Microstructure of a unidirectionally grown YBaCuO superconductor by the Quench and Melt Growth process

Abstract

In order to produce a large YBaCuO bulk superconductor with high critical current density, a temperature gradient method was employed in the Quench and Melt Growth process. Single grains as large as several cubic centimeters were obtained. The grain consists of domains which have almost the same alignment in c-direction but possess a relatively large deviation in the a and b directions. Even in a single domain, sub-domains, with slightly different a and b directions, exist. These results indicate the possibility of improving the critical current density by controlling the domain structure.