How is a fully penetrated state formed in an anisotropic superconductor?

The fully penetrated state of anisotropic superconductors which are extended in the c-axis direction is analyzed using a model to describe the current distributions. Based on magneto-optical investigations on a rectangular single crystal and on a cubic melt-processed YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ sample, the current distributions found in (a, b)-planes and (a, c)-planes with the external magnetic field perpendicular to the plane are discussed. The easy flux penetration along the CuO₂ layers is shown to have important consequences for the analysis of angle-dependent magnetization or torque measurements in c-axis direction extended samples.