A New Process with the Promise of High Jc in Oxide Superconductors

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Abstract
We report a new process which promises high critical current density in oxide superconductors. The process consists of three stages. Firstly a YBa2Cu3O x sample is rapidly heated and quenched from the Y2O3 plus liquid region. Subsequently the quenched sample is reheated to the Y2BaCuO5 plus liquid region, and then slowly cooled with a temperature gradient in flowing oxygen. The process enables us to grow a superconducting phase unidirectionally and to suppress the second phase intrusion, leading to the production of well textured YBa2Cu3O x which yields a high J c value in the presence of magnetic fields. It is also found that Bean's critical state is realized in such high J c samples.