Normal-superconducting transition induced by high current densities in YBa2Cu3O7-d melt-textured samples and thin films: Similarities and differences

TL;DR

This study compares the current-induced normal-superconducting transition in melt-textured YBa2Cu3O7-d samples and thin films, revealing similar intrinsic quenching phenomena despite differences in their critical current densities.

Contribution

It proposes a common intrinsic origin for the quenching phenomenon in both bulk and thin film YBa2Cu3O7-d superconductors based on their temperature dependence and dissipation behavior.

Findings

Observed quasi-discontinuity or quenching at high current densities in both samples.

Identified a unique temperature dependence of the J*/Jc ratio.

Supported a single dissipation model explaining the pre-quenching regime.

Abstract

Current-voltage characteristics of top seeded melt-textured YBa2Cu3O7-d are presented. The samples were cut out of centimetric monoliths. Films characteristics were also measured on microbridges patterned on thin films grown by dc sputtering. For both types of samples, a quasi-discontinuity or quenching was observed for a current density J* several times the critical current density Jc. Though films and bulks much differ in their magnitude of both Jc and J*, a proposal is made as to a common intrinsic origin of the quenching phenomenon. The unique temperature dependence observed for the ratio J*/Jc, as well as the explanation of the pre-quenching regime in terms of a single dissipation model lend support to our proposal.