Properties of Superconducting Whiskers of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu Oxide

Abstract
Elastic and crystallographic properties of superconducting whiskers of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O x with a transition temperature near 76 K are given. The whiskers can be elastically deformed up to strains between 1 and 3%. Crystallographically the whiskers are identical. The growth direction is along the a-axis. The modulated b-axis lies in their flat side, and the c-axis is perpendicular to this side. Unit cell dimensions are a=5.39 Å, b=5.38 Å, c=30.0 Å, The whiskers show a damped electron energy loss peak near 19 eV, identified as the volume valence electron plasmon.