeAs(O,F) [Ln=Sm and Nd]. Particularly, it is important to study physical properties in a sample form (i.e. thin films) that is close to the conditions found in applications. However, the realisation of epitaxial FBS thin films is not an easy undertaking. Recent success in growing epitaxial FBS thin films opens a new avenue to delve into transport critical current measurements. The information obtained through this research will be useful for exploring high-field magnet applications. This thesis consists of 7 chapters: Chapter 1 describes the motivation of this study, the basic background of superconductivity, and a brief summary of the thin film growth of FBS. Chapter 2 describes experimental methods employed in this study. Chapter 3 reports on the fabrication of Co-doped Ba-122 thin films on various substrates. Particular emphasis lies on the discovery of fluoride substrates to be beneficial for

Structural and superconducting properties of sputter-deposited niobium films for applications in RF accelerating cavities

CERN Document Server

Peck, M A

2000-01-01

The present work presents the results of a systematic study of superconducting and structural properties of niobium films sputter deposited onto the inner walls of radiofrequency copper resonators. The measured superconducting quantities include the surface resistance, the critical temperature, the penetration depth and the upper and lower critical fields. In addition to films grown with different discharge gases (Xe, Kr, Ar, Ne and Ar-Ne mixtures) and to films grown on substrates prepared under different conditions, the study also includes massive niobium cavities. The surface resistance is analysed in terms of its dependence on the temperature and on the rf field amplitude and, when possible, compared to theoretical predictions. In general, good agreement with BCS theory is observed. All experimental results are presented in the form of a simple, but adequate parameterisation. The residual resistance is observed to be essentially uncorrelated with the other variables, but strongly dependent on the macroscop...

Analyses, algorithms, and computations for models of high-temperature superconductivity. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Du, Q.

1997-01-01

Under the sponsorship of the Department of Energy, the authors have achieved significant progress in the modeling, analysis, and computation of superconducting phenomena. The work so far has focused on mezoscale models as typified by the celebrated Ginzburg-Landau equations; these models are intermediate between the microscopic models (that can be used to understand the basic structure of superconductors and of the atomic and sub-atomic behavior of these materials) and the macroscale, or homogenized, models (that can be of use for the design of devices). The models they have considered include a time dependent Ginzburg-Landau model, a variable thickness thin film model, models for high values of the Ginzburg-landau parameter, models that account for normal inclusions and fluctuations and Josephson effects, and the anisotropic ginzburg-Landau and Lawrence-Doniach models for layered superconductors, including those with high critical temperatures. In each case, they have developed or refined the models, derived rigorous mathematical results that enhance the state of understanding of the models and their solutions, and developed, analyzed, and implemented finite element algorithms for the approximate solution of the model equations

Evaluation of high temperature superconductive thermal bridges for space borne cryogenic detectors

Science.gov (United States)

Scott, Elaine P.

1996-01-01

Infrared sensor satellites are used to monitor the conditions in the earth's upper atmosphere. In these systems, the electronic links connecting the cryogenically cooled infrared detectors to the significantly warmer amplification electronics act as thermal bridges and, consequently, the mission lifetimes of the satellites are limited due to cryogenic evaporation. High-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials have been proposed by researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley's Research Center (NASA-LaRC) as an alternative to the currently used manganin wires for electrical connection. The potential for using HTS films as thermal bridges has provided the motivation for the design and the analysis of a spaceflight experiment to evaluate the performance of this superconductive technology in the space environment. The initial efforts were focused on the preliminary design of the experimental system which allows for the quantitative comparison of superconductive leads with manganin leads, and on the thermal conduction modeling of the proposed system. Most of the HTS materials were indicated to be potential replacements for the manganin wires. In the continuation of this multi-year research, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the sources of heat transfer on the thermal bridges that have been neglected in the preliminary conductive model and then to develop a methodology for the estimation of the thermal conductivities of the HTS thermal bridges in space. The Joule heating created by the electrical current through the manganin wires was incorporated as a volumetric heat source into the manganin conductive model. The radiative heat source on the HTS thermal bridges was determined by performing a separate radiant interchange analysis within a high-T(sub c) superconductor housing area. Both heat sources indicated no significant contribution on the cryogenic heat load, which validates the results obtained in the preliminary conduction

High-J_c YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x-Ag superconducting thin films synthesized through a fluorine-free MOD method

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Tang, Xiao; Yue, Zhao; Wu, W.

2015-01-01

Obtaining a high critical current density (Jc) remains the main challenge in developing fluorine-free metal organic deposition (MOD) methods to fabricate YBCO superconducting thin films. Silver addition was used to raise the Jc values in this research work. By reacting with propionic acid...... and ammonia, AgNO3 was initially mixed with YBCO carboxylate precursors dissolved in methanol. High-temperature in situ XRD measurements on the YBCO-Ag powders revealed that silver addition lowers the incongruent melting temperature of YBCO to 760°C and resulted in a smooth surface morphology of the YBCO...... films at a temperature as low as 760°C. Grain growth and intergranular conductivity were also found to be improved by silver doping. After annealing under optimized conditions, a high Jc of 4.6MA/cm2 was obtained in a YBCO-Ag thin film with 10 wt% Ag....

Pair Fermi contour and high-temperature superconductivity

CERN Document Server

Belyavsky, V I

2002-01-01

The holes superconducting coupling with the pair high summarized pulse and the relative motion low pulses is considered with an account of the quasi-two-dimensional electron structure of the HTSC-cuprates with the clearly-pronounced nesting of the Fermi contour. The superconducting energy gap and the condensation energy are determined and their dependences on the doping level are qualitatively studied. It is shown that the energy gap takes place in some holes concentration area, limited on both sides. The superconducting state, whereby the condensation energy is positive, originates in the more narrower doping interval inside this area. The hole pair redistribution in the pulse space constitutes the cause of the superconducting state origination by the holes repulsive screened Coulomb interaction. The coupling mechanism discussed hereby, males it possible to explain qualitatively not only the phase diagram basic peculiarities but also the key experimental facts, related to the cuprate HTSC-materials

Ion implantation in superconducting niobium and Nb3 Sn thin films: adjustment of Josephson microbridges and SQUID devices

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Robic, J.Y.; Piaguet, J.; Duret, D.; Veler, J.C.; Veran, J.L.; Zenatti, D.

1978-01-01

The principles of operation of Josephson junctions and SQUIDS are resumed. An ion implantation technique for the adjustment of the critical current is presented. High quality superconducting thin films were obtained by electron gun evaporation of niobium on heated substrates. Polycrystalline Nb 3 Sn was made by annealing (1000 K, 10 -6 Torr) a multilayer structure of successively evaporated niobium and thin films. Selected ions (helium, neon, argon) were implanted at doses ranging from 10 13 to 10 17 cm -2 . After implantation the critical temperature, the critical current and the normal resistivity were measured on special photoetched geometries. The variations of these electrical properties depend on the nuclear energy loss. The critical temperature of Nb 3 Sn is decreased by ion implantation and can be increased again by a new annealing. The parameters of the ion implantation were defined in order to obtain a critical temperature slightly higher than the operating temperature. The geometries of the microbridges and the implanted areas where then chosen to obtain appropriate criticals currents (approximately 10 μA) at the operating temperature. The obtained microbridges were used as junction elements in superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID)

Growth of superconducting Bi/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/O/sub 8+//sub x/ films on alumina, silicon, and fused quartz

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hung, L.S.; Agostinelli, J.A.; Paz-Pujalt, G.R.; Mir, J.M.

1988-01-01

Interactions between superconducting Bi/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/O/sub 8+//sub x/ films and substrates were investigated by ion backscattering, x-ray diffraction, and four-point probe resistivity measurements. During annealing at temperatures above- 800 /sup 0/C, Bi/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/ oxide films rapidly reacted with alumina, Si, Si covered with SiO/sub 2/, and quartz, resulting in catastrophic failure. Zr-based barrier layers were used to minimize film-substrate interactions. When a single ZrO/sub 2/ layer was interposed between the superconducting oxide film and the underlying substrate, the Bi/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/ oxide films showed a large-grained polycrystalline microstructure and exhibited the orthorhombic structure. Films on sapphire showed transitions to the superconducting state beginning near 100 K with zero resistance achieved at 70 K. Films on Si and thermally grown SiO/sub 2/ showed a similar drop in resistance around 95 K, whereas the transition was broad and the zero resistance state was not reached. For films on quartz, high thermal stress caused cracking of the superconducting oxide film. Best results were achieved using a barrier composed of a Zr-Si-O mixed layer underneath ZrO/sub 2/. In this case, the films grown on Si and quartz were uniform and showed the onset to superconductivity at 95 K, attaining zero resistance at 70 K

Superconductivity in volumetric and film ceramics Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sukhanov, A A; Ozmanyan, Kh R; Sandomirskij, B B

1988-07-10

A superconducting transition with T/sub c0/=82-95 K and T/sub c/(R=0)=82-72 K was observed in volumetric and film Bi(Sr/sub 1-x/Ca/sub x/)/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub y/ samples obtained by solid-phase reaction. Temperature dependences of resistance critical current and magnetic susceptibility are measured.

High temperature superconducting Maglev equipment on vehicle

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, S. Y.; Wang, J. S.; Ren, Z. Y.; Zhu, M.; Jiang, H.; Wang, X. R.; Shen, X. M.; Song, H. H.

2003-04-01

Onboard high temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev equipment is a heart part of a HTS Maglev vehicle, which is composed of YBaCuO bulks and rectangle-shape liquid nitrogen vessel and used successfully in the first manned HTS Maglev test vehicle. Arrangement of YBaCuO bulks in liquid nitrogen vessel, structure of the vessel, levitation forces of a single vessel and two vessels, and total levitation force are reported. The first manned HTS Maglev test vehicle in the world has operated well more than one year after it was born on Dec. 31, 2000, and more than 23,000 passengers have taken the vehicle till now. Well operation of more than one year proves the reliability of the onboard HTS Maglev equipment.

Interface-Induced Zeeman-Protected Superconductivity in Ultrathin Crystalline Lead Films

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Yi Liu

2018-04-01

Full Text Available Two-dimensional (2D superconducting systems are of great importance for exploring exotic quantum physics. The recent development of fabrication techniques has stimulated studies of high-quality single-crystalline 2D superconductors, where intrinsic properties give rise to unprecedented physical phenomena. Here, we report the observation of Zeeman-type spin-orbit interaction protected superconductivity (Zeeman-protected superconductivity in 4-monolayer (ML to 6-ML crystalline Pb films grown on striped incommensurate Pb layers on Si(111 substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. An anomalously large in-plane critical field far beyond the Pauli limit is detected, which can be attributed to the Zeeman-protected superconductivity due to the in-plane inversion symmetry breaking at the interface. Our work demonstrates that, in superconducting heterostructures, the interface can induce Zeeman-type spin-orbit interactions and modulate the superconductivity.

Nano-engineered pinning centres in YBCO superconducting films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Crisan, A., E-mail: adrian.crisan@infim.ro [National Institute for Materials Physics Bucharest, 105 bis Atomistilor Str., 077125 Magurele (Romania); School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham (United Kingdom); Dang, V.S. [School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham (United Kingdom); Nano and Energy Center, VNU Hanoi University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi (Viet Nam); Mikheenko, P. [School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham (United Kingdom); Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo (Norway)

2017-02-15

Highlights: • Power applications of YBCO films/coated conductors in technological relevant magnetic fields requires nano-engineered pinning centre. • Three approaches have been proposed: substrate decoration, quasi-multilayers, and targets with secondary phase nano-inclusions. • Combination of all three approaches greatly increased critical current in YBCO films. • Bulk pinning force, pinning potential, and critical current density are estimated and discussed in relation with the type and strength of pinning centres related to the defects evidenced by Transmission Electron Microscopy. - Abstract: For practical applications of superconducting materials in applied magnetic fields, artificial pinning centres in addition to natural ones are required to oppose the Lorentz force. These pinning centres are actually various types of defects in the superconductor matrix. The pinning centres can be categorised on their dimension (volume, surface or point) and on their character (normal cores or Δκ cores). Different samples have been produced by Pulsed Laser Deposition, with various thicknesses, temperatures and nanostructured additions to the superconducting matrix. They have been characterized by SQUID Magnetic Properties Measurement System and Physical Properties Measurement System, as well as by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Correlations between pinning architecture, TEM images, and critical currents at various fields and field orientations will be shown for a large number of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub x} films with various types and architectures of artificial pinning centres.

Gauge models of planar high-temperature superconductivity without parity violation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mavromatos, N.E.; Grenoble-1 Univ., 74 - Annecy

1993-02-01

A status report is given of a parity-invariant model of two-dimensional superconductivity. The model consists of two-species of fermions coupled with opposite sign to an Abelian gauge field and is closely related to QED 3 . The dynamical generation of a parity-conserving fermion mass and the finite temperature symmetry restoration transition is studied, and it is shown, how the parity-invariant model arises as an effective long-wavelength theory of the dynamics of holes in a two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnetic system on a bi-partite lattice. The model exhibits type-II superconductivity without parity or time-reversal symmetry violation, a high value of 2 Δ /k B T c , flux quantization with quantum hc/2e and a two-dimensional Meissner effect. (author) 82 refs.; 15 figs.; 4 tabs

Local imaging of magnetic flux in superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shapoval, Tetyana

2010-01-01

Local studies of magnetic flux line (vortex) distribution in superconducting thin films and their pinning by natural and artificial defects have been performed using low-temperature magnetic force microscopy (LT-MFM). Taken a 100 nm thin NbN film as an example, the depinning of vortices from natural defects under the influence of the force that the MFM tip exerts on the individual vortex was visualized and the local pinning force was estimated. The good agreement of these results with global transport measurements demonstrates that MFM is a powerful and reliable method to probe the local variation of the pinning landscape. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the presence of an ordered array of 1-μm-sized ferromagnetic permalloy dots being in a magneticvortex state underneath the Nb film significantly influences the natural pinning landscape of the superconductor leading to commensurate pinning effects. This strong pinning exceeds the repulsive interaction between the superconducting vortices and allows vortex clusters to be located at each dot. Additionally, for industrially applicable YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ thin films the main question discussed was the possibility of a direct correlation between vortices and artificial defects as well as vortex imaging on rough as-prepared thin films. Since the surface roughness (droplets, precipitates) causes a severe problem to the scanning MFM tip, a nanoscale wedge polishing technique that allows to overcome this problem was developed. Mounting the sample under a defined small angle results in a smooth surface and a monotonic thickness reduction of the film along the length of the sample. It provides a continuous insight from the film surface down to the substrate with surface sensitive scanning techniques. (orig.)

Thin Film Approaches to the SRF Cavity Problem: Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Thin Films

Science.gov (United States)

Beringer, Douglas B.

Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cavities are responsible for the acceleration of charged particles to relativistic velocities in most modern linear accelerators, such as those employed at high-energy research facilities like Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory's CEBAF and the LHC at CERN. Recognizing SRF as primarily a surface phenomenon enables the possibility of applying thin films to the interior surface of SRF cavities, opening a formidable tool chest of opportunities by combining and designing materials that offer greater benefit. Thus, while improvements in radio frequency cavity design and refinements in cavity processing techniques have improved accelerator performance and efficiency - 1.5 GHz bulk niobium SRF cavities have achieved accelerating gradients in excess of 35 MV/m - there exist fundamental material bounds in bulk superconductors limiting the maximally sustained accelerating field gradient (approximately 45 MV/m for Niobium) where inevitable thermodynamic breakdown occurs. With state of the art niobium based cavity design fast approaching these theoretical limits, novel material innovations must be sought in order to realize next generation SRF cavities. One proposed method to improve SRF performance is to utilize thin film superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) multilayer structures to effectively magnetically screen a bulk superconducting layer such that it can operate at higher field gradients before suffering critically detrimental SRF losses. This dissertation focuses on the production and characterization of thin film superconductors for such SIS layers for radio-frequency applications.

The growth of large-area superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by pulsed laser ablation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lai, H.C.; Chang, C.M.; Lin, R.J.; Liu, R.S.

1996-01-01

In-situ growth of 2-in. diameter superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (YBCO) thin films using an excimer KrF pulsed laser has been studied. Films with critical transition temperature (T c,0 ) of 89±1 K and critical current density (J c,77K ) in excess of 1 x 10 6 A cm -2 have been prepared routinely. Uniformity in film thickness of below ±15% and film composition of ±5% have been measured. The effects of gas nozzle geometry and target evolution during ablation on the superconducting properties and surface morphology of YBCO thin films have also been investigated. (orig.)

Superconductivity and low temperature electrical transport in B-doped CVD nanocrystalline diamond

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Milos Nesladek, Jiri J. Mares, Dominique Tromson, Christine Mer, Philippe Bergonzo, Pavel Hubik and Jozef Kristofik

2006-01-01

Full Text Available In this work, we report on superconductivity (SC found in thin B-doped nanocrystalline diamond films, prepared by the PE-CVD technique. The thickness of the films varies from about 100 to 400 nm, the films are grown on low-alkaline glass at substrate temperatures of about 500–700 °C. The SIMS measurements show that films can be heavily doped with boron in concentrations in the range of 3×1021 cm−3. The Raman spectra show Fano resonances, confirming the substitutional B-incorporation. The low temperature magnetotransport measurements reveal a positive magnetoresistance. The SC transition is observed at about Tc=1.66 K. A simple theory exploiting the concept of weak localization accounting for this transition is proposed.

Magnetic field and temperature dependence of the critical vortex velocity in type-II superconducting films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Grimaldi, G; Leo, A; Cirillo, C; Attanasio, C; Nigro, A; Pace, S [CNR-INFM Laboratorio Regionale SuperMat, Via Salvador Allende, I-84081 Baronissi (Italy)], E-mail: grimaldi@sa.infn.it

2009-06-24

We study the vortex dynamics in the instability regime induced by high dissipative states well above the critical current in Nb superconducting strips. The magnetic field and temperature behavior of the critical vortex velocity corresponding to the observed dynamic instability is ascribed to intrinsic non-equilibrium phenomena. The Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) theory of electronic instability in high velocity vortex motion has been applied to interpret the temperature dependence of the critical vortex velocity. The magnetic field dependence of the vortex critical velocity shows new features in the low-field regime not predicted by LO.

Geometrical resonance effects in thin superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nedellec, P.

1977-01-01

Electron tunneling density of states measurements on thick and clear superconducting films (S 1 ) backed by films in the normal or superconducting state (S 2 ) show geometrical resonance effects associated with the spatial variation of Δ(x), the pair potential, near the interface S 1 -S 2 . The present understanding of this so-called 'Tomasch effect' is described. The dispersion relation and the nature of excitations in the superconducting state are introduced. It is shown that the introduction of Green functions give a general description of the superconducting state. The notion of Andreev scattering at the S 1 -S 2 interface is presented and connect the geometrical resonance effects to interference process between excitations. The different physical parameters involved are defined and used in the discussion of some experimental results: the variation of the period in energy with the superconducting thickness is connected to the renormalized group velocity of excitations traveling perpendicular to the film. The role of the barrier potential at the interface on the Tomasch effect is described. The main results discussed are: the decrease of the amplitude of the Tomasch structures with energy is due to the loss of the mixed electron-hole character of the superconducting excitations far away from the Fermi level; the variation of the pair potential at the interface is directly related to the amplitude of the oscillations; the tunneling selectivity is an important parameter as the amplitude as well as the phase of the oscillations are modified depending on the value of the selectivity; the phase of the Tomasch oscillations is different for an abrupt change of Δ at the interface and for a smooth variation. An ambiguity arises due to the interplay between these parameters. Finally, some experiments, which illustrate clearly the predicted effects are described [fr

Design of a termination for a high temperature superconduction power cable

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Rasmussen, Carsten; Kühle (fratrådt), Anders Van Der Aa; Tønnesen, Ole

1999-01-01

). This assembly is electrically insulated with an extruded polymer dielectric kept at room temperature. Cooling is provided by a flow of liquid nitrogen inside the former. The purpose of the termination is to connect the superconducting cable conductor at cryogenic temperature to the existing power grid at room...... temperatures, the transfer of liquid nitrogen over a high voltage drop and that of providing a well defined atmosphere inside the termination and around the cable conductor. Designs based on calculations and experiments will be presented. The solutions are optimized with respect to a low heat in-leak....

Low-Cost Superconducting Wire for Wind Generators: High Performance, Low Cost Superconducting Wires and Coils for High Power Wind Generators

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

None

2012-01-01

REACT Project: The University of Houston will develop a low-cost, high-current superconducting wire that could be used in high-power wind generators. Superconducting wire currently transports 600 times more electric current than a similarly sized copper wire, but is significantly more expensive. The University of Houston’s innovation is based on engineering nanoscale defects in the superconducting film. This could quadruple the current relative to today’s superconducting wires, supporting the same amount of current using 25% of the material. This would make wind generators lighter, more powerful and more efficient. The design could result in a several-fold reduction in wire costs and enable their commercial viability of high-power wind generators for use in offshore applications.

Theory of high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Srivastava, C.M.

1989-01-01

This paper develops a semi-empirical electronic band structure for a high T c superconductor like YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 - δ . The author accounts for the electrical transport properties on the model based on the correlated electron transfer arising from the electron-phonon interaction. The momentum pairing leading to the superconducting phase amongst the mobile charge carriers is shown

Quantum and superconducting fluctuations effects in disordered Nb 1- xTa x thin films above Tc

Science.gov (United States)

Giannouri, M.; Papastaikoudis, C.

1999-05-01

Disordered Nb 1- xTa x thin films are prepared with e-gun coevaporation. The influence of the β-phase of tantalum in the critical temperature Tc is observed as a function of the substrate temperature. The measurements of transverse magnetoresistance at various isothermals are interpreted in terms of weak-localization and superconducting fluctuations. From the fitting procedure, the phase breaking rate τφ-1 and the Larkin parameter βL are estimated as a function of temperature. Conclusions about the dominant inelastic scattering mechanisms at various temperature regions as well as for the dominant mechanism of superconducting fluctuations near the transition temperature are extracted.

High-temperature superconductors induced by ion implantation. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Greenwald, A.C.; Johnson, E.

1988-08-01

High dose oxygen ion implantation (10 to the 17th power ions per sq. cm.) at elevated temperatures (300 C) has been shown to adjust the critical temperature of gamma-Y-Ba-Cu-O and Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O materials. These results are in marked contrast to earlier work which showed complete destruction of superconducting properties for similar radiation doses, and marked reduction in superconducting properties at one-tenth this dose in the 1-2-3- compound only. Experiments also showed that the superconducting materials can be patterned into conducting and nonconducting areas without etching by ion implantation, allowing maintenance of planar geometries required for microcircuit fabrication. Experiments on deposition of thin films of high temperature superconductors for use with the ion implantation experiments showed that ion beam sputtering from a single target could achieve the correct stoichiometry. Variations of composition with ion beam energy and angle of sputtered ions were studied

Magnetic and superconductivity studies on (In{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x}){sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sai Krishna, N. [Thin Films Laboratory, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu (India); Kaleemulla, S., E-mail: skaleemulla@gmail.com [Thin Films Laboratory, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu (India); Amarendra, G. [Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, Tamil Nadu (India); UGC-DAE-CSR, Kalpakkam Node, Kokilamedu 603 104, Tamil Nadu (India); Madhusudhana Rao, N.; Krishnamoorthi, C.; Rigana Begam, M. [Thin Films Laboratory, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu (India); Omkaram, I. [Department of Electronics and Radio Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si Gyeonggi-do 446-701 (Korea, Republic of); Sreekantha Reddy, D. [Department of Physics and Sungkyunkwan Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746 (Korea, Republic of)

2015-07-15

Highlights: • Fe doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films deposited using electron beam evaporation technique. • Characterization of the samples using XRD, SEM, EDAX, AES, Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR, VSM and magnetoresistance. • All Fe doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} thin films exhibited the cubic structure of In{sub 2}O{sub 3}. • Pure and Fe doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} samples exhibited room temperature ferromagnetism and superconductivity at 2 K. - Abstract: Magnetic, magnetoresistivity and superconductivity studies were carried out on (In{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x}){sub 2}O{sub 3} (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) thin films (2D structures) grown on glass substrate by electron beam evaporation technique at 350 °C. The films have an average size of 120 nm particles. All the samples shown soft ferromagnetic hysteresis loops at room temperature and saturation magnetization increased with iron dopant concentration. Observed magnetization could be best interpreted by F-center mediated magnetic exchange interaction in the samples. Temperature dependent resistivity of the sample (x = 0.00 and 0.07) showed metallic behavior down to very low temperatures and superconductivity at 2 K for undoped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} whereas the In{sub 1.86}Fe{sub 0.14}O{sub 3} sample shows superconductivity below 2 K in the absence of magnetic fields. The reduction in transition temperature was attributed to increase electrical disorder with iron doping. Both samples showed positive magnetoresistivity (MR) in superconducting state due to increase of resistivity resulting from breaking of superconducting Cooper pairs upon application of magnetic field. In addition, both the samples show feeble negative MR in normal electrical state. The observed MR in normal state is not due to spin polarized tunneling instead it is due to suppression of scattering of charge carrier by single occupied localized states.

Charge imbalance induced by a temperature gradient in superconducting aluminum

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mamin, H.J.; Clarke, J.; Van Harlingen, D.J.

1984-01-01

The quasiparticle transport current induced in a superconducting aluminum film by a temperature gradient has been measured by means of the spatially decaying charge imbalance generated near the end of the sample where the current is divergent. The magnitude and decay length of the charge imbalance are in good agreement with the predictions of a simple model that takes into account the nonuniformity of the temperature gradient. The inferred value of the thermopower in the superconducting state agrees reasonably well with the value measured in the normal state. Measurements of the decay length of charge imbalance induced by current injection yield a value of the inelastic relaxation time tau/sub E/ of about 2 ns. This value is substantially smaller than that obtained from other measurements for reasons that are not known

Superconductivity from magnetic elements under high pressure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shimizu, Katsuya; Amaya, Kiichi; Suzuki, Naoshi; Onuki, Yoshichika

2006-01-01

Can we expect the appearance of superconductivity from magnetic elements? In general, superconductivity occurs in nonmagnetic metal at low temperature and magnetic impurities destroy superconductivity; magnetism and superconductivity are as incompatible as oil and water. Here, we present our experimental example of superconducting elements, iron and oxygen. They are magnetic at ambient pressure, however, they become nonmagnetic under high pressure, then superconductor at low temperature. What is the driving force of the superconductivity? Our understanding in the early stages was a simple scenario that the superconductive state was obtained as a consequence of an emergence of the nonmagnetic states. In both cases, we may consider another scenario for the appearance of superconductivity; the magnetic fluctuation mechanism in the same way as unconventional superconductors

Plasma-assisted MOCVD growth of superconducting NbN thin films using Nb dialkylamide and Nb alkylimide precursors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Liu Xiang; Ott, A.W.; Chang, R.P.H.; Babcok, J.R.; Belot, J.A.; Metz, M.V.; Marks, T.J.; Lane, M.A.; Kannewurf, C.R.

2001-01-01

The first example of the use of metal-organic precursors for depositing NbN superconducting thin films is described. The study, which employed niobium(IV) and niobium(V) pulsed source precursors and hydrazine plasma as the nitrogen source, indicates that T c is highly dependent on the lattice parameters and level of oxygen impurities, which are in turn governed by growth and post-deposition annealing temperatures. (orig.)

Superconductivity in Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}.yH{sub 2}O thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hildebrandt, Sandra; Komissinkiy, Philipp; Alff, Lambert [Institute for Materials Science, TU Darmstadt (Germany); Fritsch, Ingo; Habermeier, Hanns-Ulrich [Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Lemmens, Peter [Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, TU Braunschweig (Germany)

2010-07-01

Sodium cobaltate (Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}) is a novel material with thermoelectric behavior, charge and spin ordered states dependent on the sodium content in the composition. A superconducting phase was found in water intercalated sodium cobaltate (Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}.yH{sub 2}O) with x=0.65-0.7 and y=0.9-1.3. The pairing state is still under debate, but there are some indications for a spin-triplet or p-wave superconducting pairing state. First films of Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2}.yH{sub 2}O with a superconducting transition temperature near 5 K have been successfully grown. Here we report on thin films of Na{sub 1-x}CoO{sub 2} grown by pulsed laser deposition technique. The deposition parameters, sodium deintercalation and water intercalation conditions are tuned in order to obtain the superconducting phase. The instability of this phase might be an indication for triplet superconductivity, which is known to be affected strongly by impurities and defects.This observation is in agreement with the fact that so far also no superconducting thin films of the most famous triplet superconductor Sr{sub 2}RuO{sub 4} have been reported.

High-temperature superconductivity in solid solutions based on mixed yttrium and barium cuprate

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bazuev, G.V.; Kirsanov, N.A.; Makarova, O.V.; Zubkov, V.G.; Shveikin, G.P.

1990-01-01

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (T c = 30-40 K) in mixed lanthanum and alkaline earth cuprates La 2-x M x CuO 4 , where M = Ba and Ca (1-3) stimulated an extensive search for new superconducting phases based on mixed oxides of these elements. The superconducting transition temperature T c in LnBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-z phases is practically independent of the REE and lies between 90-96 K. The crystal structure of superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-z is similar to perovskite, has orthorhombic symmetry (4,5), and is related to the lanthanum barium cuprite tetragonal defect structure La 3 Ba 3 Cu 6 O 14.1 (8). A study of possible solid solutions (SS) based on YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-z through iso- or heterovalent substitution for Y 3+ and Ba 2+ and of their electrical properties seems warranted. In the present work, the authors report the synthesis, x-ray diffraction study, and specific electric resistivity of SS Y 1-x M x (Ba 1-y M y ') 2 Cu 3 O 7-z , where M = La, Lu, Sc, In, K, Zr, and Ce and M' = Ca, Sr, Mg, K, and La

High temperature polymer film dielectrics for aerospace power conditioning capacitor applications

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Venkat, Narayanan, E-mail: venkats3@gmail.co [University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), Dayton, OH 45469 (United States); Dang, Thuy D. [Air Force Research Laboratory-Nanostructured and Biological Materials Branch (AFRL/RXBN) (United States); Bai Zongwu; McNier, Victor K. [University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), Dayton, OH 45469 (United States); DeCerbo, Jennifer N. [Air Force Research Laboratory-Electrical Technology Branch (AFRL/RZPE), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433 (United States); Tsao, B.-H. [University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), Dayton, OH 45469 (United States); Stricker, Jeffery T. [Air Force Research Laboratory-Electrical Technology Branch (AFRL/RZPE), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433 (United States)

2010-04-15

Polymer dielectrics are the preferred materials of choice for capacitive energy-storage applications because of their potential for high dielectric breakdown strengths, low dissipation factors and good dielectric stability over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures, despite having inherently lower dielectric constants relative to ceramic dielectrics. They are also amenable to large area processing into films at a relatively lower cost. Air Force currently has a strong need for the development of compact capacitors which are thermally robust for operation in a variety of aerospace power conditioning applications. While such applications typically use polycarbonate (PC) dielectric films in wound capacitors for operation from -55 deg. C to 125 deg. C, future power electronic systems would require the use of polymer dielectrics that can reliably operate up to elevated temperatures in the range of 250-350 deg. C. The focus of this research is the generation and dielectric evaluation of metallized, thin free-standing films derived from high temperature polymer structures such as fluorinated polybenzoxazoles, post-functionalized fluorinated polyimides and fluorenyl polyesters incorporating diamond-like hydrocarbon units. The discussion is centered mainly on variable temperature dielectric measurements of film capacitance and dissipation factor and the effects of thermal cycling, up to a maximum temperature of 350 deg. C, on film dielectric performance. Initial studies clearly point to the dielectric stability of these films for high temperature power conditioning applications, as indicated by their relatively low temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) (approx2%) over the entire range of temperatures. Some of the films were also found to exhibit good dielectric breakdown strengths (up to 470 V/mum) and a film dissipation factor of the order of <0.003 (0.3%) at the frequency of interest (10 kHz) for the intended applications. The measured relative dielectric

Ferromagnetic Film on a Superconducting Substrate

OpenAIRE

Bulaevskii, L. N.; Chudnovsky, E. M.

2000-01-01

We study the equilibrium domain structure and magnetic flux around a ferromagnetic (FM) film with perpendicular magnetization M_0 on a superconducting (SC) substrate. At 4{\\pi}M_0> 1. Here \\lambda_L is the London penetration length. For 4{\\pi}M_0 > H_{c1} and l_{N} in excess of about 35 {\\lambda}_{L}, the domains are connected by SC vortices. We argue that pinning of vortices by magnetic domains in FM/SC multilayers can provide high critical currents.

Local imaging of magnetic flux in superconducting thin films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Shapoval, Tetyana

2010-01-26

Local studies of magnetic flux line (vortex) distribution in superconducting thin films and their pinning by natural and artificial defects have been performed using low-temperature magnetic force microscopy (LT-MFM). Taken a 100 nm thin NbN film as an example, the depinning of vortices from natural defects under the influence of the force that the MFM tip exerts on the individual vortex was visualized and the local pinning force was estimated. The good agreement of these results with global transport measurements demonstrates that MFM is a powerful and reliable method to probe the local variation of the pinning landscape. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the presence of an ordered array of 1-{mu}m-sized ferromagnetic permalloy dots being in a magneticvortex state underneath the Nb film significantly influences the natural pinning landscape of the superconductor leading to commensurate pinning effects. This strong pinning exceeds the repulsive interaction between the superconducting vortices and allows vortex clusters to be located at each dot. Additionally, for industrially applicable YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} thin films the main question discussed was the possibility of a direct correlation between vortices and artificial defects as well as vortex imaging on rough as-prepared thin films. Since the surface roughness (droplets, precipitates) causes a severe problem to the scanning MFM tip, a nanoscale wedge polishing technique that allows to overcome this problem was developed. Mounting the sample under a defined small angle results in a smooth surface and a monotonic thickness reduction of the film along the length of the sample. It provides a continuous insight from the film surface down to the substrate with surface sensitive scanning techniques. (orig.)

Superconducting properties of Pb82Bi18 films controlled by ferromagnetic nanowire arrays

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ye Zuxin; Lyuksyutov, Igor F; Wu Wenhao; Naugle, Donald G

2011-01-01

The superconducting properties of Pb 82 Bi 18 alloy films deposited on ferromagnetic nanowire arrays have been investigated. Ferromagnetic Co or Ni nanowires are first electroplated into the columnar pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. Superconducting Pb 82 Bi 18 films are then quench condensed onto the polished surface of the AAO membranes filled with magnetic nanowires. A strong dependence of the Pb 82 Bi 18 superconducting properties on the ratio of the superconducting film thickness to the magnetic nanowire diameter and material variety was observed.

Superconducting properties of Pb82Bi18 films controlled by ferromagnetic nanowire arrays

Science.gov (United States)

Ye, Zuxin; Lyuksyutov, Igor F.; Wu, Wenhao; Naugle, Donald G.

2011-02-01

The superconducting properties of Pb82Bi18 alloy films deposited on ferromagnetic nanowire arrays have been investigated. Ferromagnetic Co or Ni nanowires are first electroplated into the columnar pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. Superconducting Pb82Bi18 films are then quench condensed onto the polished surface of the AAO membranes filled with magnetic nanowires. A strong dependence of the Pb82Bi18 superconducting properties on the ratio of the superconducting film thickness to the magnetic nanowire diameter and material variety was observed.

Advanced high temperature superconductor film-based process using RABiTS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Goyal, A.; Hawsey, R.A.; Hack, J.; Moon, D.

2000-01-01

The purpose of this Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (Contractor), Managing contractor for Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Midwest Superconductivity, Inc. (MSI) and Westinghouse Science and Electric Company (WEC) was to develop the basis for a commercial process for the manufacturing of superconducting tape based on the RABiTS technology developed at ORNL. The chosen method for deposition of YBCO films on RABiTS was Metal Organic chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD)

The DARPA manufacturing initiative in high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Adams, K.R.

1989-01-01

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has a very aggressive Technology Base program in high temperature superconductivity. This program is expected to provide the basis for a specialized set of military products - passive microwave and millimeter wave devices - within the next three years. In order to get these high leverage products into military systems, a manufacturing base must be developed for HTSC components. A plan for DARPA in HTSC manufacturing is directly coupled with the ongoing DARPA materials and device oriented R and D program. In essence, this plan recommends a three phased effort: 1. Phase I (two years); Fund companies through R and D contracts for specialized HTSC components; prepare a detailed plan and develop an HTSC consortium. 2. Phase II (six years): Establish an HTSC Sematech initiative for electronic applications, including active devices. 3. Phase III (optional): Continue the HTSC Sematech with emphasis on high power applications

High-Q Tl2CaBa2Cu2O8 high-Tc superconducting quasi-optical millimeter-wave bandpass filters working at 77 K

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, D.; Fetterman, H.R.

1994-01-01

Tl 2 CaBa 2 Cu 2 O 8 high-temperature superconducting thin films with T c 's of over 100 K on LaAlO 3 substrates were used to fabricate quasi-optical millimeter-wave bandpass filters. Q-factors of over 400 were achieved, at liquid nitrogen temperatures from these filters at W-band frequencies (75--110 GHz)

Electronic Instability at High Flux-Flow Velocities in High-Tc Superconducting Films

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Doettinger, S. G.; Huebener, R. P.; Gerdemann, R.

1994-01-01

At high flux-flow velocities in type-II superconductors the nonequilibrium distribution of the quasiparticles leads to an electronic instability and an aburpt switching into a state with higher electric resistivity, as predicted by Larkin and Ovchinnikow (LO). We report the first obervation...... of this effect in a high-temperature superconductor, namely in epitaxial c-axis oriented films of YBa(2)Cu3O(7)-(delta). Using the LO therory, we have extracted from out results the inelastic quasiparticle scattering rare tau(in)(-1), which strongly decreases with decreasing temperature below T-c...

High-temperature superconducting passive microwave devices, filters and antennas

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ohshima, S.

2000-01-01

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) passive microwave devices, such as filters and antennas, are promising devices. In particular, HTS filters may be successfully marketed in the near future. Cross-coupled filters, ring filters, and coplanar waveguide filters are good options to reduce filter size. On the other hand, HTS patch antennas which can be cooled by a cryo-cooler are also promising devices as well, since they show higher efficiency than normal antennas. This paper examines the design process and filter properties of HTS filters as well as the gains, directivity, and cooling system of HTS patch antennas. (author)

Development of materials for high temperature superconductor Josephson junctions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Houlton, R.J.; Reagor, D.W.; Hawley, M.E.; Springer, K.N.; Jia, Q.X.; Mombourquette, C.B.; Garzon, F.H.; Wu, X.D.

1994-01-01

We have conducted a systematic optimization of deposition parameters for fabrication of multilayered oxide films to be used in the development of high temperature superconducting SNS Functions. These films were deposited by off-axis sputtering using a custom fabricated multi-gun planar magnetron system. Each material and the various combinations of materials were optimized for epitaxial lattice match, crystal quality, film uniformity, electrical properties, and surface microstructure. In addition to the standard procedures commonly used to sputter deposit epitaxial oxide films, a variety of insitu and exsitu procedures were used to produce high quality multilayer devices, including varying the nucleation temperature from the actual film growth temperature, location of the substrate during the deposition process, constant rotation of the substrate, and timing of the oxygen anneal. The unprocessed films and devices in process were characterized with Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy as well as other common materials characterization techniques. Completed multilayer devices were patterned and packaged for electrical characterization. Relation between material properties and electrical characteristics is discussed

Development of materials for high temperature superconductor Josephson junctions

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Houlton, R.J.; Reagor, D.W.; Hawley, M.E.; Springer, K.N.; Jia, Q.X.; Mombourquette, C.B.; Garzon, F.H.; Wu, X.D.

1994-10-01

We have conducted a systematic optimization of deposition parameters for fabrication of multilayered oxide films to be used in the development of high temperature superconducting SNS Functions. These films were deposited by off-axis sputtering using a custom fabricated multi-gun planar magnetron system. Each material and the various combinations of materials were optimized for epitaxial lattice match, crystal quality, film uniformity, electrical properties, and surface microstructure. In addition to the standard procedures commonly used to sputter deposit epitaxial oxide films, a variety of insitu and exsitu procedures were used to produce high quality multilayer devices, including varying the nucleation temperature from the actual film growth temperature, location of the substrate during the deposition process, constant rotation of the substrate, and timing of the oxygen anneal. The unprocessed films and devices in process were characterized with Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy as well as other common materials characterization techniques. Completed multilayer devices were patterned and packaged for electrical characterization. Relation between material properties and electrical characteristics is discussed

Bulk and thick films of the superconducting phase YBa2Cu3O7/sub -//sub y/ made by controlled precipitation and sol-gel processes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Barboux, P.; Tarascon, J.M.; Greene, L.H.; Hull, G.W.; Bagley, B.G.

1988-01-01

The synthesis of high-temperature superconducting oxides using solution chemistry has been investigated and physical properties are compared to ceramics obtained by conventional solid-state reactions. We report on controlled precipitation and sol-gel processes, both of which produce materials with particle sizes smaller than 5 μm. We find that the superconducting properties of the high T/sub c/ ceramics are affected by their manner of preparation, such that the transitions are slightly lower in temperature, but sharper, for samples made by solution rather than solid-state chemistry. The ability to prepare stable viscous gels provides an opportunity for obtaining large areas of superconducting coatings. For thick films on alumina or silicon substrates, contamination from the substrate is shown to be a problem. Finally, we observe that the sol-gel process lowers the synthesis temperature by 100 0 C.ing,

Superconducting properties of In-Ge mixture films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gerber, A.; Deutscher, G.

1987-01-01

We report on measurements of the perpendicular H/sub c//sub perpendicular/ and parallel H/sub c//sub X/ upper critical fields of superconducting In-Ge mixture films in a wide range of In concentrations. The resistivities of the samples varied from about 10 μΩX, corresponding to high In concentration, up to about 1300 μΩ cm, corresponding to an In concentration close to the percolation threshold of the system. The critical temperatures of the samples in a zero external field have also been studied. For high metal concentrations the results have been analyzed and found to fit the predictions of the dirty limit for type-II superconductors. Near the threshold, however, where the normal-state resistivity goes to infinity, the critical fields saturate to a finite value. This result is in accordance with the prediction of percolation theory in the anomalous diffusion regime. As the threshold is approached the anisotropy ratio decreases to a constant value of 1.2 from its homogeneous type-II limit 1.69

Processing of high-temperature superconductors at high strain rates

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mamalis, A.G.; Pantazsopoulos, G.; Manolakos, D.E.; Szalay, A.

2000-01-01

This new book provides, for the first time, a systematic, unified presentation of all steps in the processing of high-temperature superconductor materials, ranging from synthesis of various systems to fabrication and industrial applications. Also covered are characterization techniques and current directions in research and development. The authors are leading specialists who bring to this new book their many years of experience in research, education and industrial engineering work in superconductor materials. This book is primarily focused on the bulk-fabrication techniques of high-temperature ceramic superconducting components, especially on the combination of dynamic powder-consolidation and subsequent deformation processing. The properties of these ceramics, which are difficult-to-form materials by applying conventional techniques, are combined for the net-shape manufacturing of such components for the construction of HTS deviceshor e llipsis. However, very important topics such as superconducting structures, chemical synthesis, film fabrication and characterization techniques are also reviewedhor e llipsis to provide a complete, comprehensive view of superconductors engineering

Electronic structure and superconductivity of FeSe-related superconductors.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Xu; Zhao, Lin; He, Shaolong; He, Junfeng; Liu, Defa; Mou, Daixiang; Shen, Bing; Hu, Yong; Huang, Jianwei; Zhou, X J

2015-05-13

FeSe superconductors and their related systems have attracted much attention in the study of iron-based superconductors owing to their simple crystal structure and peculiar electronic and physical properties. The bulk FeSe superconductor has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of ~8 K and it can be dramatically enhanced to 37 K at high pressure. On the other hand, its cousin system, FeTe, possesses a unique antiferromagnetic ground state but is non-superconducting. Substitution of Se with Te in the FeSe superconductor results in an enhancement of Tc up to 14.5 K and superconductivity can persist over a large composition range in the Fe(Se,Te) system. Intercalation of the FeSe superconductor leads to the discovery of the AxFe2-ySe2 (A = K, Cs and Tl) system that exhibits a Tc higher than 30 K and a unique electronic structure of the superconducting phase. A recent report of possible high temperature superconductivity in single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films with a Tc above 65 K has generated much excitement in the community. This pioneering work opens a door for interface superconductivity to explore for high Tc superconductors. The distinct electronic structure and superconducting gap, layer-dependent behavior and insulator-superconductor transition of the FeSe/SrTiO3 films provide critical information in understanding the superconductivity mechanism of iron-based superconductors. In this paper, we present a brief review of the investigation of the electronic structure and superconductivity of the FeSe superconductor and related systems, with a particular focus on the FeSe films.

Superconductivity of a Sn film controlled by an array of Co nanowires

Science.gov (United States)

Wei, Z.; Ye, Z.; Rathnayaka, K. D. D.; Lyuksyutov, I. F.; Wu, W.; Naugle, D. G.

2012-09-01

Superconducting properties of a hybrid structure composed of ferromagnetic Co nanowire arrays and a superconducting Sn film have been investigated. Ordered Co nanowires arrays with 60 nm, 150 nm and 200 nm diameter were electroplated into the pores of self organized Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) membranes. Hysteretic dependence of the Sn film superconducting properties on applied magnetic field and critical current enhancement at moderate fields has been observed. This behavior strongly depends on the ratio of the Sn film thickness to the Co nanowire diameter.

Superconductivity of a Sn film controlled by an array of Co nanowires

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wei, Z.; Ye, Z.; Rathnayaka, K.D.D.; Lyuksyutov, I.F.; Wu, W.; Naugle, D.G.

2012-01-01

Superconducting properties of a hybrid structure composed of ferromagnetic Co nanowire arrays and a superconducting Sn film have been investigated. Ordered Co nanowires arrays with 60 nm, 150 nm and 200 nm diameter were electroplated into the pores of self organized Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) membranes. Hysteretic dependence of the Sn film superconducting properties on applied magnetic field and critical current enhancement at moderate fields has been observed. This behavior strongly depends on the ratio of the Sn film thickness to the Co nanowire diameter.

Quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity in wurtzite-structured InN films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ling, D.C.; Cheng, J.H.; Lo, Y.Y.; Du, C.H.; Chiu, A.P.; Chang, P.H.; Chang, C.A.

2007-01-01

C-axis oriented InN films with wurtzite structure were grown on sapphire(0001) substrate by MOCVD method. Superconductivity with transition onset temperature T c,onset around 3.5 K has been characterized by magnetotransport measurements in fields up to 9 Tesla for films with carrier concentration in the range of 1 x 10 19 cm -3 to 7 x 10 20 cm -3 . Among them, the film with a nitridation buffer layer has the highest zero-resistance temperature T c0 of 2 K. The normal-state magnetoresistance follows Kohler's rule ΔR/R∝(H/R) 2 , indicating that there is a single species of charge carrier with single scattering time at all points on the Fermi surface. The extrapolated value of zero-temperature upper critical field H c2 ab (0) and H c2 c (0) is estimated to be 5900 G and 2800 G, respectively, giving rise to the anisotropy parameter γ about 2.1. The angular dependence of the upper critical field is in good agreement with the behavior predicted by Lawrence-Doniach model in the two-dimensional (2D) limit strongly suggesting that the InN film is a quasi-2D superconductor. (copyright 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

Surface characterization of superconductive Nd1Ba2Cu3Oy thin films using scanning probe microscopes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ting, W.; Badaye, M.; Itti, R.; Morishita, T.; Koshizuka, N.; Tanaka, S.

1996-01-01

Recently, superconductive Nd 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O y (Nd123) thin films with high superconducting transition temperature (T c ) have been successfully fabricated at the authors institute employing the standard laser ablation method. In this paper, they report parts of the results of surface characterization of the Nd123 thin films using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope/spectroscopy (UHV-STM/STS) and an atomic force microscope (AFM) system operated in air. Clear spiral pattern is observed on the surfaces of Nd123 thin films by STM and AFM, suggesting that films are formed by two-dimensional island growth mode at the final growing stage. Contour plots of the spirals show that the step heights of the spirals are not always the integer or half integer numbers of the c-axis parameter of the structure. This implies that the surface natural termination layer of the films may not be unique. Surface atomic images of the as-prepared Nd123 thin films are obtained employing both STM and AFM. STS measurements show that most of the surfaces are semiconductive, or sometimes even metallic. The results of STS measurements together with the fact that they are able to see the surface atomic images using scanning probe microscopes suggest that exposure to air does not cause serious degradation to the as-prepared surfaces of Nd123 thin films

Thick-Film and LTCC Passive Components for High-Temperature Electronics

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Dziedzic

2013-04-01

Full Text Available At this very moment an increasing interest in the field of high-temperature electronics is observed. This is a result of development in the area of wide-band semiconductors’ engineering but this also generates needs for passives with appropriate characteristics. This paper presents fabrication as well as electrical and stability properties of passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors made in thick-film or Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC technologies fulfilling demands of high-temperature electronics. Passives with standard dimensions usually are prepared by screen-printing whereas combination of standard screen-printing with photolithography or laser shaping are recommenced for fabrication of micropassives. Attainment of proper characteristics versus temperature as well as satisfactory long-term high-temperature stability of micropassives is more difficult than for structures with typical dimensions for thick-film and LTCC technologies because of increase of interfacial processes’ importance. However it is shown that proper selection of thick-film inks together with proper deposition method permit to prepare thick-film micropassives (microresistors, air-cored microinductors and interdigital microcapacitors suitable for the temperature range between 150°C and 400°C.

The impact of high temperature superconductivity on the electric power sector

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wolsky, A.M.

1996-01-01

The progress and prospects for the application of high temperature superconductivity to the Electric Power Sector has been the topic of an IEA Implementing Agreement, begun in 1990. The present Task Members are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. As a result of the Implementing Agreement, work has been done by the Operating Agent with the full participation of all the member countries. This work has facilitated the exchange of information among experts in all countries and has documented relevant assessments. Further, this work has examined the status of high amperage conductor, fault-current limiters, superconducting magnetic energy storage, cables, rotating machines, refrigeration, and studies of the power system. The Task Members find more progress toward applications than many expected five years ago and the grounds for further international collaboration to hasten the use of superconductors in the power sector, early in the 21st century

A vibrating wire parallel to a high temperature superconducting slab. Vol. 2

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Saif, A G; El-sabagh, M A [Department of Mathematic and Theoretical physics, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo (Egypt)

1996-03-01

The power losses problem for an idealized high temperature type II superconducting system of a simple geometry is studied. This system is composed of a vibrating normal conducting wire (two wires) carrying a direct current parallel to an uniaxial anisotropic type II superconducting slab (moving slab). First, the electromagnetic equation governing the dynamics of this system, and its solutions are obtained. Secondly, a modified anisotropic london equation is developed to study these systems in the case of the slab moving. Thirdly, it is found that, the power losses is dependent on the frequency, london penetration depth, permeability, conductivity, velocity, and the distance between the normal conductors and the surfaces of the superconducting slab. Moreover, the power losses decreases as the distance between the normal conductors and the surface of the superconducting slab decreases; and increases as the frequency, the london penetration depth, permeability, conductivity, and velocity are increased. These losses along the versor of the anisotropy axis is increased as {lambda}{sub |}| increases. Moreover, it is greater than the power losses along the crystal symmetry direction. In the isotropic case as well as the slab thickness tends to infinity, agreement with previous results are obtained. 2 figs.

Gutzwiller-RVB theory of high temperature superconductivity. Results from renormalized mean field theory and variational Monte Carlo calculations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Edegger, B.

2007-01-01

We consider the theory of high temperature superconductivity from the viewpoint of a strongly correlated electron system. In particular, we discuss Gutzwiller projected wave functions, which incorporate strong correlations by prohibiting double occupancy in orbitals with strong on-site repulsion. After a general overview on high temperature superconductivity, we discuss Anderson's resonating valence bond (RVB) picture and its implementation by renormalized mean field theory (RMFT) and variational Monte Carlo (VMC) techniques. In the following, we present a detailed review on RMFT and VMC results with emphasis on our recent contributions. Especially, we are interested in spectral features of Gutzwiller-Bogolyubov quasiparticles obtained by extending VMC and RMFT techniques to excited states. We explicitly illustrate this method to determine the quasiparticle weight and provide a comparison with angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We conclude by summarizing recent successes and by discussing open questions, which must be solved for a thorough understanding of high temperature superconductivity by Gutzwiller projected wave functions. (orig.)

Gutzwiller-RVB theory of high temperature superconductivity. Results from renormalized mean field theory and variational Monte Carlo calculations

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Edegger, B.

2007-08-10

We consider the theory of high temperature superconductivity from the viewpoint of a strongly correlated electron system. In particular, we discuss Gutzwiller projected wave functions, which incorporate strong correlations by prohibiting double occupancy in orbitals with strong on-site repulsion. After a general overview on high temperature superconductivity, we discuss Anderson's resonating valence bond (RVB) picture and its implementation by renormalized mean field theory (RMFT) and variational Monte Carlo (VMC) techniques. In the following, we present a detailed review on RMFT and VMC results with emphasis on our recent contributions. Especially, we are interested in spectral features of Gutzwiller-Bogolyubov quasiparticles obtained by extending VMC and RMFT techniques to excited states. We explicitly illustrate this method to determine the quasiparticle weight and provide a comparison with angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We conclude by summarizing recent successes and by discussing open questions, which must be solved for a thorough understanding of high temperature superconductivity by Gutzwiller projected wave functions. (orig.)

Thin film metrology and microwave loss characterization of indium and aluminum/indium superconducting planar resonators

Science.gov (United States)

McRae, C. R. H.; Béjanin, J. H.; Earnest, C. T.; McConkey, T. G.; Rinehart, J. R.; Deimert, C.; Thomas, J. P.; Wasilewski, Z. R.; Mariantoni, M.

2018-05-01

Scalable architectures characterized by quantum bits (qubits) with low error rates are essential to the development of a practical quantum computer. In the superconducting quantum computing implementation, understanding and minimizing material losses are crucial to the improvement of qubit performance. A new material that has recently received particular attention is indium, a low-temperature superconductor that can be used to bond pairs of chips containing standard aluminum-based qubit circuitry. In this work, we characterize microwave loss in indium and aluminum/indium thin films on silicon substrates by measuring superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators and estimating the main loss parameters at powers down to the sub-photon regime and at temperatures between 10 and 450 mK. We compare films deposited by thermal evaporation, sputtering, and molecular beam epitaxy. We study the effects of heating in a vacuum and ambient atmospheric pressure as well as the effects of pre-deposition wafer cleaning using hydrofluoric acid. The microwave measurements are supported by thin film metrology including secondary-ion mass spectrometry. For thermally evaporated and sputtered films, we find that two-level state are the dominant loss mechanism at low photon number and temperature, with a loss tangent due to native indium oxide of ˜ 5 × 10 - 5 . The molecular beam epitaxial films show evidence of the formation of a substantial indium-silicon eutectic layer, which leads to a drastic degradation in resonator performance.

Amorphous intergranular films in silicon nitride ceramics quenched from high temperatures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cinibulk, M.K.; Kleebe, H.; Schneider, G.A.; Ruehle, M.

1993-01-01

High-temperature microstructure of an MgO-hot-pressed Si 3 N 4 and a Yb 2 O 3 + Al 2 O 3 -sintered/annealed Si 3 N 4 were obtained by quenching thin specimens from temperatures between 1,350 and 1,550 C. Quenching materials from 1,350 C produced no observable exchanges in the secondary phases at triple-grain junctions or along grain boundaries. Although quenching from temperatures of ∼1,450 C also showed no significant changes in the general microstructure or morphology of the Si 3 N 4 grains, the amorphous intergranular film thickness increased substantially from an initial ∼1 nm in the slowly cooled material to 1.5--9 nm in the quenched materials. The variability of film thickness in a given material suggests a nonequilibrium state. Specimens quenched from 1,550 C revealed once again thin (1-nm) intergranular films at all high-angle grain boundaries, indicating an equilibrium condition. The changes observed in intergranular-film thickness by high-resolution electron microscopy can be related to the eutectic temperature of the system and to diffusional and viscous processes occurring in the amorphous intergranular film during the high-temperature anneal prior to quenching

Superconducting properties of magnetron sputtered high T/sub c/ thin films containing oxide compounds of yttrium, bismuth, or thallium

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kang, J.H.; Kampwirth, R.T.; Gray, K.E.

1989-01-01

The authors have used multiple source magnetron sputtering to prepare thin films of Y-Ba-Cu-O, Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O, and Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O on (100) SrTiO/sub 3/, (100) MgO, and ZrO/sub 2/-9%Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ substrates. Y-Ba-Cu-O films grow best on SrTiO/sub 3/ with mostly an a-axis orientation. Stoichiometry, particularly the Ba/Ca ratio must be within 2% of the correct value to obtain narrow ΔT/sub c/ transitions. Conversely the 80K phase of Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O films grows best on MgO substrates and has a predominant c-axis orientation. The requirements on composition are less stringent, however, the annealing temperature must be held within a narrow around 865 0 C to obtain the best films. The best films of Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O compounds are grown on (100) oriented and polycrystalline ZrO/sub 2/ substrates. The highest transition temperature, T/sub c0/, where the resistance goes zero is about 114K in the Tl/sub 2/Ba/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ phase and 100-105K in Tl/sub 2/Ba/sub 2/Ca/sub 1/Cu/sub 2/O/sub x/ and Tl/sub 1/Ba/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ phase samples. The upper critical field measurements show high anisotropies in the critical field slopes (≥70 for Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O compounds and ∼15 for Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O compounds), as might be expected from highly oriented materials. The authors compare the preparation conditions and superconducting properties, including T/sub c/, ΔT/sub c/, dB/sub c2//dT (parallel and perpendicular to film surface), of all three compounds

1998 Annual Study Report. Research and development of power storage by high-temperature superconducting flywheels. Research and development of high-temperature superconducting materials; 1998 nendo seika hokokusho. Koon chodendo flywheel denryoku chozo kenkyu kaihatsu (koon chodendozai no kenkyu kaihatsu)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1999-05-01

This R and D program is aimed at optimization of superconductors for improved levitation force of the superconducting magnetic bearings which support a 10 MWh power storage system by high-temperature superconducting flywheel (FW), to clarify possibility of sizing up the FW body and R and D themes for the commercialization. The processes are screened to simultaneously solve the conflicting targets of sizing up the sample of the Y-based bulk superconducting material and improved crystal orientation of the whole bearing, leading to selection of multi-seeding. The sample made on a trial basis improves levitation force by approximately 30%. It is considered that the OCMG-processed rare-earth-based superconducting material can generate very strong electromagnetic force, when combined with a permanent magnet. The Ag-doped Sm-based bulk material shows a reduced creep-caused loss of loading force, and a lower loss of Jc resulting from increased temperature than the Y-based one, decreasing AC loss and controlling temperature rise. The running characteristics and mechanical strength of the FW, and causes for temporal changes are investigated, in order to evaluate the superconducting material characteristics. (NEDO)

Imaging of current distributions in superconducting thin film structures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Doenitz, D.

2006-01-01

Local analysis plays an important role in many fields of scientific research. However, imaging methods are not very common in the investigation of superconductors. For more than 20 years, Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (LTSEM) has been successfully used at the University of Tuebingen for studying of condensed matter phenomena, especially of superconductivity. In this thesis LTSEM was used for imaging current distributions in different superconducting thin film structures: - Imaging of current distributions in Josephson junctions with ferromagnetic interlayer, also known as SIFS junctions, showed inhomogeneous current transport over the junctions which directly led to an improvement in the fabrication process. An investigation of improved samples showed a very homogeneous current distribution without any trace of magnetic domains. Either such domains were not present or too small for imaging with the LTSEM. - An investigation of Nb/YBCO zigzag Josephson junctions yielded important information on signal formation in the LTSEM both for Josephson junctions in the short and in the long limit. Using a reference junction our signal formation model could be verified, thus confirming earlier results on short zigzag junctions. These results, which could be reproduced in this work, support the theory of d-wave symmetry in the superconducting order parameter of YBCO. Furthermore, investigations of the quasiparticle tunneling in the zigzag junctions showed the existence of Andreev bound states, which is another indication of the d-wave symmetry in YBCO. - The LTSEM study of Hot Electron Bolometers (HEB) allowed the first successful imaging of a stable 'Hot Spot', a self-heating region in HEB structures. Moreover, the electron beam was used to induce an - otherwise unstable - hot spot. Both investigations yielded information on the homogeneity of the samples. - An entirely new method of imaging the current distribution in superconducting interference devices

Design and Test of a Thermal Triggered Persistent Current System using High Temperature Superconducting Tapes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Park, Dong Keun [Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Shinchon-Dong 134, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Kang, Hyoungku [Electro-Mechanical Research Institute, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Yongin (Korea, Republic of); Ahn, Min Cheol [Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Shinchon-Dong 134, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Yang, Seong Eun [Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Shinchon-Dong 134, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Yoon, Yong Soo [Department of Electrical Engineering, Ansan College of Technology, 671 Choji-Dong, Danwon-Gu, Ansan, 425-792 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Sang Jin [Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Shinchon-Dong 134, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of); Ko, Tae Kuk [Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Shinchon-Dong 134, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-749 (Korea, Republic of)

2006-06-01

A superconducting magnet which is operated in persistent current mode in SMES, NMR, MRI and MAGLEV has many advantages such as high uniformity of magnetic field and reduced thermal loss. A high temperature superconducting (HTS) persistent current switch (PCS) system was designed and tested in this research. The HTS PCS was optimally designed using two different HTS tapes, second generation coated conductor (CC) HTS tape and Bi-2223 HTS tape by the finite element method (FEM) in thermal quench characteristic view. The CC tape is more prospective applicable wire in these days for its high n value and critical current independency from external magnetic field than Bi-2223 tape. Also a prototype PCS system using Bi-2223 tape was manufactured and tested. The PCS system consists of a PCS part, a heater which induces the PCS to quench, and a superconducting magnet. The test was performed in various conditions of transport current. An initial current decay appeared when the superconducting magnet was energized in a PCS system was analyzed. This paper would be foundation of HTS PCS researches.

Fabrication of thick superconducting films by decantation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Julián Betancourt M.

1991-07-01

Full Text Available We have found superconducting behavior in thick films fabricated by decantation. In this paper we present the experimental method and results obtained using commercial copper substrates.

Second international Israeli conference on High Tc Superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1993-01-01

The superconductivity fields covered in this conference are: theory, applications, devices, flux properties high frequencies, Josephson junctions, magnetism, material sciences and physical properties of superconductors, spectroscopy and resonances and thin films

Permanent magnet design for high-speed superconducting bearings

Science.gov (United States)

Hull, John R.; Uherka, Kenneth L.; Abdoud, Robert G.

1996-01-01

A high temperature superconducting bearing including a permanent magnet rotor levitated by a high temperature superconducting structure. The rotor preferably includes one or more concentric permanent magnet rings coupled to permanent magnet ring structures having substantially triangular and quadrangular cross-sections. Both alternating and single direction polarity magnet structures can be used in the bearing.

Growth of YBCO superconducting thin films on CaF sub 2 buffered silicon

CERN Document Server

Bhagwat, S S; Patil, J M; Shirodkar, V S

2000-01-01

CaF sub 2 films were grown on silicon using the neutral cluster beam deposition technique. These films were highly crystalline and c-axis oriented. Superconducting YBCO thin films were grown on the Ca F sub 2 buffered silicon using the laser ablation technique. These films showed T sub c (onset) at 90 K and Tc(zero) at 86 K. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the YBCO films were also oriented along the c-axis.

Discussion of superconducting and room-temperature high-intensity ion linacs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jameson, R.A.

1996-01-01

The point of view taken in this discussion is that the basic technology base exists in all essential respects for both superconducting or room-temperature rf linac accelerators and associated power and control systems, and thus a project can make a choice between these technologies on overall system considerations. These include performance, cost, availability, flexibility, and upgradability. Large high-intensity neutron source proposals involving light-ion rf linacs in three categories are reviewed in this context. The categories arc cw linacs to high (∼1 GeV) and low (∼40 MeV) output energy, and pulsed linacs to energy ∼1 GeV

Progress in DOE high temperature superconductivity electric power applications program

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Daley, J.G.; Sheahn, T.P.

1992-01-01

The Department of Energy (DOE) leads national R and D effort to develop US industry's capability to produce a wide range of advanced energy-efficient electric power products. The immediate need is to make high temperature superconductivity (HTS) wire. Wire developers at the DOE National laboratories are working wit industrial partners toward this objective. In this paper, the authors describe the progress to date, citing both the difficulties associated with making wire from these ceramic materials, and achievements at several organizations. Results for progress over the next five years are stated

The I{sub c}(H)-T{sub c}(H) phase boundary of superconducting Nb thin films with periodic and quasiperiodic antidot arrays

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bothner, D.; Kemmler, M.; Cozma, R.; Kleiner, R.; Koelle, D. [Physikalisches Institut and Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena, Universitaet Tuebingen (Germany); Misko, V.; Peeters, F. [Departement Fysica, Universiteit Antwerpen (Belgium); Nori, F. [Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN (Japan)

2011-07-01

The magnetic field dependent critical current I{sub c}(H) of superconducting thin films with artificial defects strongly depends on the symmetry of the defect arrangement. Likewise the critical temperature T{sub c}(H) of superconducting wire networks is heavily influenced by the symmetry of the system. Here we present experimental data on the I{sub c}(H)-T{sub c}(H) phase boundary of Nb thin films with artificial defect lattices of different symmetries. For this purpose we fabricated 60 nm thick Nb films with antidots in periodic (triangular) and five different quasiperiodic arrangements. The parameters of the antidot arrays were varied to investigate the influence of antidot diameter and array density. Experiments were performed with high temperature stability ({delta}T<1 mK) at 0.5{<=}T/T{sub c}{<=}1. From the I-V-characteristics at variable H and T we extract I{sub c}(H) and T{sub c}(H) for different voltage and resistance criteria. The experimental data for the critical current density are compared with results from numerical molecular dynamics simulations.

A Cryogenic Magnetostrictive Actuator Using a Persistent High Temperature Superconducting Magnet. Part 1; Concept and Design

Science.gov (United States)

Horner, Garnett; Bromberg, Leslie; Teter, J. P.

2000-01-01

Cryogenic magnetostrictive materials, such as rare earth zinc crystals, offer high strains and high forces with minimally applied magnetic fields, making the material ideally suited for deformable optics applications. For cryogenic temperature applications the use of superconducting magnets offer the possibility of a persistent mode of operation, i.e., the magnetostrictive material will maintain a strain field without power. High temperature superconductors (HTS) are attractive options if the temperature of operation is higher than 10 degrees Kelvin (K) and below 77 K. However, HTS wires have constraints that limit the minimum radius of winding, and even if good wires can be produced, the technology for joining superconducting wires does not exist. In this paper, the design and capabilities of a rare earth zinc magnetostrictive actuator using bulk HTS is described. Bulk superconductors can be fabricated in the sizes required with excellent superconducting properties. Equivalent permanent magnets, made with this inexpensive material, are persistent, do not require a persistent switch as in HTS wires, and can be made very small. These devices are charged using a technique which is similar to the one used for charging permanent magnets, e.g., by driving them into saturation. A small normal conducting coil can be used for charging or discharging. Because of the magnetic field capability of the superconductor material, a very small amount of superconducting magnet material is needed to actuate the rare earth zinc. In this paper, several designs of actuators using YBCO and BSCCO 2212 superconducting materials are presented. Designs that include magnetic shielding to prevent interaction between adjacent actuators will also be described. Preliminary experimental results and comparison with theory for BSCCO 2212 with a magnetostrictive element will be discussed.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA Lewis Research Center space qualified hybrid high temperature superconducting/semiconducting 7.4 GHz low-noise downconverter for NRL HTSSE-II program

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Javadi, H.H.S.; Bowen, J.G.; Rascoe, D.L.; Chorey, C.M.

1996-01-01

A deep space satellite downconverter receiver was proposed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) for the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) high temperature superconductivity space experiment, phase-II (HTSSE-II) program. Space qualified low-noise cryogenic downconverter receivers utilizing thin-film high temperature superconducting (HTS) passive circuitry and semiconductor active devices were developed and delivered to NRL. The downconverter consists of an HTS preselect filter, a cryogenic low-noise amplifier, a cryogenic mixer, and a cryogenic oscillator with an HTS resonator. HTS components were inserted as the front-end filter and the local oscillator resonator for their superior 77 K performance over the conventional components. The semiconducting low noise amplifier also benefited from cooling to 77 K. The mixer was designed specifically for cryogenic applications and provided low conversion loss and low power consumption. In addition to an engineering model, two space qualified units (qualification, flight) were built and delivered to NRL. Manufacturing, integration and test of the space qualified downconverters adhered to the requirements of JPL class-D space instruments and partially to MIL-STD-883D specifications. The qualification unit has ∼50 K system noise temperature which is a factor of three better than a conventional downconverter at room temperature

Design and construction of a high temperature superconducting power cable cryostat for use in railway system applications

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tomita, M; Muralidhar, M; Suzuki, K; Fukumoto, Y; Ishihara, A; Akasaka, T; Kobayashi, Y

2013-01-01

The primary objective of the current effort was to design and test a cryostat using a prototype five-meter long high temperature Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y (Bi-2223) superconducting dc power cable for railway systems. To satisfy the safety regulations of the Govt of Japan a mill sheet covered by super-insulation was used inside the walls of the cryostat. The thicknesses of various walls in the cryostat were obtained from a numerical analysis. A non-destructive inspection was utilized to find leaks under vacuum or pressure. The cryostat target temperature range was around 50 K, which is well below liquid nitrogen temperature, the operating temperature of the superconducting cable. The qualification testing was carried out from 77 down to 66 K. When using only the inner sheet wire, the maximum current at 77.3 K was 10 kA. The critical current (I c ) value increased with decreasing temperature and reached 11.79 kA at 73.7 K. This is the largest dc current reported in a Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y or YBa 2 Cu 3 O y (Y-123) superconducting prototype cable so far. These results verify that the developed DC superconducting cable is reliable and fulfils all the requirements necessary for successful use in various power applications including railway systems. The key issues for the design of a reliable cryogenic system for superconducting power cables for railway systems are discussed. (paper)

Preparation of the Crosslinked Polyethersulfone Films by High Temperature Electron-Beam Irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Li, J.

2006-01-01

The aromatic polymers, mainly so called engineering plastics, were famed for the good stability under irradiation. However, high temperature irradiation of the aromatic polymers can result the crosslinked structure, due to the improved molecular mobility. Polyethersulfone (PES) is a wide used engineering plastic because of the high performance and high thermal stability. PES films were irradiated by electron-beam under nitrogen atmosphere above the glass transition temperature and then the covalently crosslinked PES (RX-PES) films were obtained. The irradiations were also performed at ambient temperature for comparison. The network structure formation of the RX-PES films was confirmed by the appearance of the gel, which were measured by soaking the irradiated PES films in the N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature. When the PES films were irradiated to 300 kGy, there was gel appeared. The gel percent increased with the increasing in the absorbed dose, and saturated when the absorbed dose exceeded 1200 kGy. However, there was no gel formed for the PES films irradiated at ambient temperature even to 2250 kGy. The G(S) and G(X) were calculated according to the Y-crosslinking mechanism. The results values are consistent in error range. G(S) of 0.10 and G(X) of 0.23 were obtained. As calculated, almost all the macromolecular radicals produced by chain scission were used for crosslinking. Also, the glass transition temperature of the RX-PES films increased with the increasing in the absorbed doses, while the glass transition temperature of the PES films irradiated at ambient temperature decreased with the increasing in the absorbed doses. The blending films of the PES with FEP or ETFE were prepared and the high temperature irradiation effects were also studies

Exploring the performance of thin-film superconducting multilayers as kinetic inductance detectors for low-frequency detection

Science.gov (United States)

Zhao, Songyuan; Goldie, D. J.; Withington, S.; Thomas, C. N.

2018-01-01

We have solved numerically the diffusive Usadel equations that describe the spatially varying superconducting proximity effect in Ti-Al thin-film bi- and trilayers with thickness values that are suitable for kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) to operate as photon detectors with detection thresholds in the frequency range of 50-90 GHz. Using Nam’s extension of the Mattis-Bardeen calculation of the superconductor complex conductivity, we show how to calculate the surface impedance for the spatially varying case, and hence the surface impedance quality factor. In addition, we calculate energy-and spatially-averaged quasiparticle lifetimes at temperatures well-below the transition temperature and compare to calculation in Al. Our results for the pair-breaking threshold demonstrate differences between bilayers and trilayers with the same total film thicknesses. We also predict high quality factors and long multilayer-averaged quasiparticle recombination times compared to thin-film Al. Our calculations give a route for designing KIDs to operate in this scientifically-important frequency regime.

Permanent magnet design for high-speed superconducting bearings

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hull, J.R.; Uherka, K.L.; Abdoud, R.G.

1996-01-01

A high temperature superconducting bearing including a permanent magnet rotor levitated by a high temperature superconducting structure is disclosed. The rotor preferably includes one or more concentric permanent magnet rings coupled to permanent magnet ring structures having substantially triangular and quadrangular cross-sections. Both alternating and single direction polarity magnet structures can be used in the bearing. 9 figs

High-Density Superconducting Cables for Advanced ACTPol

Science.gov (United States)

Pappas, C. G.; Austermann, J.; Beall, J. A.; Duff, S. M.; Gallardo, P. A.; Grace, E.; Henderson, S. W.; Ho, S. P.; Koopman, B. J.; Li, D.; McMahon, J.; Nati, F.; Niemack, M. D.; Niraula, P.; Salatino, M.; Schillaci, A.; Schmitt, B. L.; Simon, S. M.; Staggs, S. T.; Stevens, J. R.; Vavagiakis, E. M.; Ward, J. T.; Wollack, E. J.

2016-07-01

Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) is an upcoming Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) receiver upgrade, scheduled to deploy in 2016, that will allow measurement of the cosmic microwave background polarization and temperature to the highest precision yet with ACT. The AdvACT increase in sensitivity is partly provided by an increase in the number of transition-edge sensors (TESes) per array by up to a factor of two over the current ACTPol receiver detector arrays. The high-density AdvACT TES arrays require 70 \\upmu m pitch superconducting flexible cables (flex) to connect the detector wafer to the first-stage readout electronics. Here, we present the flex fabrication process and test results. For the flex wiring layer, we use a 400-nm-thick sputtered aluminum film. In the center of the cable, the wiring is supported by a polyimide substrate, which smoothly transitions to a bare (uncoated with polyimide) silicon substrate at the ends of the cable for a robust wedge wire-bonding interface. Tests on the first batch of flex made for the first AdvACT array show that the flex will meet the requirements for AdvACT, with a superconducting critical current above 1 mA at 500 mK, resilience to mechanical and cryogenic stress, and a room temperature yield of 97 %.

Low temperature superconductor and aligned high temperature superconductor magnetic dipole system and method for producing high magnetic fields

Science.gov (United States)

Gupta, Ramesh; Scanlan, Ronald; Ghosh, Arup K.; Weggel, Robert J.; Palmer, Robert; Anerella, Michael D.; Schmalzle, Jesse

2017-10-17

A dipole-magnet system and method for producing high-magnetic-fields, including an open-region located in a radially-central-region to allow particle-beam transport and other uses, low-temperature-superconducting-coils comprised of low-temperature-superconducting-wire located in radially-outward-regions to generate high magnetic-fields, high-temperature-superconducting-coils comprised of high-temperature-superconducting-tape located in radially-inward-regions to generate even higher magnetic-fields and to reduce erroneous fields, support-structures to support the coils against large Lorentz-forces, a liquid-helium-system to cool the coils, and electrical-contacts to allow electric-current into and out of the coils. The high-temperature-superconducting-tape may be comprised of bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper-oxide or rare-earth-metal, barium-copper-oxide (ReBCO) where the rare-earth-metal may be yttrium, samarium, neodymium, or gadolinium. Advantageously, alignment of the large-dimension of the rectangular-cross-section or curved-cross-section of the high-temperature-superconducting-tape with the high-magnetic-field minimizes unwanted erroneous magnetic fields. Alignment may be accomplished by proper positioning, tilting the high-temperature-superconducting-coils, forming the high-temperature-superconducting-coils into a curved-cross-section, placing nonconducting wedge-shaped-material between windings, placing nonconducting curved-and-wedge-shaped-material between windings, or by a combination of these techniques.

Measurement of the magnetic penetration depth in p-doped superconducting diamond films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fuchs, Lorenz; Brunner, Markus C.P.; Schneider, Ina; Kronfeldner, Klaus [University of Regensburg (Germany); Bousquet, Jessica; Bustarret, Etienne; Strunk, Christoph [Institut Neel, Grenoble (France)

2016-07-01

Boron-doped diamond becomes superconducting once a critical doping concentration of 4.5 x 10{sup 20} cm{sup -3} is reached. Mutual inductance measurements with a two-coil setup have been performed to determine the magnetic penetration depth λ(T), which is a measure for the superfluid stiffnes θ ∝ 1/λ{sup 2}(T). Two superconducting p-doped diamond films with thicknesses of 145 nm and 345 nm were investigated. At low temperatures these values agree reasonably with the values expected within BCS-theory using T{sub c}, carrier density and mean free path determined from electric transport measurements. Magnetic penetration depths of 3.7 μm for the thinner and 2.6 μm for the thicker film have been found. λ decreases and accordingly θ increases with increasing film thickness. On the other hand, the superfluid stiffness drops by a factor of 2 or even more at T{sub c}/2, i.e., much faster than expected from BCS-theory, but remains finite between T{sub c}/2 < T < T{sub c}. At present it is unclear, whether this behavior results from the proliferation of phase fluctuations already far below T{sub c} or from a spatial inhomogeneity of the films.

Summaries of reports of the 30. Conference on low-temperature physics. Pt. 1. Fundamental questions of superconductivity including HTSC

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1994-01-01

Thesis of reporsts of the 30th Conference on low-temperature physics are presented. Fundamental problems of superconductivity are discussed including HTSC in bulk crystals, in thin films of Josephson junctions, ceramics and heterostructures. Specific features of superconductor structure and magnetic properties and also different mechanisms of superconductivity are analyzed

The origins of macroscopic quantum coherence in high temperature superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Turner, Philip; Nottale, Laurent

2015-01-01

Highlights: • We propose a new theoretical approach to superconductivity in p-type cuprates. • Electron pairing mechanisms in the superconducting and pseudogap phases are proposed. • A scale free network of dopants is key to macroscopic quantum coherence. - Abstract: A new, theoretical approach to macroscopic quantum coherence and superconductivity in the p-type (hole doped) cuprates is proposed. The theory includes mechanisms to account for e-pair coupling in the superconducting and pseudogap phases and their inter relations observed in these materials. Electron pair coupling in the superconducting phase is facilitated by local quantum potentials created by static dopants in a mechanism which explains experimentally observed optimal doping levels and the associated peak in critical temperature. By contrast, evidence suggests that electrons contributing to the pseudogap are predominantly coupled by fractal spin waves (fractons) induced by the fractal arrangement of dopants. On another level, the theory offers new insights into the emergence of a macroscopic quantum potential generated by a fractal distribution of dopants. This, in turn, leads to the emergence of coherent, macroscopic spin waves and a second associated macroscopic quantum potential, possibly supported by charge order. These quantum potentials play two key roles. The first involves the transition of an expected diffusive process (normally associated with Anderson localization) in fractal networks, into e-pair coherence. The second involves the facilitation of tunnelling between localized e-pairs. These combined effects lead to the merger of the super conducting and pseudo gap phases into a single coherent condensate at optimal doping. The underlying theory relating to the diffusion to quantum transition is supported by Coherent Random Lasing, which can be explained using an analogous approach. As a final step, an experimental program is outlined to validate the theory and suggests a new

Microwave impedance of epitaxial high-temperature superconductor films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Melkov, G.A.; Malyshev, V.Yu.; Bagada, A.V.

1995-01-01

In the 3 cm band dependences of the epitaxial HTS film surface resistance on the magnitude of ac and dc magnetic fields have been measured. YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-σ films on sapphire were investigated. It was established that alternating magnetic field produces a stronger impact on the surface resistance than dc field. To explain experimental results the assumption is made that a HTS film is not an ideal superconductor and consists of series-connected sections of various types: sections of an ideal superconductor, sections of low and large resistance intragranular Josephson junctions, shunted by the ideal superconductor, and finally, sections of intergranular Josephson junctions few for epitaxial films. In these conditions the dependences of the surface resistance on dc magnetic field are caused by Abrikosov's vortices moving in ideal superconductive sections, and dependences on the amplitude of ac magnetic field are caused by switching of large resistance junctions to a low resistance state

Theory of high-T{sub C} superconductivity: transition temperature

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Harshman, Dale R [Physikon Research Corporation, Lynden, WA 98264 (United States); Fiory, Anthony T [Department of Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102 (United States); Dow, John D, E-mail: drh@physikon.net [Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 (United States)

2011-07-27

It is demonstrated that the transition temperature (T{sub C}) of high-T{sub C} superconductors is determined by their layered crystal structure, bond lengths, valency properties of the ions, and Coulomb coupling between electronic bands in adjacent, spatially separated layers. Analysis of 31 high-T{sub C} materials (cuprates, ruthenates, ruthenocuprates, iron pnictides, organics) yields the universal relationship for optimal compounds, k{sub B}T{sub C0} ={beta}/{iota}{zeta}, where {iota} is related to the mean spacing between interacting charges in the layers, {zeta} is the distance between interacting electronic layers, {beta} is a universal constant and T{sub C0} is the optimal transition temperature (determined to within an uncertainty of {+-} 1.4 K by this relationship). Non-optimum compounds, in which sample degradation is evident, e.g. by broadened superconducting transitions and diminished Meissner fractions, typically exhibit reduced T{sub C} < T{sub C0}. It is shown that T{sub C0} may be obtained from an average of the Coulomb interaction forces between the two layers.

Tunneling probe of fluctuating superconductivity in disordered thin films

Science.gov (United States)

Dentelski, David; Frydman, Aviad; Shimshoni, Efrat; Dalla Torre, Emanuele G.

2018-03-01

Disordered thin films close to the superconductor-insulator phase transition (SIT) hold the key to understanding quantum phase transition in strongly correlated materials. The SIT is governed by superconducting quantum fluctuations, which can be revealed, for example, by tunneling measurements. These experiments detect a spectral gap, accompanied by suppressed coherence peaks, on both sides of the transition. Here we describe the insulating side in terms of a fluctuating superconducting field with finite-range correlations. We perform a controlled diagrammatic resummation and derive analytic expressions for the tunneling differential conductance. We find that short-range superconducting fluctuations suppress the coherence peaks even in the presence of long-range correlations. Our approach offers a quantitative description of existing measurements on disordered thin films and accounts for tunneling spectra with suppressed coherence peaks.

Study of the surface resistance of superconducting niobium films at 1.5 GHz

CERN Document Server

Benvenuti, Cristoforo; Campisi, I E; Darriulat, Pierre; Peck, M A; Russo, R; Valente, A M

1999-01-01

A systematic study of superconducting properties of niobium films sputtered on the inner wall of radiofrequency cavities is presented. The measured quantities include in particular the response to 1.5 GHz microwaves, the critical temperature, the penetration depth and the magnetic penetration field. In addition to films grown in different gas discharges (Xe, Kr, Ar and Ar/Ne mixtures) and to films grown on substrates prepared under different conditions, the study also includes bulk niobium cavities. The surface resistance is analysed in terms of its dependence on temperature, on RF field and, when relevant, on the density of trapped fluxons. A simple parameterisation is found to give a good fit to the data. Once allowance for the presence of impurities and defects is made by means of a single parameter, the electron mean free path, good agreement with BCS theory is observed. The fluxon-induced losses are studied in detail and their dependence on RF field, on temperature and on the density of trapped fluxons i...

Gauge Model of High-Tc Superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ng, Sze Kui

2012-01-01

A simple gauge model of superconductivity is presented. The seagull vertex term of this gauge model gives an attractive potential between electrons for the forming of Cooper pairs of superconductivity. This gauge model gives a unified description of superconductivity and magnetism including antiferromagnetism, pseudogap phenomenon, stripes phenomenon, paramagnetic Meissner effect, Type I and Type II supeconductivity and high-T c superconductivity. The doping mechanism of superconductivity is found. It is shown that the critical temperature T c is related to the ionization energies of elements and can be computed by a formula of T c . For the high-T c superconductors such as La 2-x Sr x CuO 4 , Y Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 , and MgB 2 , the computational results of T c agree with the experimental results.

Project in fiscal 1988 for research and development of basic technologies in next generation industries. Research and development of superconducting materials and superconducting elements (Achievement report on forecast and research of superconducting element technologies); 1988 nendo chodendo soshi gijutsu yosoku kenkyu seika hokokusho

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1989-03-01

With an objective to perform survey and forecast on the future of superconducting elements, collection of latest technological information and analyses of technological trends were carried out by members of the Technology Forecast and Research Committee. This paper summarizes the achievements therein. It was discovered that the Josephson element using an Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} barrier and an Nb electrode shows excellent characteristics with very good reproducibility. Trial fabrication of a four-bit micro processor was recently executed successfully by the SQUID gate using the above element. On the other hand, application of devices using high-temperature superconductors has not come out with an achievement. Although a large number of achievements have been released on mono-crystalline thin films that show good characteristics, development of substrates and barrier materials is still needed for device configuration. The method for manufacturing metal-based superconducting films has been established nearly completely as an elementary technology to develop the superconducting elements. However, making thinner the high-temperature superconducting films having been discovered recently is encountering a number of inherent problems, whereas the present stage is such that experimental discussions are being made. The process technologies, simulation, and evaluation technologies are basically the same as those for the metallic systems even for the oxide superconduction. (NEDO)

The design of high-Tc superconductors - Room-temperature superconductivity?

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tallon, J.L.; Storey, J.G.; Mallett, B.

2012-01-01

This year is the centennial of the discovery of superconductivity and the 25th anniversary of the discovery of high-T c superconductors (HTS). Though we still do not fully understand how HTS work, the basic rules of design can be determined from studying their systematics. We know what to do to increase T c and, more importantly, what to do to increase critical current density J c . This in turn lays down a challenge for the chemist. Can the ideal design be synthesized? More importantly, what are the limits? Can one make a room-temperature superconductor? In fact fluctuations place strict constraints on this objective and provide important guidelines for the design of the ideal superconductor.

Electron mean free path dependence of the critical currents and the pair-breaking limit in superconducting films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fedorov, N.; Rinderer, L.

1977-01-01

We have studied the current-induced breakdown of superconductivity in wide (100--980 μm) and thin (0.25--0.98 μm) films of tin. It is shown that the current at which the resistance of the sample begins to rise rapidly in the process of the destruction of superconductivity by a current can be fairly well associated with the theoretical value of the pair-breaking current in the Ginzburg-Landau phenomenological approach (I/sub c//sup G L/). This effect is observed over a rather wide temperature region (up to ΔTapprox.0.7 K), depending on the electron mean free path in the films. The values of the critical currents outside the above-mentioned region correlate qualitatively with those determined by inhomogeneities of the films as proposed by Larkin and Ovchinnikov

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors fabricated from an amorphous Mo0.75Ge0.25 thin film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Verma, V. B.; Lita, A. E.; Vissers, M. R.; Marsili, F.; Pappas, D. P.; Mirin, R. P.; Nam, S. W.

2014-01-01

We present the characteristics of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) fabricated from amorphous Mo 0.75 Ge 0.25 thin-films. Fabricated devices show a saturation of the internal detection efficiency at temperatures below 1 K, with system dark count rates below 500 cps. Operation in a closed-cycle cryocooler at 2.5 K is possible with system detection efficiencies exceeding 20% for SNSPDs which have not been optimized for high detection efficiency. Jitter is observed to vary between 69 ps at 250 mK and 187 ps at 2.5 K using room temperature amplifiers.

Processing of La/sub 1.8/Sr/sub 0.2/CuO4 and YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting thin films by dual-ion-beam sputtering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Madakson, P.; Cuomo, J.J.; Yee, D.S.; Roy, R.A.; Scilla, G.

1988-01-01

High quality La/sub 1.8/Sr/sub 0.2/CuO 4 and YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 superconducting thin films, with zero resistance at 88 K, have been made by dual-ion-beam sputtering of metal and oxide targets at elevated temperatures. The films are about 1.0 μm thick and are single phase after annealing. The substrates investigated are Nd-YAP, MgO, SrF 2 , Si, CaF 2 , ZrO 2 -9% Y 2 O 3 , BaF 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and SrTiO 3 . Characterization of the films was carried out using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, resistivity measurements, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Substrate/film interaction was observed in every case. This generally involves diffusion of the substrate into the film, which is accompanied by, for example, the replacement of Ba by Sr in the YBa 2 Cu 2 O 7 structure, in the case of SrTiO 3 substrate. The best substrates were those that did not significantly diffuse into the film and which did not react chemically with the film. In general, the superconducting transition temperature is found to depend on substrate temperature and ion beam energy, film composition, annealing conditions, and the nature and the magnitude of the substrate/film interaction

Tunability of resonance frequencies in a superconducting microwave resonator by using SrTiO sub 3 ferroelectric films

CERN Document Server

Sok, J; Lee, E H

1998-01-01

An applied dc voltage varies the dielectric constant of ferroelectric SrTiO sub 3 films. A tuning mechanism for superconducting microwave resonators was realized by using the variation in the dielectric constant of SrTiO sub 3 films. In order to estimate the values of the capacitance, C, and the loss tangent, tan delta, of SrTiO sub 3 ferroelectric capacitors, we used high-temperature superconducting microwave resonators which were composed of two ports, two poles, and dc bias circuits at the zero-field points. SrTiO sub 3 ferroelectric capacitors successfully controlled the resonant frequency of the resonator. Resonant frequencies of 3.98 GHz and 4.20 GHz were measured at bias voltages of 0 V and 50 V which correspond to capacitance values of 0.94 pF and 0.7pF, respectively. The values of the loss tangent, tan delta sub e sub f sub f , obtained in this measurements, were about 0.01.

Fluctuation conductivity of thin superconductive vanadium films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dmitrenko, I.M.; Sidorenko, A.S.; Fogel, N.Y.

1982-01-01

Resistive transitions into the superconductive state are studied in thin [d >T/sub c/ the experimental data on the excess conductivity of the films agree qualitatively and quantitively with Aslamazov--Larkin theory. There is no Maki--Thompson contribution to fluctuation conductivity. Near T/sub c/ the excess conductivity sigma' changes exponentially with temperature in accordance with the predictions of the theory of the critical fluctuations of the order parameter. The values of the effective charge carrier mass defined from data on sigma' for the low fluctuation and critical fluctuation regions differ markedly. This difference is within the spread of effective masses for various charge carrier groups already known for vanadium. Causes of the difference in resistive behavior for the regions T >T/sub c/ are considered

Fractional flux excitations and flux creep in a superconducting film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lyuksyutov, I.F.

1995-01-01

We consider the transport properties of a modulated superconducting film in a magnetic field parallel to the film. Modulation can be either intrinsic, due to the layered structure of the high-T c superconductors, or artificial, e.g. due to thickness modulation. This system has an infinite set ( >) of pinned phases. In the pinned phase the excitation of flux loops with a fractional number of flux quanta by the applied current j results in flux creep with a generated voltage V ∝ exp[-jo/j[. (orig.)

Ferromagnetic film on a superconducting substrate

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bulaevskii, L. N.; Chudnovsky, E. M.

2001-01-01

We study the equilibrium domain structure and magnetic flux around a ferromagnetic film with perpendicular magnetization M 0 on a superconducting (SC) substrate. At 4πM 0 c1 the SC is in the Meissner state and the equilibrium domain width in the film, l, scales as (l/4πλ L )=(l N /4πλ L ) 2/3 with the domain width on a normal (nonsuperconducting) substrate, l N /4πλ L >>1; λ L being the London penetration length

Unusual temperature evolution of superconductivity in LiFeAs

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nag, Pranab Kumar; Schlegel, Ronny; Baumann, Danny; Grafe, Hans-Joachim; Beck, Robert [Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, IFW Dresden (Germany); Wurmehl, Sabine [Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, IFW Dresden (Germany); Institute for Solid State Physics, TU Dresden (Germany); Buechner, Bernd [Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, IFW Dresden (Germany); Institute for Solid State Physics, TU Dresden (Germany); Center for Transport and Devices, TU Dresden (Germany); Hess, Christian [Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, IFW Dresden (Germany); Center for Transport and Devices, TU Dresden (Germany)

2016-07-01

We have performed temperature dependent scanning tunneling spectroscopy on an impurity-free surface area of a LiFeAs single crystal. Our data reveal a highly unusual temperature evolution of superconductivity: at T{sub c}{sup *}=18 K a partial superconducting gap opens, as is evidenced by subtle, yet clear features in the tunneling spectra, i.e. particle-hole symmetric coherence peaks and dip-hump structures. At T{sub c}=16 K, these features substantiate dramatically and become characteristic of full superconductivity. Remarkably, this is accompanied by an almost jump-like increase of the gap energy at T{sub c} to about 87% of its low-temperature gap value. The energy of the dip as measured by its distance to the coherence peak remains practically constant in the whole temperature regime T ≤ T{sub c}{sup *}. We compare these findings with established experimental and theoretical results.

Passivation of high temperature superconductors

Science.gov (United States)

Vasquez, Richard P. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

The surface of high temperature superconductors such as YBa2Cu3O(7-x) are passivated by reacting the native Y, Ba and Cu metal ions with an anion such as sulfate or oxalate to form a surface film that is impervious to water and has a solubility in water of no more than 10(exp -3) M. The passivating treatment is preferably conducted by immersing the surface in dilute aqueous acid solution since more soluble species dissolve into the solution. The treatment does not degrade the superconducting properties of the bulk material.

Characteristics of Ti films for transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ukibe, M.; Koyanagi, M.; Ohkubo, M.; Pressler, H.; Kobayashi, N.

1999-01-01

We are developing X-ray microcalorimeters using superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs), which can be operated at relatively high base temperatures of a 3 He cryostat. For this purpose, we have selected Ti films to be used as TESs. The Ti films were deposited on different substrates by RF-sputtering. It was found that the superconducting properties of the Ti films depended on Ar pressure, film thickness, and substrate surface roughness

Preparation of textured high Tc superconducting films by CVD using halides on technical substrates with appropriate buffer layers. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Selbmann, D.; Balarin, M.; Klosowski, J.

1993-01-01

On the basis of a thermodynamical calculation of the system Y-Ba-Cu-O-Hal-C-H, Hal = I, Br, Cl the deposition conditions of the 123-phase and the other phases in this system was investigated. For the practical applications a reaction temperature higher 850 C and an oxidizer excesse higher 5 . 10 3 is necessary in order to deposit halid- and carbon free layers. A new Aerosol-CVD-process has been developed, which allows the reproducible preparation of superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 thin films. The process uses a solution source of Y-, Ba-, Cu-bromide dissolved in suitable organic solvents. With the process the films consisting of the 123-phase, however the content of other phases is too high. With this composition it is not possible to deposit textured layers. This behaviour is due to flow technical problems. In order to avoid the formation of oxides in the evaporator it is necessary to mix the oxidizer directly near the substrate. Therefore the development of a new reactor and a process optimization is necessary. (orig.) [de

High quality uniform YBCO film growth by the metalorganic deposition using trifluoroacetates

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, S.S., E-mail: wangssh@tsinghua.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Micro-nano Measurement, Manipulation and Physics (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191 (China); Beijing Dingchen Superconducting Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100084 (China); Zhang, Z.L. [Key Laboratory of Micro-nano Measurement, Manipulation and Physics (Beihang University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191 (China); Wang, L. [Applied superconductivity research center, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China); Gao, L.K.; Liu, J. [Beijing Dingchen Superconducting Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100084 (China)

2017-03-15

Highlights: • High quality double-sided YBCO films are fabricated on LaAlO3 substrates by TFA-MOD method with diameters up to 2 in. • Large area YBCO films were very uniform in microstructure and thickness distribution, an average inductive Jc in excess of 6 MA/cm{sup 2} and low R{sub s} (10 GHz) of 0.3 mΩ at 77 K were obtained. • It will greatly promoted the research and applications of large-area YBCO films by chemical solution method. - Abstract: A need exists for the large-area superconducting YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} (YBCO) films with high critical current density for microwave communication and/or electric power applications. Trifluoroacetic metalorganic (TFA-MOD) method is a promising low cost technique for large-scale production of YBCO films, because it does not need high vacuum device and is easily applicable to substrates of various shape and size. In this paper, double-sided YBCO films with maximum 2 in diameter were prepared on LaAlO{sub 3} substrates by TFA-MOD method. Inductive critical current densitiy J{sub c}, microwave surface resistance R{sub s}, as well as the microstructure were characterized. A newly homemade furnace system was used to epitaxially grown YBCO films, which can improve the uniformity of YBCO film significantly by gas supply and temperature distribution proper design. Results showed that the large area YBCO films were very uniform in microstructure and thickness distribution, an average inductive J{sub c} in excess of 6 MA/cm{sup 2} with uniform distribution, and low R{sub s} (10 GHz) below 0.3 mΩ at 77 K were obtained. Andthe film filter may be prepared to work at temperatures lower than 74 K. These results are very close to the highest value of YBCO films made by conventional vacuum method, so we show a very promising route for large-scale production of high quality large-area YBCO superconducting films at a lower cost.

Laser activated superconducting switch

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wolf, A.A.

1976-01-01

A superconducting switch or bistable device is described consisting of a superconductor in a cryogen maintaining a temperature just below the transition temperature, having a window of the proper optical frequency band for passing a laser beam which may impinge on the superconductor when desired. The frequency of the laser is equal to or greater than the optical absorption frequency of the superconducting material and is consistent with the ratio of the gap energy of the switch material to Planck's constant, to cause depairing of electrons, and thereby normalize the superconductor. Some embodiments comprise first and second superconducting metals. Other embodiments feature the two superconducting metals separated by a thin film insulator through which the superconducting electrons tunnel during superconductivity

Comparison study of cable geometries and superconducting tape layouts for high-temperature superconductor cables

Science.gov (United States)

Ta, Wurui; Shao, Tianchong; Gao, Yuanwen

2018-04-01

High-temperature superconductor (HTS) rare-earth-barium-copper-oxide (REBCO) tapes are very promising for use in high-current cables. The cable geometry and the layout of the superconducting tapes are directly related to the performance of the HTS cable. In this paper, we use numerical methods to perform a comparison study of multiple-stage twisted stacked-tape cable (TSTC) conductors to find better cable structures that can both improve the critical current and minimize the alternating current (AC) losses of the cable. The sub-cable geometry is designed to have a stair-step shape. Three superconducting tape layouts are chosen and their transport performance and AC losses are evaluated. The magnetic field and current density profiles of the cables are obtained. The results show that arrangement of the superconducting tapes from the interior towards the exterior of the cable based on their critical current values in descending order can enhance the cable's transport capacity while significantly reducing the AC losses. These results imply that cable transport capacity improvements can be achieved by arranging the superconducting tapes in a manner consistent with the electromagnetic field distribution. Through comparison of the critical currents and AC losses of four types of HTS cables, we determine the best structural choice among these cables.

The effects of Fe2O3 nanoparticles on MgB2 superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Koparan, E.T.; Sidorenko, A.; Yanmaz, E.

2013-01-01

Full text: Since the discovery of superconductivity in binary MgB 2 compounds, extensive studies have been carried out because of its excellent properties for technological applications, such as high transition temperature (T c = 39 K), high upper critical field (H c2 ), high critical current density (J c ). Thin films are important for fundamental research as well as technological applications of any functional materials. Technological applications primarily depend on critical current density. The strong field dependence of J c for MgB 2 necessitates an enhancement in flux pinning performance in order to improve values in high magnetic fields. An effective way to improve the flux pinning is to introduce flux pinning centers into MgB 2 through a dopant having size comparable to the coherence length of MgB 2 . In this study, MgB 2 film with a thickness of about 600 nm was deposited on the MgO (100) single crystal substrate using a 'two-step' synthesis technique. Firstly, deposition of boron thin film was carried out by rf magnetron sputtering on MgO substrates and followed by a post deposition annealing at 850 degrees Celsius in magnesium vapour. In order to investigate the effect of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles on the structural and magnetic properties of films, MgB 2 films were coated with different concentrations of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles by a spin coating process. The effects of different concentrations of ferromagnetic Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles on superconducting properties of obtained films were carried out by using structural (XRD, SEM, AFM), electrical (R-T) and magnetization (M-H, M-T and AC Susceptibility) measurements. It was calculated that anisotropic coefficient was about γ = 1.2 and coherence length of 5 nm for the uncoated film. As a result of coherence length, the appropriate diameters of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were found to be 10 nm, indicating that these nanoparticles served as the pinning centers. Based on the data obtained from this study, it can be

Superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2007-01-01

During 2007, a large amount of the work was centred on the ITER project and related tasks. The activities based on low-temperature superconducting (LTS) materials included the manufacture and qualification of ITER full-size conductors under relevant operating conditions, the design of conductors and magnets for the JT-60SA tokamak and the manufacture of the conductors for the European dipole facility. A preliminary study was also performed to develop a new test facility at ENEA in order to test long-length ITER or DEMO full-size conductors. Several studies on different superconducting materials were also started to create a more complete database of superconductor properties, and also for use in magnet design. In this context, an extensive measurement campaign on transport and magnetic properties was carried out on commercially available NbTi strands. Work was started on characterising MgB 2 wire and bulk samples to optimise their performance. In addition, an intense experimental study was started to clarify the effect of mechanical loads on the transport properties of multi-filamentary Nb 3 Sn strands with twisted or untwisted superconducting filaments. The experimental activity on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) materials was mainly focussed on the development and characterisation of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-X (YBCO) based coated conductors. Several characteristics regarding YBCO deposition, current transport performance and tape manufacture were investigated. In the framework of chemical approaches for YBCO film growth, a new method, developed in collaboration with the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN), Romania, was studied to obtain YBCO film via chemical solution deposition, which modifies the well-assessed metallic organic deposition trifluoroacetate (MOD-TFA) approach. The results are promising in terms of critical current and film thickness values. YBCO properties in films with artificially added pinning sites were characterised in collaboration with

Electrochemical characterization of oxide film formed at high temperature on Alloy 690

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Abraham, Geogy J., E-mail: gja@barc.gov.in [Materials Science Division, BARC, Mumbai 400 085 (India); Bhambroo, Rajan [Deptt. of Metallurgical Engg. and Mat. Sci., IIT Bombay, Mumbai 400 076 (India); Kain, V. [Materials Science Division, BARC, Mumbai 400 085 (India); Shekhar, R. [CCCM, BARC, Hyderabad 500 062 (India); Dey, G.K. [Materials Science Division, BARC, Mumbai 400 085 (India); Raja, V.S. [Deptt. of Metallurgical Engg. and Mat. Sci., IIT Bombay, Mumbai 400 076 (India)

2012-02-15

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer GD-QMS studies of high temperature oxide film formed on Alloy 690. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Defect density reduced with increase in temperature. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Electrochemical behaviour of oxide film correlated to the Cr-content in oxide. - Abstract: High temperature passivation studies on Alloy 690 were carried out in lithiated water at 250 Degree-Sign C, 275 Degree-Sign C and 300 Degree-Sign C for 72 h. The passive films were characterized by glow discharge-quadrupole mass spectroscopy (GD-QMS) for compositional variation across the depth and micro laser Raman spectroscopy for oxide composition on the surface. The defect density in the oxide films was established from the Mott-Schottky analysis using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Electrochemical experiments at room temperature in chloride medium revealed best passivity behaviour by the oxide film formed at 300 Degree-Sign C for 72 h. The electrochemical studies were correlated to the chromium (and oxygen) content of the oxide films. Autoclaving at 300 Degree-Sign C resulted in the best passive film formation on Alloy 690 in lithiated water.

Magnetic and Superconducting Materials at High Pressures

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Struzhkin, Viktor V. [Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Washington, DC (United States)

2015-03-24

The work concentrates on few important tasks in enabling techniques for search of superconducting compressed hydrogen compounds and pure hydrogen, investigation of mechanisms of high-Tc superconductivity, and exploring new superconducting materials. Along that route we performed several challenging tasks, including discovery of new forms of polyhydrides of alkali metal Na at very high pressures. These experiments help us to establish the experimental environment that will provide important information on the high-pressure properties of hydrogen-rich compounds. Our recent progress in RIXS measurements opens a whole field of strongly correlated 3d materials. We have developed a systematic approach to measure major electronic parameters, like Hubbard energy U, and charge transfer energy Δ, as function of pressure. This technique will enable also RIXS studies of magnetic excitations in iridates and other 5d materials at the L edge, which attract a lot of interest recently. We have developed new magnetic sensing technique based on optically detected magnetic resonance from NV centers in diamond. The technique can be applied to study superconductivity in high-TC materials, to search for magnetic transitions in strongly correlated and itinerant magnetic materials under pressure. Summary of Project Activities; development of high-pressure experimentation platform for exploration of new potential superconductors, metal polyhydrides (including newly discovered alkali metal polyhydrides), and already known superconductors at the limit of static high-pressure techniques; investigation of special classes of superconducting compounds (high-Tc superconductors, new superconducting materials), that may provide new fundamental knowledge and may prove important for application as high-temperature/high-critical parameter superconductors; investigation of the pressure dependence of superconductivity and magnetic/phase transformations in 3d transition metal compounds, including

Growth and applications of superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pinto, R.

1991-01-01

This paper attempt to highlight the important PVD techniques such as evaporation, sputtering, ion beam deposition and excimer laser ablation for the preparation of superconducting YBaCuO thin films. Since enormous amount of work has been published over the last few years, this review is not comprehensive even in PVD techniques. In the area of applications for electronics, thin film appear to be much more promising than bulk high T c superconductors. Already high J c values in the region of 4 x 10 6 A cm -2 have been realized in thin films. Resonators and transmission lines have been fabricated using 123 films showing a transmission loss significantly lower than that of copper at 77 degrees K at X-band frequencies. This review will discuss some of the important electronic applications feasible with 123 films

Compositional analysis of YBaCuO superconducting films with ion beam analysis techniques

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jones, S.; Timmers, H.; Ophel, T.R.; Elliman, R.G.

1999-01-01

High-T c YBa x Cu y O 7-δ superconducting films are being developed for applications such as superconducting quantum interference devices. The carrier concentration, critical current density J c and critical temperature T c of these films depend sensitively on the oxygen content . Stoichiometry, uniformity with depth, homogeneity across the sample and film thickness are also important quantities for their characterisation. It has been shown, for example, that the stoichiometry of the metallic elements affects the growth characteristics and surface morphology of the films. With the deposit ion techniques used, reproducibility of film properties is difficult. The characterisation of YBa x Cu y O 7-δ films with ion beam analysis techniques is complex. Whereas the three metallic elements can be detected with helium beams and Rutherford Backscattering (RBS), the oxygen signal is generally obscured by that from substrate elements. It can be better detected using resonant backscattering with 3.04MeV 4 He ions or nuclear reaction analysis. Elastic Recoil Detection (ERD) with high-energetic (1MeV/amu), heavy beams (Z > 120), enables all elements to be detected and separated in a single experiment. It is well established that ion bombardment induces vacancies in the oxygen sub-lattice, driving the material to change from crystalline to amorphous, the latter phase having a reduced oxygen content. In previous heavy ion ERD measurements of YBa x Cu yO z films with 200MeV 127 I beams, the opaque films became transparent in the beam spot area, indicative of the amorphous phase. The accuracy of the oxygen measurement is therefore questionable. Indeed, using Raman spectroscopy, distortions of the crystalline structure above a fluence of 5 x 10 11 ion/cm 2 and for higher doses some signatures of a reduction in oxygen content have been observed for such beams. It appears therefore that a correct determination of the oxygen content requires either a drastic reduction in fluence or a

The creation of high-temperature superconducting cables of megawatt range in Russia

Science.gov (United States)

Sytnikov, V. E.; Bemert, S. E.; Krivetsky, I. V.; Romashov, M. A.; Popov, D. A.; Fedotov, E. V.; Komandenko, O. V.

2015-12-01

Urgent problems of the power industry in the 21st century require the creation of smart energy systems, providing a high effectiveness of generation, transmission, and consumption of electric power. Simultaneously, the requirements for controllability of power systems and ecological and resource-saving characteristics at all stages of production and distribution of electric power are increased. One of the decision methods of many problems of the power industry is the development of new high-efficiency electrical equipment for smart power systems based on superconducting technologies to ensure a qualitatively new level of functioning of the electric power industry. The intensive research and development of new types of electrical devices based on superconductors are being carried out in many industrialized advanced countries. Interest in such developments has especially increased in recent years owing to the discovery of so-called high-temperature superconductors (HTS) that do not require complicated and expensive cooling devices. Such devices can operate at cooling by inexpensive and easily accessible liquid nitrogen. Taking into account the obvious advantages of superconducting cable lines for the transmission of large power flows through an electrical network, as compared with conventional cables, the Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System (JSC FGC UES) initiated a research and development program including the creation of superconducting HTS AC and DC cable lines. Two cable lines for the transmitted power of 50 MVA/MW at 20 kV were manufactured and tested within the framework of the program.

The creation of high-temperature superconducting cables of megawatt range in Russia

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sytnikov, V. E., E-mail: vsytnikov@gmail.com; Bemert, S. E.; Krivetsky, I. V.; Romashov, M. A. [JSC NTTs FSC EES (Russian Federation); Popov, D. A.; Fedotov, E. V.; Komandenko, O. V. [JSC Irkutskkabel (Russian Federation)

2015-12-15

Urgent problems of the power industry in the 21st century require the creation of smart energy systems, providing a high effectiveness of generation, transmission, and consumption of electric power. Simultaneously, the requirements for controllability of power systems and ecological and resource-saving characteristics at all stages of production and distribution of electric power are increased. One of the decision methods of many problems of the power industry is the development of new high-efficiency electrical equipment for smart power systems based on superconducting technologies to ensure a qualitatively new level of functioning of the electric power industry. The intensive research and development of new types of electrical devices based on superconductors are being carried out in many industrialized advanced countries. Interest in such developments has especially increased in recent years owing to the discovery of so-called high-temperature superconductors (HTS) that do not require complicated and expensive cooling devices. Such devices can operate at cooling by inexpensive and easily accessible liquid nitrogen. Taking into account the obvious advantages of superconducting cable lines for the transmission of large power flows through an electrical network, as compared with conventional cables, the Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System (JSC FGC UES) initiated a research and development program including the creation of superconducting HTS AC and DC cable lines. Two cable lines for the transmitted power of 50 MVA/MW at 20 kV were manufactured and tested within the framework of the program.

High-Density Superconducting Cables for Advanced ACTPol

Science.gov (United States)

Pappas, C. G.; Austermann, J.; Beall, J. A.; Duff, S. M.; Gallardo, P. A.; Grace, E.; Henderson, S. W.; Ho, S. P.; Koopman, B. J.; Li, D.;

Angular dependence of the irreversible magnetization of YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Thrane, B.P.; Schlenker, C.; Dumas, J.; Buder, R.

1996-01-01

YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 superconducting thin films have been studied by magnetization measurements in oblique fields up to 0.8 T both at low temperature and at temperatures close to T c . Both components of magnetization parallel and perpendicular to the applied field could be measured with two pairs of crossed detection coils. In all cases the magnetization is found to be perpendicular to the film plane. This is due to the self-field effects related to the thin-film geometry which force the critical currents to circulate along the film plane. At low temperature the properties are found to depend only on the component of the applied magnetic field perpendicular to this plane, as expected in the situation where demagnetizing field effects are dominant. However, at temperatures close to T c the critical currents and therefore the pinning are found to increase when the applied field approaches the film plane. This is attributed to the effect of intrinsic pinning which may be related to the kink structure of the vortices in oblique fields. copyright 1996 The American Physical Society

High temperature superconducting Josephson transmission lines for pulse and step sharpening

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Martens, J.S.; Wendt, J.R.; Hietala, V.M.; Ginley, D.S.; Ashby, C.I.H.; Plut, T.A.; Vawter, G.A.; Tigges, C.P.; Siegal, M.P.; Hou, S.Y.; Phillips, J.M.; Hohenwarter, G.K.G.

1992-01-01

An increasing number of high speed digital and other circuit applications require very narrow impulses or rapid pulse edge transitions. Shock wave transmission lines using series or shunt Josephson junctions are one way to generate these signals. Using two different high temperature superconducting Josephson junction processes (step-edge and electron beam defined nanobridges), such transmission lines have been constructed and tested at 77 K. Shock wave lines with approximately 60 YBaCuO nanobridges, have generated steps with fall times of about 10 ps. With step-edge junctions (with higher figures of merit but lower uniformity), step transition times have been reduced to an estimated 1 ps

Ferromagnetic film on a superconducting substrate

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bulaevskii, L. N.; Chudnovsky, E. M.

2001-01-01

We study the equilibrium domain structure and magnetic flux around a ferromagnetic film with perpendicular magnetization M{sub 0} on a superconducting (SC) substrate. At 4{pi}M{sub 0}film, l, scales as (l/4{pi}{lambda}{sub L})=(l{sub N}/4{pi}{lambda}{sub L}){sup 2/3} with the domain width on a normal (nonsuperconducting) substrate, l{sub N}/4{pi}{lambda}{sub L}>>1; {lambda}{sub L} being the London penetration length.

Electrochemistry of high-tc superconductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Petrij, O.A.; Tsirlina, G.A.

1993-01-01

The review deals with the problems of formation of a new section in modern electrochemistry related to various electrochemical aspects of high-temperature superconductivity. Specific properties of multicomponent oxides as electrode materials are pointed out. The data of experimental works on the study of degradation of superconducting ceramics, electroanalysis of complex oxide systems, electric deposition of metals and polymer films upon them are described. Special attention is paid to electrochemical approaches to electrosynthesis of films, possessing high-temperature superconductivity

Superconducting critical temperature under pressure

Science.gov (United States)

González-Pedreros, G. I.; Baquero, R.

2018-05-01

The present record on the critical temperature of a superconductor is held by sulfur hydride (approx. 200 K) under very high pressure (approx. 56 GPa.). As a consequence, the dependence of the superconducting critical temperature on pressure became a subject of great interest and a high number of papers on of different aspects of this subject have been published in the scientific literature since. In this paper, we calculate the superconducting critical temperature as a function of pressure, Tc(P), by a simple method. Our method is based on the functional derivative of the critical temperature with the Eliashberg function, δTc(P)/δα2F(ω). We obtain the needed coulomb electron-electron repulsion parameter, μ*(P) at each pressure in a consistent way by fitting it to the corresponding Tc using the linearized Migdal-Eliashberg equation. This method requires as input the knowledge of Tc at the starting pressure only. It applies to superconductors for which the Migdal-Eliashberg equations hold. We study Al and β - Sn two weak-coupling low-Tc superconductors and Nb, the strong coupling element with the highest critical temperature. For Al, our results for Tc(P) show an excellent agreement with the calculations of Profeta et al. which are known to agree well with experiment. For β - Sn and Nb, we found a good agreement with the experimental measurements reported in several works. This method has also been applied successfully to PdH elsewhere. Our method is simple, computationally light and gives very accurate results.

Preparation and Analysis of Platinum Thin Films for High Temperature Sensor Applications

Science.gov (United States)

Wrbanek, John D.; Laster, Kimala L. H.

2005-01-01

A study has been made of platinum thin films for application as high temperature resistive sensors. To support NASA Glenn Research Center s high temperature thin film sensor effort, a magnetron sputtering system was installed recently in the GRC Microsystems Fabrication Clean Room Facility. Several samples of platinum films were prepared using various system parameters to establish run conditions. These films were characterized with the intended application of being used as resistive sensing elements, either for temperature or strain measurement. The resistances of several patterned sensors were monitored to document the effect of changes in parameters of deposition and annealing. The parameters were optimized for uniformity and intrinsic strain. The evaporation of platinum via oxidation during annealing over 900 C was documented, and a model for the process developed. The film adhesion was explored on films annealed to 1000 C with various bondcoats on fused quartz and alumina. From this compiled data, a list of optimal parameters and characteristics determined for patterned platinum thin films is given.

Degradation of ZrN films at high temperature under controlled atmosphere

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lu, F.-H.; Lo, W.-Z.

2004-01-01

The degradation of ZrN films deposited onto Si substrates by unbalanced magnetron sputtering was investigated over temperatures of 300-1200 deg. C in different atmospheres by analyzing changes in color and appearance, as well as microstructures. The atmospheres contained air, nitrogen, and forming gas (N 2 /H 2 =9), which exhibited drastically different oxygen/nitrogen partial pressure ratios. The resultant degradation included mainly color changes and formation of blisters on the film surface. Color change was associated with the oxidation of the nitride film, which was analyzed by looking into the Gibbs free-energy changes at various temperatures and oxygen partial pressures. Two types of blisters occurred at different temperature ranges. Several large round blisters, denoted as A-type blisters, occurring at low temperatures originated from the large residual stress in the films. Many small irregular blisters, denoted as B-type blisters, appearing at relatively high temperatures resulted from the oxidation of the film

High-temperature superconducting phase of HBr under pressure predicted by first-principles calculations

Science.gov (United States)

Gu, Qinyan; Lu, Pengchao; Xia, Kang; Sun, Jian; Xing, Dingyu

2017-08-01

The high pressure phases of HBr are explored with an ab initio crystal structure search. By taking into account the contribution of zero-point energy (ZPE), we find that the P 4 /n m m phase of HBr is thermodynamically stable in the pressure range from 150 to 200 GPa. The superconducting critical temperature (Tc) of P 4 /n m m HBr is evaluated to be around 73 K at 170 GPa, which is the highest record so far among binary halogen hydrides. Its Tc can be further raised to around 95K under 170 GPa if half of the bromine atoms in the P 4 /n m m HBr are substituted by the lighter chlorine atoms. Our study shows that, in addition to lower mass, higher coordination number, shorter bonds, and more highly symmetric environment for the hydrogen atoms are important factors to enhance the superconductivity in hydrides.

Characteristics of Ti films for transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters

CERN Document Server

Ukibe, M; Ohkubo, M; Pressler, H; Kobayashi, N

1999-01-01

We are developing X-ray microcalorimeters using superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs), which can be operated at relatively high base temperatures of a sup 3 He cryostat. For this purpose, we have selected Ti films to be used as TESs. The Ti films were deposited on different substrates by RF-sputtering. It was found that the superconducting properties of the Ti films depended on Ar pressure, film thickness, and substrate surface roughness.

Two-dimensional superconducting state of monolayer Pb films grown on GaAs(110) in a strong parallel magnetic field.

Science.gov (United States)

Sekihara, Takayuki; Masutomi, Ryuichi; Okamoto, Tohru

2013-08-02

Two-dimensional (2D) superconductivity was studied by magnetotransport measurements on single-atomic-layer Pb films on a cleaved GaAs(110) surface. The superconducting transition temperature shows only a weak dependence on the parallel magnetic field up to 14T, which is higher than the Pauli paramagnetic limit. Furthermore, the perpendicular-magnetic-field dependence of the sheet resistance is almost independent of the presence of the parallel field component. These results are explained in terms of an inhomogeneous superconducting state predicted for 2D metals with a large Rashba spin splitting.

Conductive polymer/high-TC superconductor sandwich structures: An example of a molecular switch for controlling superconductivity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McDevitt, J.T.; Haupt, S.G.; Lo, R.K.

1994-01-01

The preparation of a hybrid conducting polymer/high-temperature superconductor device consisting of a polypyrrole coated YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x microbridge is reported. Electrochemical techniques are exploited to alter the oxidation state of the polymer and, in doing so, it is found for the first time that superconductivity can be modulated in a controllable and reproducible fashion by a polymer layer. Whereas the neutral (insulating) polypyrrole only slightly influences the electrical properties of the underlying YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7- film, the oxidized (conductive) polymer depresses T c by up to 50K. In a similar fashion, the oxidation state of the polymer is found to modulate reversibly the magnitude of J c , the superconducting critical current. Thus, a new type of molecular switch for controlling superconductivity is demonstrated. Electrochemical, resistance vs. temperature, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements are utilized to explore the polymer/superconductor interactions

Possible universal cause of high-Tc superconductivity in different metals

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Amusia, M.Ya.; Shaginyan, V.R.

2002-01-01

Using the theory of the high temperature superconductivity based on the idea of the fermion condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT) it is shown that neither the d-wave pairing symmetry, nor the pseudogap phenomenon, nor the presence of the Cu-O 2 planes are of decisive importance for the existence of the high-T c superconductivity. The analysis of recent experimental data on this type of superconductivity in different materials is carried out. It is shown that these facts can be understood within the theory of superconductivity based on the FCQPT. The main features of a room-temperature superconductor are discussed [ru

Soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of heavily boron-doped superconducting diamond films

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

T. Yokoya, T. Nakamura, T. Matushita, T. Muro, H. Okazaki, M. Arita, K. Shimada, H. Namatame, M. Taniguchi, Y. Takano, M. Nagao, T. Takenouchi, H. Kawarada and T. Oguchi

2006-01-01

Full Text Available We have performed soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SXARPES of microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition diamond films with different B concentrations in order to study the origin of the metallic behavior of superconducting diamond. SXARPES results clearly show valence band dispersions with a bandwidth of ~23 eV and with a top of the valence band at gamma point in the Brillouin zone, which are consistent with the calculated valence band dispersions of pure diamond. Boron concentration-dependent band dispersions near the Fermi level (EF exhibit a systematic shift of EF, indicating depopulation of electrons due to hole doping. These SXARPES results indicate that diamond bands retain for heavy boron doping and holes in the diamond band are responsible for the metallic states leading to superconductivity at low temperature. A high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy spectrum near EF of a heavily boron-doped diamond superconductor is also presented.

Spin-on Bi4Sr3Ca3Cu4O16μ/sub x/ superconducting thin films from citrate precursors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Furcone, S.L.; Chiang, Y.

1988-01-01

Thin films in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system have been synthesized from homogeneous liquid citrate precursors by a spin-coating and pyrolysis method. Films prepared on SrTiO 3 substrates of [100] orientation show strongly textured orientations with the c axis of the predominant Bi 4 Sr 3 Ca 3 Cu 4 O 16 μ/sub x/ phase normal to the film plane. In a single coating and firing, crack-free films of 0.2--0.5 μm thickness are obtained. For films fired to peak temperatures of 850--875 0 C, linearly decreasing resistance with temperature is observed, with rho (300 K)∼460 μΩ cm and rho (300 K)rho (100 K)∼2.4. Clear onsets of superconductivity are observed at 90--100 K, with occasional films showing smaller resistant drops at 110--120 K. For all films, T/sub c/ (R = 0) occurs in the range 70--75 K. High critical current densities at 4.2 K of 5--8 x 10 5 Acm 2 are measured by direct transport

Vortex pinning vs superconducting wire network: origin of periodic oscillations induced by applied magnetic fields in superconducting films with arrays of nanomagnets

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gomez, A; Del Valle, J; Gonzalez, E M; Vicent, J L; Chiliotte, C E; Carreira, S J; Bekeris, V; Prieto, J L; Schuller, Ivan K

2014-01-01

Hybrid magnetic arrays embedded in superconducting films are ideal systems to study the competition between different physical (such as the coherence length) and structural length scales such as are available in artificially produced structures. This interplay leads to oscillation in many magnetically dependent superconducting properties such as the critical currents, resistivity and magnetization. These effects are generally analyzed using two distinct models based on vortex pinning or wire network. In this work, we show that for magnetic dot arrays, as opposed to antidot (i.e. holes) arrays, vortex pinning is the main mechanism for field induced oscillations in resistance R(H), critical current I c (H), magnetization M(H) and ac-susceptibility χ ac (H) in a broad temperature range. Due to the coherence length divergence at T c , a crossover to wire network behaviour is experimentally found. While pinning occurs in a wide temperature range up to T c , wire network behaviour is only present in a very narrow temperature window close to T c . In this temperature interval, contributions from both mechanisms are operational but can be experimentally distinguished. (papers)

Anisotrophic currents and flux jumps in high-Tc superconducting films with self-organized arrays of planar defects

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yurchenko, V.V.; Qviller, A.J.; Mozhaev, P.B.; Mozhaeva, J.E.; Hansen, J.B.; Jacobsen, C.S.; Kotelyanskii, I.M.; Pan, A.V.; Johansen, T.H.

2010-01-01

Regular arrays of planar defects with a period of a few nanometers can be introduced in superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (YBCO) thin films by depositing them on vicinal (also called miscut or tilted) substrates. This results in the anisotropy of critical currents flowing in the plane of the film. We present results of real-time magneto-optical imaging (MOI) of magnetic flux distribution and dynamics in a series of YBCO thin films deposited on NdGaO 3 substrates with different miscut angles θ. MOI allows reconstructing the current flow profiles. From the angle formed between domains with different directions of the current flow we determine the anisotropy parameter of the in-plane current, as well as its field and temperature dependences. The artificially introduced defects also have a dramatic effect on the dynamics of the flux propagation: for 10 o o the magnetic flux propagates along the easy channels intermittently, i.e. in a form of flux jumps. This behavior is indicative of thermo-magnetic instability in superconductors, but we argue that this effect can be of a different nature.

Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Gate Dielectrics for High-Performance Organic Thin Film Transistors

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jaekyun Kim

2015-10-01

Full Text Available A low-temperature solution-processed high-k gate dielectric layer for use in a high-performance solution-processed semiconducting polymer organic thin-film transistor (OTFT was demonstrated. Photochemical activation of sol-gel-derived AlOx films under 150 °C permitted the formation of a dense film with low leakage and relatively high dielectric-permittivity characteristics, which are almost comparable to the results yielded by the conventionally used vacuum deposition and high temperature annealing method. Octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA self-assembled monolayer (SAM treatment of the AlOx was employed in order to realize high-performance (>0.4 cm2/Vs saturation mobility and low-operation-voltage (<5 V diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP-based OTFTs on an ultra-thin polyimide film (3-μm thick. Thus, low-temperature photochemically-annealed solution-processed AlOx film with SAM layer is an attractive candidate as a dielectric-layer for use in high-performance organic TFTs operated at low voltages.

Improving superconducting properties of YBCO high temperature superconductor by Graphene Oxide doping

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dadras, S., E-mail: dadras@alzahra.ac.ir; Dehghani, S.; Davoudiniya, M.; Falahati, S.

2017-06-01

In this research, we report the synthesis and characterization of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-δ} (YBCO) high temperature superconductor prepared by sol-gel method and doped with Graphene Oxide (GO) in different weight percentages, 0, 0.1, 0.7 and 1 % wt. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the formation of orthorhombic phase of superconductivity for all the prepared samples. We found that GO doping reduces the crystalline size of the samples. We evaluated the effects of GO doping on the normal state resistivity (ρ), superconducting transition temperature (T{sub c}) and critical current density (J{sub c}). The results show that the GO doping has a positive effect on these properties. Also, the highest J{sub c} is obtained for the 0.7 %wt GO doped YBCO compound that its critical current density is about 15 times more than the J{sub c} of pure one in 0.4 T magnetic field. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis shows that there are better connections between the grains of GO doped samples. - Highlights: • Graphene Oxide doping increased the YBCO critical current density. • Graphene Oxide creates a better connection between the YBCO grains. • The normal resistivity of samples were decreased by GO doping to YBCO compounds. • Graphene Oxide doping has a positive effect on the critical transition temperature.

Quality of YBCO thin films grown on LAO substrates exposed to the film deposition - film removal processes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blagoev, B; Nurgaliev, T [Institute of Electronics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72 Tzarigradsko Chaussee, 1784 Sofia (Bulgaria); Mozhaev, P B [Institute of Physics and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117218 Moscow (Russian Federation); Sardela, M; Donchev, T [Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, 104 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801 (United States)], E-mail: blago_sb@yahoo.com

2008-05-01

The characteristics are investigated of high temperature superconducting YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} (YBCO) films grown on LaAlO{sub 3} (LAO) substrates being exposed a different number of times to YBCO film deposition and acid-solution-based cleaning procedures. Possible mechanisms of degradation of the substrate surface quality reflecting on the growing YBCO film parameters are discussed and analyzed.

A contribution to the study of high Tc superconducting coatings and multi-layer coatings electromagnetic properties: surface impedance measurement with a tunnel diode oscillator

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Omari, A.

1993-01-01

A surface impedance measurement system for conducting or superconducting thin films have been developed through the electromagnetic coupling of these films to a tunnel diode oscillator. The electromagnetic response of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ superconducting films and of id/La 2-x Sr x Cu O 4 multilayers, is studied, showing the 'granular' type of these materials. The intergranular coupling is of the SIS type for the films and of the SNS type for the multilayers. A resistance increase is observed when the temperature decreases in the superconducting phase. 120 p., 45 fig., 60 ref

Anisotrophic currents and flux jumps in high-T-c superconducting films with self-organized arrays of planar defects

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Yurchenko, V.V.; Qviller, A.J.; Mozhaev, P.B.

2010-01-01

Regular arrays of planar defects with a period of a few nanometers can be introduced in superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) thin films by depositing them on vicinal (also called miscut or tilted) substrates. This results in the anisotropy of critical currents flowing in the plane of the film. ...

Electrochemical processing of high-Tc Bi (Pb)–Sr–Ca–CuO thin films

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

The different preparative parameters such as deposition potential, deposition time were studied and optimized. These films were then oxidized electrochemically at room temperature in an alkaline (1 N KOH) solution, and also at 600°C temperature in an oxygen atmosphere. The films showed the superconducting behaviour ...

Design study of high-temperature superconducting generators for wind power systems

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Maki, N [Technova Inc. 13th Fl. Imperial Hotel Tower, 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011 (Japan)], E-mail: naokmaki@technova.co.jp

2008-02-15

Design study on high-temperature superconducting machines (HTSM) for wind power systems was carried out using specially developed design program. Outline of the design program was shown and the influence of machine parameters such as pole number, rotor outer diameter and synchronous reactance on the machine performance was clarified. Three kinds of generator structure are considered for wind power systems and the HTSM operated under highly magnetic saturated conditions with conventional rotor and stator has better performance than the other types of HTSM. Furthermore, conceptual structure of 8 MW, 20 pole HTSM adopting salient-pole rotor as in the case of water turbine generators and race-truck shaped HTS field windings like Japanese Maglev was shown.

Design study of high-temperature superconducting generators for wind power systems