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Influence of the upper critical-field anisotropy on the transport properties of polycrystalline MgB{sub 2}

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1997288· OSTI ID:20714026
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  1. Atominstitut der Oesterreichischen Universitaeten, 1020 Vienna (Austria)
The intrinsic properties of MgB{sub 2} form the basis for all applications of this superconductor. We wish to emphasize that the application range of polycrystalline MgB{sub 2} is limited by the upper critical field H{sub c2} and its anisotropy. In wires or tapes, the MgB{sub 2} grains are randomly oriented or only slightly textured and the anisotropy of the upper critical field leads to different transport properties in different grains, if a magnetic field is applied and the current transport becomes percolative. The irreversibility line is caused by the disappearance of a continuous superconducting current path and not by depinning as in high-temperature superconductors. Based on a percolation model, we demonstrate how the changes of the upper critical field and its anisotropy and how the changes of flux pinning will influence the critical currents of a wire or a tape. These predictions are compared to results of neutron irradiation experiments, where these parameters were changed systematically.
OSTI ID:
20714026
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 98; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English