Superconducting Properties of Grain-Oriented Samples of Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_y

Abstract

Highly oriented Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O y (YBCO) bulk samples more than 2 cm 3 in volume have been prepared by a field-induced orientation method. The ratio of the resistivity along the c axis to that in the a b plane at a room temperature was about six. The critical current density J c was larger in the a b plane than along the c axis. In the case of current I // a b plane, it was larger for field H // a b plane than for H // c axis. From the J c - H property and the growth morphology of the samples, the possibility of grain boundary pinning in the YBCO superconductors has been discussed.