Observation of partial Meissner effect and flux pinning in superconducting lead containing non-superconducting parts

Abstract

Partially suppressed Meissner effect and magnetic flux trapping in the bulk of poly-crystalline Pb samples with virtually zero demagnetization and large (cm3) volume containing non-superconducting parts could be visualized by polarized neutrons and quantified with respect to the shape and amount of the trapped flux in the intermediate state of lead. These measurements provided a unique look at the macroscopic Quantum mechanics effects and the coexistence of superconducting state, intermediate state, and normal conducting parts in the same sample, respectively.