New Approaches for Enhancement of Jc for RE123 Melt-Solidified Bulks

New two methods to fabricate Y123 melt-solidified bulks with excellent superconducting properties have been developed. One is the new crystal growth method from the seed crystal which was put its c-axis parallel to the top surface and the other is addition of high-temperature annealing process in moderately reducing atmosphere after the crystal growth. The former method increased high-J(c) regions and the latter enhanced J(c) particularly at positions far from the seed crystals and at low temperatures through suppression of yttrium substitution for barium in the present study. The field trapping property was also improved by introduction of the reductive annealing process prior to the oxygen annealing at low temperatures.