High field paramagnetic effect in the superconducting state of Ti0.8V0.2 alloy

Abstract

We report on the superconducting state of Ti0.8V0.2 alloy, highlighting an anomalous magnetic response in the flux-line lattice or the mixed state. The value of magnetization while cooling down the alloy in the presence of high magnetic field is lower than that obtained while warming it up from the lowest temperature in the presence of the same magnetic field. This is just the opposite to the thermo-magnetic hysteresis observed due to homogeneous flux-line pinning. This anomalous effect appears below a characteristic temperature that shifts towards a lower temperature with the increase in applied magnetic field. The value of magnetization measured at a constant temperature after cooling down the sample in the presence of magnetic field increases appreciably with time in the temperature–field domain where this anomalous effect is observed. These results indicate that the present Ti0.8V0.2 alloy exhibits a high field paramagnetic effect resulting from inhomogeneous flux pinning. Optical metallography and x-ray diffraction measurements show the formation of stress induced martensitic phase in the alloy, which could result in the inhomogeneous flux pinning. The temperature dependence of magnetization after annealing the sample after mechanical processing showed the usual properties of a type-II superconductor. This supports the argument that the inhomogeneous distribution of the stress induced martensitic phase is the reason for the existence of the high field paramagnetic effect in Ti0.8V0.2 alloy.