Magnetic field induced orientation of superconducting MgB$_2$ crystallites determined by X-ray diffraction

TL;DR

This study shows that MgB$_2$ superconducting crystallites align their c-axis perpendicular to an applied magnetic field, revealing a texture that challenges existing theoretical models of magnetic torque behavior.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of magnetic field-induced orientation in MgB$_2$ crystals, contradicting current theories about torque sign behavior in superconductors.

Findings

Crystals orient with c-axis perpendicular to magnetic field.

Powder texture shows stronger (0,0,l) reflections.

Orientation persists below the critical temperature T_c.

Abstract

X-ray diffraction studies of fine polycrystalline samples of MgB$_2$ in the superconducting state reveal that crystals orient with their \emph{c}-axis in a plane normal to the direction of the applied magnetic field. The MgB$_2$ samples were thoroughly ground to obtain average grain size 5 - 10 $\mu$m in order to increase the population of free single crystal grains in the powder. By monitoring Bragg reflections in a plane normal to an applied magnetic field we find that the powder is textured with significantly stronger (\emph{0,0,l}) reflections in comparison to (\emph{h,k,0}), which remain essentially unchanged. The orientation of the crystals with the \emph{ab}-plane parallel to the magnetic field at all temperatures below $T_c$ demonstrates that the sign of the torque under magnetic field does not alter, in disagreement with current theoretical predictions.