Role of electron–phonon coupling in the superconducting state of MgB2 polycrystals fabricated at different conditions

Abstract

In this study, the superconducting properties of MgB2 bulk samples fabricated at different conditions were investigated. Ex situ MgB2 samples were further mixed with Mg and B at different amounts and sintered at different times and temperatures. Using Raman spectroscopy, the bearing of electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling (EPC) has been investigated. The dependence of temperature on magnetization, M(T), along with the dependence of magnetic field on magnetization, M(H), were evaluated to analyze the superconducting characteristics. Using the McMillan formular, which is modified by Allen–Dynes, and the frequency of phonon located in the mid peak centre ω2 (E2g), the contribution of EPC, whose value is closely proportional to the variation of critical temperature was reckoned. The lowest EPC value was determined by Raman spectrum analysis to be 1.094 for the MgB2 sample added with 0.5 Mg and sintered at 1000 °C for 1 h. In addition, the sample showed the lowest critical temperature along with the highest critical current density. The small bundle field (Bsb) as well as the large bundle field (Blb) were obtained using the collective pinning theory, demonstrating the expansion of the small also the large bundle regimes under suitable sample fabrication conditions. Based on the dependence of temperature on normalized critical current density (j) and normalized small bundle field (Bsb), δTc pinning is the predominant flux pinning mechanism across totally MgB2 bulk samples. The model of Dew–Hughes confirmed that the addition of Mg along with B creates surface pinning in the matrix by analyzing the pinning properties.