Microwave absorption in the presence of dc transport current in polycrystalline YBCO

Abstract

Low-field microwave absorption in polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7−x was measured as a function of dc current applied through the sample at various temperatures below Tc. The peak-to-peak value of the magnetically modulated microwave absorption (MMMA) signal increases with dc current at a fixed temperature. Above a threshold value of the current, the absorption signal level rapidly drops to zero, indicating quenching of superconductivity. If this critical current is plotted as a function of temperature, the results can be explained on the basis of the flux creep model. The MMMA signal obeys a scaling rule as predicted by the flux creep model. We conclude that flux creep limits the critical current density in these materials; also, this presents a new way of measuring critical current densities while using only a two-contact method. It gives some insight into the relationship between microwave properties and dc transport phenomena in these superconductors.