Flux penetration of melt-processed YBa2Cu3O7−δ : Direct observation of anisotropy

Abstract
Flux distributions observed on melt‐processed YBa2Cu3O7−δ samples are presented with the external magnetic field oriented parallel and perpendicular to the c axis using the high‐resolution Faraday effect technique. In this way, flux penetration along and across the Cu–O planes is observed directly. The measured flux density profiles allow a determination of the different critical current densities and show the influence of intrinsic pinning.