No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The transport critical current density (J(_c)) of a 37 filament Bi-2223/Ag tape has been measured as a function of field and temperature from 4.2 K up to 90 K. Data have been obtained over a large current range from 10 mA up to 100 A and in fields up to 23 T with the tape in 3 orientations with respect to field. These comprehensive data have been used to test the predictions of the flux creep and weak link models used to explain J(_c) in Bi-2223 tapes. The J(_c)(B,T) dependence of optimised Bi-2223 tapes has been calculated using a curved film model. The model assumes perfect grain connectivity and that the local superconducting properties are equivalent to those in the best reported thin films. A comparison between the calculations and measured J(_c)(B,T) dependencies suggest that in high fields at 20 K, J(_c) in presently available industrially processed tapes is only a factor of 8 below the performance of ideal fully optimised tapes. Transport measurements have been made on Bi-2223 single filaments extracted from an alloy sheathed multifilamentary tape in liquid nitrogen at 77 K in fields up to 300 mT with the field aligned parallel and perpendicular to the a-b planes. Further Jc(B,T) data have been taken in a variable temperature insert at temperatures between 60 to 90 K in fields up to 15 T. In a study of the electric field-current density {E-J) characteristics of the c-axis orientated data at 77 K, negative curvature is observed in traces below 280 mT. However, the 280 mT trace exhibits both positive and negative curvature in different current regimes in contrast to the predictions of standard theory. A laboratory scale Bi-2223 superconducting magnet producing a maximum field of 1.29 T at 4.2 K has been designed and fabricated. The magnet comprises 6 resin impregnated double wound pancakes with a 40 mm bore fabricated via the react and wind route. Critical current density measurements have been made as a function of magnetic field, angle and strain at 4.2 K and 77 K on short samples of the constituent tape. The E-J characteristics of all component coils have been measured and a comparison with short sample data shows that minimal additional damage occurred beyond that produced by the bending strain on the tape and the long length variation in J(_c). Sufficient detail is provided for the non-specialist to assess the potential use of brittle superconducting tapes for magnet technology and construct a laboratory scale magnet.

Dans le contexte des améliorations du LHC, des efforts importants sont fournis pour concevoir des aimants d'accélérateurs utilisant l'alliage supraconducteur Nb3Sn, qui permet d'atteindre des champs magnétiques plus élevés (>12T). Le but de cette thèse est de proposer de nouvelles méthodes de calcul et de fabrication de dipôles à haut champ en Nb3Sn. Une isolation céramique, mise au point précédemment au CEA Saclay, a été testée pour la première fois sur des câbles, dans les conditions d’utilisation d’un aimant d’accélérateur. Des mesures de courant critique sous champ magnétique et contrainte mécanique ont notamment été réalisées. Ces campagnes d’essais ont révélé que l’isolation céramique actuelle est trop fragile mécaniquement et que les propriétés de courant critique sont dégradées. Une étude a ensuite été menée, afin d’améliorer la tenue mécanique de l’isolation et de mieux répartir les contraintes à l’intérieur du câble. Des méthodes de conception magnétique ont par ailleurs été proposées afin d’optimiser la forme des bobinages, tout en respectant des contraintes d’homogénéité de champ, de marges de fonctionnement, de minimisation des efforts… Pour cela plusieurs codes d’optimisation ont été élaborés. Ils se basent sur des méthodes nouvelles utilisant des formules analytiques. Un code 2D a d’abord été élaboré pour des conceptions en blocs rectangulaires. Ensuite, deux codes 3D ont été conçus pour l’optimisation des têtes de dipôles. Le premier consiste à modéliser le bobinage à l’aide de blocs élémentaires, et le deuxième se base sur une modélisation des câbles supraconducteurs par des rubans. Ces codes d’optimisation ont permis de proposer des configurations magnétiques pour des aimants à haut champ. / In the framework of LHC upgrades, significant efforts are provided to design accelerator magnets using the superconducting alloy Nb3Sn, which allows to reach higher magnetic fields (>12T). The aim of this thesis is to propose new computation and manufacturing methods for high field Nb3Sn dipoles. A ceramic insulation, previously designed at CEA Saclay, has been tested for the first time on cables, in an accelerator magnet environment. Critical current measures, under magnetic field and mechanical stress, have been carried out in particular. With this test campaign, the current ceramic insulation has been shown to be too weak mechanically and the critical current properties are degraded. Then a study has been conducted, with the objective to improve the mechanical strength of the insulation and better distribute the stress inside the cable. Methods of magnetic design have also been proposed, in order to optimize the coils shape, while fulfilling constraints of field homogeneity, operational margins, forces minimization… Consequently, several optimization codes have been set up. They are based on new methods using analytical formulas. A 2D code has first been written for block designs. Then two 3D codes have been realized for the optimization of dipole ends. The former consists in modeling the coil with elementary blocs and the latter is based on a modeling of the superconducting cables with ribbons. These optimization codes allowed to propose magnetic designs for high field accelerator magnets.

No description available.

Effects of Nb2O5 addition on the formation and properties of the Bi-based superconductors were studied. The superconducting samples were synthesized by two different methods, the solid state reaction (SSR) and ammonium nitrate melt route (ANM) to obtain information about the growth techniques. Ten samples (five with each method) with the chemical compositions of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3NbxOy, with x= 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30 were prepared. Phase identification, structural and microstructural analysis were carried out using powder X-ray diffraction method, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The transition temperature and the critical current measurements were carried out using the electromagnetic measurement system. The critical parameters of the samples were also determined by AC susceptibility and magnetization measurements. Improvements in the formation of the Bi-2223 phase with Nb addition have been observed by both methods. The ANM method leads mixtures of Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 phases, but with the SSR method pure Bi-2223 phase was obtained. With small amounts of Nb addition the critical temperature, Tc, remains the same for ANM samples and it increases for the SSR samples. For both series of samples Tc decreases with further increase of Nb content. With Nb addition the critical currents of the ANM sample almost remain the same and those of the SSR samples increases. Observations based on AC susceptibility measurements showed that Nb addition improve inter-grain coupling. Inductive critical current densities obtained from magnetization measurements agree with the critical currents stated above and show that Jc increase with increase Nb content.

No description available.

The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in Fe-based materials triggered worldwide efforts to investigate their fundamental properties. Despite a lot of similarities to cuprates and MgB2, important differences like near isotropic behaviour in contrast to cuprates and the peculiar pairing symmetry of the order parameter (OP) have been reported. The OP symmetry of Fe-based superconductors (FBS) was theoretically predicted to be of so-called s± state prior to various experimental works. Still, most of the experimental results favour the s± scenario; however, definitive evidence has not yet been reported. Although no clear understanding of the superconducting mechanisms yet exists, potential applications such as high-field magnets and Josephson devices have been explored. Indeed, a lot of reports about FBS tapes, wires, and even SQUIDs have been published to this date. In this thesis, the feasibility of high-field magnet applications of FBS is addressed by studying their transport properties, involving doped BaFe2As2 (Ba-122) and LnFeAs(O,F) [Ln=Sm and Nd]. Particularly, it is important to study physical properties in a sample form (i.e. thin films) that is close to the conditions found in applications. However, the realisation of epitaxial FBS thin films is not an easy undertaking. Recent success in growing epitaxial FBS thin films opens a new avenue to delve into transport critical current measurements. The information obtained through this research will be useful for exploring high-field magnet applications. This thesis consists of 7 chapters: Chapter 1 describes the motivation of this study, the basic background of superconductivity, and a brief summary of the thin film growth of FBS. Chapter 2 describes experimental methods employed in this study. Chapter 3 reports on the fabrication of Co-doped Ba-122 thin films on various substrates. Particular emphasis lies on the discovery of fluoride substrates to be beneficial for epitaxy without compromising superconducting properties. It is worth mentioning, that a world record Tc of 28 K for Co-doped Ba-122 thin films is reported here. Chapter 4 describes high-field transport properties (up to dc 35 T) of epitaxial P-doped Ba-122 thin films prepared by MBE. Among the FBS, P-doped Ba-122 shows very high transport critical current densities, although the Tc is lower than for LnFeAs(O,F)[Ln=Sm and Nd]. Additionally, the film is microstructurally clean. These high Jc values are due to a high vortex line energy. Chapter 5 deals with transport properties of epitaxial SmFeAs(O,F) thin films. In the course of this work, a dc 45 T magnet has been used within collaboration with the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Tallahassee, FL, USA. SmFeAs(O,F) thin films have been prepared by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The investigated film shows a very high transport critical current density (Jc) of over 105 A/cm2 at 45T and 4.2K for both main crystallographic directions, which features favourable for high-field magnet applications. Additionally, by investigating the pinning properties, a dimensional crossover between the superconducting coherence length and the FeAs interlayer distance at 30-40K was observed. Chapter 6 reports on high-field transport properties of NdFeAs(O,F) thin films prepared by MBE. In this case, the transition from Abrikosov to Josephson vortices was observed around 20-30K. Additionally, the angular Jc data were scaled with the anisotropic GinzburgLandau approach. The obtained parameters at given temperature are observed to increase with decreasing temperature, which is different from Co-doped Ba-122. Chapter 7 summarises this work. / Die kürzliche Entdeckung von Hochtemperatur-Supraleitung in Fe-basierten Materialien löste weltweite Bemühungen aus, deren grundlegende Eigenschaften zu untersuchen. Neben vielen Gemeinsamkeiten mit den Kupraten und MgB2 sind wichtige Unterschiede wie nahezu isotropes Verhalten (im Gegensatz zu den Kupraten) und eine auffällige Paarungssymmetrie des Ordnungsparameters (OP) berichtet worden. Die OP-Symmetrie der Fe-basierten Supraleiter (FBS) wurde theoretisch als s± berechnet, noch bevor experimentelle Versuche unternommen wurden. Derzeit favorisieren experimentelle Ergebnisse das s±-Szenario, dennoch gibt es noch keine definitiven Nachweise. Obwohl noch kein komplettes Verständnis des supraleitenden Mechanismus existiert, wurden schon potentielle Anwendungen wie Josephson-Elemente und Hochfeldmagnete erforscht. In der Tat erschienen zahlreiche Veröffentlichungen über supraleitende Kabel, Bänder und auch SQUIDs. Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Durchführbarkeit von Hochfeld-Anwendungen durch die Untersuchung der Transporteigenschaften von FBS, namentlich Ba-122 und LnFeAs(O,F)[Ln=Sm und Nd]. Es ist von großer Wichtigkeit, die physikalischen Eigenschaften in einer Probenform zu untersuchen, die der Form in Anwendungen nahekommt (z.B. Dünnschichten), um dieselben Rahmenbedingungen vorgeben zu können. Es ist jedoch nicht einfach, epitaktische FBS Dünnschichten zu realisieren. Kürzlich gewonnene Erkenntnisse in der Herstellung von epitaktischen FBS-Dünnschichten ermöglichen nun ein tieferes Eindringen in die Transporteigenschaften. Die in diesen Untersuchungen gewonnenen Informationen stellen somit wichtige Argumente in der Diskussion um Hochfeld Anwendungen dar. Diese Arbeit besteht aus sieben Kapiteln: Kapitel 1 beinhaltet die Motivation dieser Arbeit, die Grundlagen der Supraleitung und eine kurze Zusammenstellung der bisherigen Arbeiten zur Dünnschichtherstellung von FBS. Kapitel 2 beschreibt experimentelle Methoden, die im Zuge dieser Arbeit verwendet wurden. Kapitel 3 berichtet von der Herstellung Co-dotierter Ba-122 Dünnschichten (Co-Ba-122) auf verschiedenen Fluoridsubstraten. Dabei wurde Augenmerk darauf gelegt, neben einem verbesserten epitaktischen Wachstum der Dünnschichten die supraleitenden Eigenschaften nicht zu beeinträchtigen. Anzumerken ist, dass in diesem Rahmen Tc-Rekord-Werte von 28 K in Co-Ba-122 erzielt werden konnten. Kapitel 4 beschreibt die Hochfeld-Transporteigenschaften epitaktisch gewachsener P-dotierter Ba-122 Dünnschichten, die durch MBE hergestellt wurden. Unter den FBS zeigt P-dotiertes Ba-122 enorm hohe kritische Transport-Stromdichten, obwohl das Tc niedriger ist als bei LnFeAs(O,F)[Ln=Sm und Nd]. Der Grund dafür konnte in der hohen Flusslinienkern-Energie des P-dotierten Ba-122 ermittelt werden. Kapitel 5 behandelt Transporteigenschaften von epitaktisch gewachsenen SmFeAs(O,F)-Dünnschichten. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde ein dc-45 T-Hochfeldmagnet in Zusammenarbeit mit dem National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, genutzt. SmFeAs(O,F)-Dünnschichten wurden mit dem Molekularstrahl-Verfahren (MBE) hergestellt. Die Schichten zeigen sehr hohe kritische Transport-Stromdichten (Jc) von über 105 A/cm2 bei 45 T und 4.2 K für beide kristallographische Hauptrichtungen, parallel zur c-Achse und in der ab-Ebene. Diese Ergebnisse sehen sehr verheißungsvoll für eine Verwendung in Hochfeld-Anwendungen aus. Zusätzlich konnte durch die Untersuchung der Pinning-Eigenschaften ein Dimensionsübergang zwischen supraleitender Kohärenzlänge und FeAs-Ebenenabstand im Bereich 30-40 K beobachtet werden. Kapitel 6 berichtet über die Hochfeld-Transporteigenschaften von NdFeAs(O,F)-Dünnschichten, die mithilfe des MBE-Verfahrens hergestellt wurden. In diesem Falle konnte ein Ubergang von Abrikosov- zu Josephson-Flusslinien im Temperaturbereich 20-30 K beobachtet werden. Zusätzlich konnte die winkelabhängige kritische Stromdichte mit dem anisotropen Ginzburg-Landau-Ansatz skaliert werden. Die erhaltenen Parameter für verschiedene Temperaturen steigen mit fallender Temperatur. Dieses Verhalten ist gegensätzlich zu dem in Co-dotiertem Ba-122 gefundenen. Kapitel 7 gibt eine Zusammenfassung dieser Arbeit.

Detailed, accurate measurements of critical current density and resistivity to determine the upper critical field have been made on a technological NbsAl conductor in magnetic fields up to 15 T, temperatures from 4.2 K up to the critical temperature and in the strain range from -1.8% to 0.7%. The uncertainty in temperature above 4.2 K was equivalent to ± 100 mK with a stability during the measurements of < 5 mK up to a limiting current of 80 A and a typical noise level of 1 µ Vm(^-1).When B(_c2){T,ε) is defined at 5%pn, 50%pn or 95%/%pn, an empirical relation is found where and an approximate relation, holds. The Jε data were parameterised using F(_p) = J(_E)B = A(ε)[Bc(_2)](^n)b(^p)(1-b)(^9) where b = B/B(_c2)(T,ε). When B(_c2)(T,ε) is constrained to be the value at 50%pn or 95%pn, the scaling law for F(_p) breaks down such that p and q are strong functions of temperature and q is also a strong function of strain. However, when B(_c2)(T,ε) is defined at 5%pn, there is good scaling where p and q are constants independent of temperature and strain. F(_p) can also be approximated by a Kramer form where the Ginzburg-Landau constant is γ is the electronic density of states and is interpreted as the average B(_c2) for the bulk where percolative current flow occurs. The critical current density of Hot Isostatic Pressed (HIP'ed) and unHIP'ed Nb(_3)Sn Modified Jelly Roll wires has also been measured at 4.2 K. The critical current and upper critical field were decreased for the HIP'ed sample. The reduced upper critical field of the HIP'ed wire was found to be less sensitive to strain than the unHIP'ed wire. The exponent of B(_c2) in the flux pinning scaling law increased from 0.86 to 2.14 as a result of the HIP processing.