Oxygen-controlled-melt-growth process of filamentary (Nd0.33Eu0.08Gd0.58)Ba2Cu3Oy superconductors

Partial melting of filamentary (Nd0.33Eu0.08Gd0.58)Ba2Cu3Oy superconductors in flowing 0.1% O-2 + Ar (sample A) and 1% O-2 + Ar (sample B) under various heating conditions was examined to obtain high transport J(c). The T-c values for sample A and sample B were 92.3 and 84.6 K, and maximum J(c) values at 77 K and self-fields were 19,000 and 350 A/cm 2, respectively. Sample A had well-aligned texture along the filament diameter as well as filament length. The field dependence of J(c) for sample A was measured at 77 K and magnetic fields up to 10 T by changing the angle along the filament diameter. An angular dependence of the J(c) along the filament diameter was detected. By optimizing the angle, the sample showed J(c) value of 420 A/cm(2) at 77 K and 8 T. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.