Mechanism for flux pinning in NdBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} melt-textured in low oxygen partial pressure
- Ames Laboratory and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)
When NdBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} (Nd123) is melt-textured in low oxygen partial pressure (Po{sub 2}) and subsequently annealed in oxygen to produce the superconducting phase, there is a considerable enhancement of flux pinning compared to Y123. This enhancement is accompanied by a precipitation mechanism due to a change of the solubility limits of Nd{sub 1+x}Ba{sub 2{minus}x}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} between the high temperature low Po{sub 2} conditions used in melt-textured growth and the low temperature oxygen annealing. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a coherent intermediate precipitate structure with a composition of BaCuO{sub 2} and a high density of dislocations. We believe these defects are responsible for the strong flux pinning in this material. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 550440
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 71; ISSN 0003-6951; ISSN APPLAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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