Melt-processed Sm - Ba - Cu - O superconductors trapping strong magnetic field

Abstract

Large c-axis-oriented Sm - Ba - Cu - O bulk superconductors were prepared using the melt-process technique in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. Single-domain samples up to 36 mm in diameter were successfully and reproducibly synthesized with no severe weak-link within the samples. The trapped magnetic field at the open surface of the sample was recorded as 8.0 T at 40 K when measured immediately after the external field was swept down to zero. This value far exceeds that of a melt-processed Y - Ba - Cu - O with a similar size.