Very high values of Jc obtained in NdBa2Cu3Ox by use of the U/n process

Roy Weinstein, Ravi Persad Sawh, Drew Parks, Masato Murakami, Tadashi Mochida, Noriko Chikumoto, Gernot Krabbes, Wolfgang Bieger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The U/n process has been used to introduce quasi-columnar pinning centers into Nd123, textured in 1% O2, 99% Ar. The process involves adding 235U to precursor powders of the superconductor, texturing, and irradiating with thermal neutrons. The two resulting ions, from each nuclear fission, cause aligned discontinuous electronic damage of length ∼5.4 μm, which acts as a pinning center. Best results for Jc require U deposits spaced by s ≤ 5.4 μm. This has been achieved by deposits containing two foreign elements, U and Zr, and three native elements. The deposits of UZrNdBaO and Nd422 refined by the Zr, act as additional non-aligned pinning centers. The U/n process increases Jc by a factor RJ ≥ 10, to values of Jc ∼ 274 kA/cm2 at T = 77 K, B = 666 G.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)214-222
Number of pages9
JournalPhysica C: Superconductivity and its applications
Volume383
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002 Dec 15
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Critical current density
  • Flux pinning
  • Irradiation effect

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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