Infrared sensor satellites are used to monitor the conditions in the earth's upper atmosphere. In these systems, the electronic links connecting the cryogenically cooled infrared detectors to the significantly warmer amplification electronics act as thermal bridges and, consequently, the mission lifetimes of the satellites are limited due to cryogenic evaporation. High-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials have been proposed by researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley's Research Center (NASA-LaRC) as an alternative to the currently used manganin wires for electrical connection. The potential for using HTS films as thermal bridges has provided the motivation for the design and the analysis of a spaceflight experiment to evaluate the performance of this superconductive technology in the space environment The initial efforts were focused on the preliminary design of the experimental system which allows for the quantitative comparison of superconductive leads with manganin leads, and on the thermal conduction modeling of the proposed system (Lee, 1994). Most of the HTS materials were indicated to be potential replacements for the manganin wires. In the continuation of this multi-year research, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the sources of heat transfer on the thermal bridges that have been neglected in the preliminary conductive model and then to develop a methodology for the estimation of the thermal conductivities of the HTS thennal bridges in space. The Joule heating created by the electrical current through the manganin wires was incorporated as a volumetric heat source into the manganin conductive model. The radiative heat source on the HTS thermal bridges was determined by performing a separate radiant interchange analysis within a high-Tc superconductor housing area. Both heat sources indicated no significant contribution on the cryogenic heat load, which validates the results obtained in the preliminary conduction model. A methodology was presented for the estimation of the thermal conductivities of the individual HTS thermal bridge materials and the effective thermal conductivities of the composite HTS thermal bridges as functions of temperature. This methodology included a sensitivity analysis and the demonstration of the estimation procedure using simulated data with added random errors. The thermal conductivities could not be estimated as functions of temperature; thus the effective thermal conductivities of the HTS thermal bridges were analyzed as constants. / Master of Science

Infrared sensor satellites, which consist of cryogenic infrared sensor detectors, electrical instrumentation, and data acquisition systems, are used to monitor the conditions of the Earth's upper atmosphere in order to evaluate its present and future changes. Currently, the electrical instrumentation (connections), which act as thermal bridges between the cryogenic infrared sensor and the significantly warmer data acquisition unit of the sensor satellite system, constitute a significant portion of the heat load on the cryogen. As a part of extending the mission life of the sensor satellite system, the researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center (NASA-LaRC) are evaluating the effectiveness of replacing the currently used manganin wires with high-temperature superconductive (HTS) materials as the electrical connections (thermal bridges). In conjunction with the study being conducted at NASALaRC, the proposed research is to design a space experiment to determine the thermal savings on a cryogenic subsystem when manganin leads are replaced by HTS leads -printed onto a substrate with a low thermal conductivity, and to determine the thermal conductivities of HTS materials. / Master of Science

Non-resonant microwave absorption (NRMA) in superconducting materials has become a new experimental technique to probe and understand superconducting materials. For example cuprate superconductors are well studied with this technique. At the same time the technique is also evolving. This technique (NRMA) has been used to study magnetic shielding effects/boundary current in Ba0.34K0.64Fe2As2 (BaK122) single crystals of iron pnictides superconducting sample measured at 9.4 GHz below TC (4.2K-32K). It has been observed that a small modulation field used in NRMA experiment yield the boundary current response. We have established that the boundary current response depends on both modulation amplitude and the temperature. At high modulation field amplitudes and temperatures close to Tc the boundary current response gets suppressed and flux modulated response dominates. At low temperatures far away from Tc, only the boundary current response dominates. / Physics / M. Sc. (Physics)

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This thesis is concerned with the fabrication of high temperature bi-epitaxial grain boundary Josephson junctions for use in superconducting microelectronic circuits. It aims to provide a proof-of-concept manufacturing process which can serve as a basis for future research at the University of Stellenbosch. The work in this thesis integrates ...

This thesis addresses the tunnelling of charge carriers in different materials. First looking at the simplest case of electron tunnelling in metals at zero, then finite temperature, the current is obtained using the Fermi-Dirac golden rule and then the conductance is obtained. This is extended to take into account the spatial dependence of one of the metals being a tip since experimentally this is done by scanning tunnelling microscopy where a tip traces over the surface of a sample. The next step is to look at tunnelling between a metal and a semiconductor, again the current is found. Semiconductors can be doped and the effect this has on tunnelling is examined. Next superconductors are introduced. The purpose of my research has been to look at the tunnelling spectra of high-temperature superconducting cuprates for both extrinsic (metal-superconductor) and intrinsic (superconductor-superconductor) tunnelling. The main features seen experimentally with cuprate tunnelling are identified and then a theory capable of explaining these features is discussed. The theory is compared to experimental results and we find good agreement.

Nesta tese investigamos o estado normal (T > Tc) dos Yba2Cu3O6+x supercondutores de alto Tc. As técnicas da RMN e RQN foram empregadas para estudar as respostas estática e dinâmica do sistema de spins eletrônicos em função da temperatura, para diversas concentrações de oxigênio: x = 0.5 (cristal 1), 0.92 (cristal 2), 0.94 (cristal 3) e 1.0 (cristais 4 e 5). Focalizando diferentes sítios nucleares a RMN pode fornecer uma informação mais rica da susceptibilidade dinâmica, X (q.w), abrangendo diferentes regiões da Zona de Brillouin (ZB). Com os sítios do 17O(2,3) e do 89Y sensoreamos a região próxima ao centro do ZB, q == 0, enquanto que com o sitio do Cu(2) exploramos o extremo do ZB, (q == QAF). Foi realizado um estudo comparativo da RMN dos sítios do Cu(2), do O(2,3) e do Y sobre o cristal 1. Da comparação entre os deslocamentos hiperfinos magnéticos do Y e do O(2,3) extraímos as contribuições orbitais e as constantes de acoplamento hiperfino do Y. A razão entre as relaxações spin-rede do O(2,3) e do Y mostrou-se independente da temperatura, e próxima do esperado teoricamente a partir das constantes hiperfinas no cenário do hamiltoniano de Mila e Rice. Questões como a dependência da taxa de relaxação spin-rede (T1-1) com a intensidade do campo e a anisotropia da susceptibilidade estática de spin foram estudadas sobre o cristal 2. Acima de Tc, para o Cu(2), não foi encontrada nenhuma dependência de T1 com a intensidade do campo. Os resultados sobre o Y indicam uma anisotropia da susceptibilidade e do tensor de acoplamento hiperfino. Uma extensa comparação entre os resultados da RMN e da Difusão Inelástica de Nêutrons (DIN) foi realizada sobre as mesmas amostras (cristais 4 e 5), fato inédito ate então. Propõe-se um modelo gaussiano para X\"~q,o», compatível com as experiências de nêutrons, no qual o comprimento de correlação ~ foi fixado pelos resultados da DIN sobre o cristal 2. Analisando a relaxação spin-spin do Cu(2), 63(T2g)-1, em função deste modelo, extraímos a susceptibilidade estática X\'(q=QAF) em unidades absolutas e encontramos um fator de Stoner X\'(q=QAF) / X\'(q=O) ~ 10. Da análise conjunta de 63(T1T)-1 e 63 (T2g)-1 obtivemos a energia característica das flutuações AF, rAF::::3:0meV, em excelente acordo com a DIN. Estes mesmos resultados permitiram evidenciar, exclusivamente através do RMN, quando ocorre a abertura de um gap de spin. Neste trabalho mostramos que resultados da DIN são compatíveis com a RMN para o sitio do Cu(2), porem, sérias dificuldades são encontradas para explicar os resultados sobre os sítios do Y e, principalmente, do O(2,3). As alternativas para este problema são discutidas. Os resultados obtidos nesta tese levaram ao estabelecimento de um diagrama de fase, segundo a RMN, do estado normal dos Yba2Cu3O6+x supercondutores, cobrindo do regime sub-dopado ao regime sobre-dopado, passando pela composição de dopagem ótima. / The normal state(T > Tc) of the high Te superconducting Yba2Cu3O6+x was studied. The NMR and NQR techniques were employed in order to investigate the static and dynamic responses of the electronic spin system as function of temperature, for the following oxygen contents: x = 0.5 (crystal 1), 0.92 (crystal 2), 0.94 (crystal 3) e 1.0 (crystals 4 and 5). Focusing various nuclear sites the NMR could give a more rich information of the dynamical susceptibility, X(q,ffi), probing different regions of the Brillouin Zone (ZB). With 17O(2,3) and 89Y sites the BZ center, q:: 0, was studied, while with the Cu(2) site it was the BZ extreme, (q:: QAF) that was investigated. In crystal 1 we have compared the NMR of the Cu(2), O(2,3) and Y sites. From the comparison between the Y and O(2,3) magnetic hyperfine shift we have extracted the orbital contributions and the Y hyperfine coupling tensor. The ratio between the O(2,3) and Y nuclear spin lattice relaxation rate was found to be temperature independent, and its value was in fair agreement with what it was expected theoretically from the coupling constants within the picture of the Mila-Rice Hamiltonian. Problems such as the field intensity dependence of the spin-lattice -relaxation rate (T1-1) and the anisotropy of the static susceptibility where investigated in crystal 2. Above Tc, for the Cu(2) site, we have not found any field dependence of T1. Our results on the Y site indicate an anisotropy of both the static susceptibility and the Y coupling tensor. An extensive comparison between the NMR and the Inelastic Neutron Diffusion (IND) results was done in the very same samples, crystals 2 and 4. In accordance to neutron data a Gaussian model for X\"AF( q,ro) is proposed, in which the coherence length ~ was fixed by the IND results in crystal 2. Analyzing the Cu(2) nuclear spin-spin relaxation rate, 63(T2g)-1, as function of this model, we have extracted the staggered susceptibility X\'(q=QAF) in absolute units, finding a Stoner factor X \'( q=QAF) / X\'( q=O) ~ 10. From the analysis of 63(T1T)-1 together with 63(T2g)-1 we have obtained the AF characteristic energy, rAF ::::l 30meV, in excellent agreement with IND. These results provided us a powerful method to evidence the opening of a spin pseudo gap, exclusively from the NMR results. A consistent picture arise from the comparison between IND and the Cu(2) NMR. In contrast, it is hard to explain the Y and, specially, the O(2,3) results within this same picture. The theoretical alternatives to this puzzle are discussed. The whole set of results we have obtained led us to propose a NMR based phenomenological phase diagram for the normal state of the superconducting Yba2Cu3O6+x, covering from the under doped regime to the over doped regime, passing through the optimal doping.

Tam Ka Ming. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-145). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Tam Ka Ming. / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Models for Many Body Systems --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- High Temperature Superconductor --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Reasons of Study Double Layers --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- "Incommensurate Magnetic Excitation, Order Parameters" --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5 --- Thesis Organization --- p.10 / Chapter 2 --- Monte Carlo Methods --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1 --- General Aspects of Monte Carlo Simulation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2 --- "Markov Chain, Metropolis Algorithm, Heat-Bath Algorithm" --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Quantum Monte Carlo --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4 --- Variational Quantum Monte Carlo --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5 --- Green Function Monte Carlo --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6 --- Auxiliary Field Monte Carlo --- p.35 / Chapter 2.7 --- Summary of Quantum Monte Carlo --- p.38 / Chapter 3 --- Constrained Path Monte Carlo --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- Various Formulas Used in Constrained Path Monte Carlo --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2 --- Constrained Path Monte Carlo --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Constrained Path Approximation --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurements --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5 --- Method of Avoiding Numerical Instability --- p.55 / Chapter 4 --- Parallelisation of CPMC Program --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1 --- Architecture of Parallel Machine --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2 --- Communication Methods in Parallel Program --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3 --- Comparison of Parallel and Serial Program --- p.74 / Chapter 4.4 --- Measure of Parallel Program --- p.85 / Chapter 4.5 --- Analysis of Serial CPMC Program --- p.89 / Chapter 4.6 --- Analysis of the Parallel CPMC Program --- p.93 / Chapter 5 --- Results from CPMC --- p.101 / Chapter 5.1 --- Hubbard Model with Next Nearest Neighbour Hopping --- p.101 / Chapter 5.2 --- Spin and Charge Correlations --- p.104 / Chapter 5.3 --- Vertex Contributions --- p.111 / Chapter 6 --- Mean Field Calculations of bilayer --- p.119 / Chapter 6.1 --- Objective --- p.119 / Chapter 6.2 --- Theoretical Model --- p.121 / Chapter 6.3 --- Method of Solving the Model --- p.122 / Chapter 6.4 --- Finding Susceptibility by RPA --- p.131 / Chapter 6.5 --- Results --- p.136 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.140 / Chapter 7 --- Summary --- p.141 / Bibliography --- p.142

The world demand for energy is estimated to increase by up to 70% from 2016 to 2040. To meet this demand in a sustainable way, the power density of electric motors and generators can be increased by using superconducting materials. In particular, trapped field superconducting magnets, where the field is generated by a circulating persistent current in the sample, can create magnetic fields an order of magnitude higher than possible using conventional ferromagnets, thus increasing the power density of motors and generators. This is of great interest where added weight comes at a premium, such as for naval propulsion motors, wind generators and motors/generators for future electric aircraft. This work investigates the suitability of stacked tape layers of second generation high temperature superconductors (HTS), such as YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) for trapped field applications. The present limits for trapped field magnitude have been determined, which provide a basis for the optimization of pulsed field magnetization techniques for in-situ magnetization in motors and generators. Trapped fields were increased by optimising the magnetic pulse sequence, using thermally conductive material to reduce temperature rise during pulse and changing the duration of the magnetic field pulse. Finite element method computer modelling was used to model and predict the behaviour of the trapped field magnets made of HTS tape with good agreement to experiment for both field cooling and pulsed field magnetisation. The models rely on critical current data for the HTS tape and its dependence on magnetic field and temperature. For this reason, a critical current testing facility was developed and constructed as a part of this work capable of measuring critical current up to 900 A, magnetic field of 1.5 T and down to temperatures of ~10 K in forced and dynamically controlled helium vapour flow. Lastly, first steps into scaling up by pulse magnetising an array of HTS tape stacks were made, allowing for larger overall trapped flux values. Such an array exhibits geometry, similar to what is going to be used in a functional motor prototype being developed in our research group (Applied Superconductivity and Cryoscience Group, ASCG). The work done culminated in the highest trapped field achieved to date using both field cooling (13.4 T between two stacks) and pulsed field magnetization (2.1 T above a single stack), for this type of trapped field magnet.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-22T22:07:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Final Marcio Gomes.pdf: 1885147 bytes, checksum: b68c412fc26d42c2c611a08b965c9c52 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-26 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / In this work, we study the properties of the high-temperature superconductors to analyze its rich phase diagram. We use the tight binding model within a mean-field formulation. The choice of the above model is due to its relative simplicity and also to verify the extent upto which it can provide satisfactory qualitative results. We use the tight binding model including terms upto second nearest hopping to study. These new superconductors in the underdoped and overdoped phases. We consider the charge density wave with d-wave symmetry (DDW), as a possible explanation for the pseudogap in the underdoped phase. The phase diagram of the cuprates are analyzed. We calculate some properties of these new materials, such as the chemical potential and specific heat and compare with other theories and experiments that attempt to explain superconductivity. We will also observe, to what extent the theory of mean field approximation is applicable. / Neste trabalho, estudaremos as propriedades que são universais aos supercondutes de altas temperaturas, analisando o seu rico diagrama de fase. Utilizamos-nos para isso, o modelo de tight binding numa formulação de campo m´edio. A escolha do modelo de tight binding foi devido ao interesse em verificar até que ponto, um método, relativamente simples que os demais, pode fornecer resultados quantitativos satisfatórios. Assumimos que o termo de hopping e as interações não locais ocorrem entre primeiros e segundos vizinhos. Consideraremos as ondas de densidade d (DDW), como possível explicação para o pseudogap no estado normal. Analisaremos o comportamento do diagrama de fase nos cupratos, o gap supercondutor e o pseudogap no estado normal e calcularemos algumas propriedades termodinâmicas, tais como, potencial químico e calor específico; fazendo um paralelo com outras teorias que tentam explicar a supercondutividade. Veremos, também, até que ponto a teoria de campo médio é útil.

Fabrication of nanoscale Josephson junctions and Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID) is very promising but challenging topic in the superconducting electronics and device technology. In order to achieve best sensitivity of SQUIDs and to reproduce them easily with a straightforward method, new fabrication techniques for realization of nanoSQUIDs needs to be investigated. This study concentrates on investigation of new fabrication methodology for manufacturing nanoSQUIDs with High Temperature Bi-Crystal Grain Boundary Josephson Junctions fabricated onto SrTiO3 bi-crystal substrates using YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) thin-films. In this process nanoscale patterning of YBCO was realized by using electron beam patterning and physical dry etching of YBCO thin films on STO substrates. YBCO thin films were deposited using RF magnetron sputtering technique in the mixture of Ar and O2 gases and followed by annealing at high temperatures in O2 atmosphere. Structural characterization of YBCO thin films was done by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). Superconducting properties of thin films was characterized by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. Nanoscale structures on YBCO thin films were fabricated by one E-Beam Lithography (EBL) step followed by Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and physical dry etching. First SiO2 thin film were deposited on YBCO by RF magnetron sputtering and it was patterned by EBL using Polystyrene (PS) as resist material and RIE. Then SiO2 was used as an etch mask for physical dry etching of YBCO and nanoscale structures on YBCO were formed.