Critical currents of BiSrCaCuoxide superconductors

Abstract

Abstract High-T c superconducting oxides are known for their highly anisotropic structures and low critical current densities in random polycrystalline samples although single crystals and oriented thin films with current flowing in the a-b plane have demonstrated much higher critical current density. In the case of BiSrCaCuoxide system, only the 2212 polytypoid has been successfully prepared in single crystal form. Thus we are motivated to pursue critical current measurements on single-phase 2212 and 2223 BSCCO samples with strong preferred orientations along the c-axis which was achieved through uniaxial compression. Both transport and DC magnetization critical current measurements have been performed on the samples. Magnetization measurements have been made over a field range of O–5T with the field applied parallel to the c-axis. Transport current was measured at 77K. The experimental data will be discussed.