Superconducting phase formation in random neck syntheses: a study of the Y-Ba-Cu-O system by magneto-optics and magnetometry

TL;DR

This study investigates the formation of superconducting phases in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system using magneto-optical imaging and magnetometry, revealing local superconductivity in inhomogeneous ceramic samples and evaluating their critical temperatures.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of magneto-optical and magnetization techniques to analyze local superconducting phase formation in a complex ceramic system with inhomogeneities.

Findings

Superconducting phases appear in intergrain zones of the samples.

Critical temperatures are close to those of optimally doped YBCO.

Magneto-optical imaging effectively reveals local superconductivity.

Abstract

Magneto-optical imaging and magnetization measurements were applied to investigate local formation of superconducting phase effected by a random neck synthesis in Y-Ba-Cu-O system. Polished pellets of strongly inhomogeneous ceramic samples show clearly the appearance of superconducting material in the intergrain zones of binary primary particles reacted under different conditions. Susceptibility measurements allows evaluation of superconducting critical temperature, which turned out to be close to that of optimally doped YBCO.