Addition of New Pinning Center to Unidirectionally Melt Solidified Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductor

Abstract

Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductor including small particles of BaSnO 3 was synthesized by the unidirectional melt solidification method. Finely dispersed Y 2 BaCuO 5 precipitates and BaSnO 3 particles were observed in YBa 2 Cu 3 O y matrix. The critical current density at 77 K in 8 kOe was 1.8×10 4 A/cm 2 , which was about four times higher than that of the BaSnO 3 -free specimen. Fine particles of BaSnO 3 (0.1–1 µm) can act as effective flux pinning centers in the specimen and result in an increase of the critical current density.