Evidence for preferential flux flow at the grain boundaries of superconducting RF-quality niobium

Sung, Z. -H.; Lee, P. J.; Gurevich, A.; Larbalestier, D. C.

doi:10.1088/1361-6668/aaa65d

Title: Evidence for preferential flux flow at the grain boundaries of superconducting RF-quality niobium

Journal Article · 19 February 2018 · Superconductor Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/aaa65d · OSTI ID:1422033

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National High Magnetic Field Lab., Tallahassee, FL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
National High Magnetic Field Lab., Tallahassee, FL (United States)
Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States)

Here, the question of whether grain boundaries (GBs) in niobium can be responsible for lowered operating field (B_RF) or quality factor (Q₀) in superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities is still controversial. Here, we show by direct DC transport across planar grain boundaries isolated from a slice of very large-grain SRF-quality Nb that vortices can preferentially flow along the grain boundary when the external magnetic field lies in the GB plane. However, increasing the misalignment between the GB plane and the external magnetic field vector markedly reduces preferential flux flow along GB. Importantly, we find that preferential GB flux flow is more prominent for a buffered chemical polished than for an electropolished bi-crystal. The voltage-current characteristics of GBs are similar to those seen in low angle grain boundaries of high temperature superconductors where there is clear evidence of suppression of the superconducting order parameter at the GB. While local weakening of superconductivity at GBs in cuprates and pnictides is intrinsic, deterioration of current transparency of GBs in Nb appears to be extrinsic, since the polishing method clearly affect the local GB degradation. The dependence of preferential GB flux flow on important cavity preparation and experimental variables, particularly, the final chemical treatment and the angle between the magnetic field and the GB plane, suggests two more reasons why real cavity performance can be so variable.

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Research Organization:: Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)

Contributing Organization:: Fermilab; Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-07ER41451; AC02-07CH11359

OSTI ID:: 1422033

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1436710

Report Number(s):: FERMILAB-PUB-18-126-TD

Journal Information:: Superconductor Science and Technology, Vol. 31, Issue 4; ISSN 0953-2048

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 4 works

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