Thermomechanical detwinning of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−x single crystals

Abstract
A method for the complete removal of twins from single crystals of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−x is described. The process depends on ferroelastic behavior found to exist in the phase, and should be generally applicable to the layered perovskite-type phases containing accommodation twins resulting from a tetragonal-to-orthorhombic transformation on cooling. The twin-free, superconducting single crystals will enable investigation of a–b anisotropy of properties as well as crystal structure determination without complication by the presence of microtwins.