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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

High critical currents in heavily doped (Gd,Y)Ba 2 Cu 3 O x superconductor tapes

REBa 2 Cu 3 O x superconductor tapes with moderate levels of dopants have been optimized for high critical current density in low magnetic fields at 77 K, but they do not exhibit exemplary performance in conditions of interest for practical applications, i.e., temperatures less than 50 K and fields of 2–30 T. Heavy doping of REBCO tapes has been avoided by researchers thus far due to deterioration in properties. Here, we report achievement of critical current densities (J c ) above 20 MA/cm 2 at 30 K, 3 T in heavily doped (25 mol. % Zr-added) (Gd,Y)Ba 2 Cu 3 O x superconductor tapes, which is more than three times higher than the J c typically obtained in moderately doped tapes. Pinning force levels above 1000 GN/m 3 have also been attained at 20 K. A composition map of lift factor in J c (ratio of J c at 30 K, 3 T to the J c at 77 K, 0 T) has been developed which reveals the optimum film composition to obtain lift factors above six, which is thrice the typical value. A highly c-axis aligned BaZrO 3 (BZO) nanocolumn defect density of nearly 7 × 10 11 cm –2 as well as 2–3nm sized particles rich in Cu and Zr have been found in the high J c films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1991

Comparison between the magnetic and transport critical current densities in high critical current density melt-textured yttrium barium copper-oxide

Using a recently developed pulsed critical current density (Jc) measuring system, the Jc of the high-Jc melt-textured YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) (Y123) bulk samples has been determined. I-V curves with a voltage resolution of 0.5 microV were obtained, and transport Jc's along the a-b plane as high as 7.2 x 10 to the 4th A/sq cm were extracted. These results are comparable to the values obtained magnetically. On the other hand, transport Jc along the c axis were found to be two orders of magnitude smaller, even though the magnetic Jc along the c axis is only about five times smaller than Jc along the a-b plane. It is suggested that for the high-temperature superconducting materials which are highly anisotropic, caution should be taken when using the nontransport magnetic methods to determine Jc.

Gao, L.↗
DOE OSTI2011

Microstructure dependence of the c-axis critical current density in second generation YBCO tapes

C-axis current flow in high temperature superconductor (HTS) tape-shaped wires arises in configurations where the local wire axis is not perpendicular to the local magnetic field, such as in power cables with helically wound HTS tapes. The c-axis critical current density J{sub c}{sup c} has been recently found to be orders of magnitude lower than the ab-plane critical current density J{sub c}{sup ab}. Here we report on J{sub c}{sup c} (77 K, sf) values of various YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}-based (YBCO) tapes with different microstructures. Our results show that the value of J{sub c}{sup c} (77 K, sf) decreases significantly with increasing concentration of ab-plane stacking faults in YBCO thin films and that the critical current anisotropy {gamma} = J{sub c}{sup ab}/J{sub c}{sup c} can reach values as high as 2070, implying that in the highest-anisotropy tape, {approx}20% of the tape width carries c-axis current in a helically wound power cable.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Doubling the critical current density of high temperature superconducting coated conductors through proton irradiation

The in-field critical current of commercial YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} coated conductors can be substantially enhanced by post-fabrication irradiation with 4 MeV protons. Irradiation to a fluence of 8 × 10{sup 16} p/cm{sup 2} induces a near doubling of the critical current in fields of 6 T || c at a temperature of 27 K, a field and temperature range of interest for applications, such as rotating machinery. A mixed pinning landscape of preexisting precipitates and twin boundaries and small, finely dispersed irradiation induced defects may account for the improved vortex pinning in high magnetic fields. Our data indicate that there is significant head-room for further enhancements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Rapid doubling of the critical current of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7−δ} coated conductors for viable high-speed industrial processing

We demonstrate that 3.5-MeV oxygen irradiation can markedly enhance the in-field critical current of commercial second generation superconducting tapes with an exposure time of just 1 s per 0.8 cm{sup 2}. The speed demonstrated here is now at the level required for an industrial reel-to-reel post-processing. The irradiation is made on production line samples through the protective silver coating and does not require any modification of the growth process. From TEM imaging, we identify small clusters as the main source of increased vortex pinning.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

A peak in the critical current for quantum critical superconductors

Generally, studies of the critical current I c are necessary if superconductors are to be of practical use, because Ic sets the current limit below which there is a zero-resistance state. Here, we report a peak in the pressure dependence of the zero-field I c , I c (0), at a hidden quantum critical point (QCP), where a continuous antiferromagnetic transition temperature is suppressed by pressure toward 0 K in CeRhIn 5 and 4.4% Sn-doped CeRhIn 5 . The I c (0)s of these Ce-based compounds under pressure exhibit a universal temperature dependence, underlining that the peak in zero-field I c (P) is determined predominantly by critical fluctuations associated with the hidden QCP. The dc conductivity σ dc is a minimum at the QCP, showing anti-correlation with I c (0). These discoveries demonstrate that a quantum critical point hidden inside the superconducting phase in strongly correlated materials can be exposed by the zero-field I c , therefore providing a direct link between a QCP and unconventional superconductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Dynamics and Critical Currents in Fast Superconducting Vortices at High pulsed Magnetic Fields [Novel Dynamics and Critical Currents in Fast Superconducting Vortices at High pulsed Magnetic Fields]

Nonlinear electrical transport studies at high pulsed magnetic fields, above the range accessible by dc magnets, are of direct fundamental relevance to the physics of superconductors, domain-wall, charge-density waves, and topological semimetal. All-superconducting very high field magnets also make it technologically relevant to study vortex matter in this regime. However, pulsed magnetic fields reaching 100 T in milliseconds impose technical and fundamental challenges that have prevented the realization of these studies. Here, we present a technique for sub-microsecond smart current-voltage measurements, which enables the determination of the superconducting critical current in pulsed magnetic fields, beyond the reach of any dc magnet. We demonstrate the excellent agreement of this technique with low dc field measurements on Y 0.77 Gd 0.23 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 coated conductors with and without BaHfO 3 nanoparticles. Exploring the uncharted high-magnetic-field region, we discover a characteristic influence of the magnetic field rate of change ( dH/dt ) on the current-voltage curves in a superconductor. As a result, we fully capture this unexplored vortex physics through a theoretical model based on the asymmetry of the vortex-velocity profile produced by the applied current.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2011

Giant increase in critical current density of K x Fe 2-y Se₂ single crystals

The critical current density Jabc of K x Fe 2-y Se₂ single crystals can be enhanced by more than one order of magnitude, up to ~2.1×10⁴ A/cm² by the post annealing and quenching technique. A scaling analysis reveals the universal behavior of the normalized pinning force as a function of the reduced field for all temperatures, indicating the presence of a single vortex pinning mechanism. The main pinning sources are three-dimensional (3D) point-like normal cores. The dominant vortex interaction with pinning centers is via spatial variations in critical temperature T c (“δT c pinning”).

Lei, Hechang↗
DOE OSTI2013

High-field critical current enhancement by irradiation induced correlated and random defects in (Ba{sub 0.6}K{sub 0.4})Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2}

Mixed pinning landscapes in superconductors are emerging as an effective strategy to achieve high critical currents in high, applied magnetic fields. Here, we use heavy-ion and proton irradiation to create correlated and point defects to explore the vortex pinning behavior of each and combined constituent defects in the iron-based superconductor Ba{sub 0.6}K{sub 0.4}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} and find that the pinning mechanisms are non-additive. The major effect of p-irradiation in mixed pinning landscapes is the generation of field-independent critical currents in very high fields. At 7 T ‖ c and 5 K, the critical current density exceeds 5 MA/cm{sup 2}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1995

Correlations between critical current density, j(sub c), critical temperature, T(sub c),and structural quality of Y1B2Cu3O(7-x) thin superconducting films

Correlations between critical current density (j(sub c)) critical temperature (T(sub c)) and the density of edge dislocations and nonuniform strain have been observed in YBCO thin films deposited by pulsed laser ablation on (001) LaAlO3 single crystals. Distinct maxima in j(sub c) as a function of the linewidths of the (00 l) Bragg reflections and as a function of the mosaic spread have been found in the epitaxial films. These maxima in j(sub c) indicate that the magnetic flux lines, in films of structural quality approachingthat of single crystals, are insufficiently pinned which results in a decreased critical current density. T(sub c) increased monotonically with improving crystalline quality and approached a value characteristic of a pure single crystal. A strong correlation between j(sub c) and the density of edge dislocations ND was found. At the maximum of the critical current density the density of edge dislocations was estimated to be N(sub D) approximately 1-2 x 10(exp 9)/sq cm.

Chrzanowski, J.↗
DOE OSTI2011

Critical current density and mechanism of vortex pinning in K x Fe 2-y Se₂ doped with S

We report the critical current density J c in K x Fe 2-y Se 2-z S z crystals. The J c can be enhanced significantly with optimal S doping (z=0.99). For K 0.70(7) Fe 1.55(7) Se 1.01(2) S 0.99(2) , the weak fishtail effect is found for H II c. The normalized vortex pinning forces follow the scaling law with a maximum position at 0.41 of the reduced magnetic field. These results demonstrate that the small size normal point defects dominate the vortex pinning mechanism.

Lei, Hechang↗
DOE OSTI2013

Huge critical current density and tailored superconducting anisotropy in SmFeAsO0.8F0.15 by low-density columnar-defect incorporation

Iron-based superconductors could be useful for electricity distribution and superconducting magnet applications because of their relatively high critical current densities and upper critical fields. SmFeAsO0.8F0.15 is of particular interest as it has the highest transition temperature among these materials. Here we show that by introducing a low density of correlated nano-scale defects into this material by heavy-ion irradiation, we can increase its critical current density to up to 2 × 107 A cm-2 at 5 K—the highest ever reported for an iron-based superconductor—without reducing its critical temperature of 50 K. We also observe a notable reduction in the thermodynamic superconducting anisotropy, from 8 to 4 upon irradiation. We develop a model based on anisotropic electron scattering that predicts that the superconducting anisotropy can be tailored via correlated defects in semimetallic, fully gapped type II superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗