This dissertation describes experimental studies of how a spatially alternating magnetic field can effectively pin the magnetic flux in a superconducting thin film (Pb 82 Bi18), thereby enhancing the superconductivity. The spatially alternating magnetic field was provided by a periodic array of nano-sized magnetic structures: 300 nm spacing triangular array of cobalt rods with 100 nm diameter and 300 nm height. The superconducting film deposited on top of the magnetic structures, or an embedded Ferromagnet- Superconductor Hybrids (FSH), showed enhanced critical current and critical magnetic field. The embedded FSH also showed the field matching effect, the field compensation effect, and hysteresis. This dissertation also explains how to fabricate and characterize magnetic nano- structures. Electron beam lithography and electroplating method were used to fabricate the magnetic nanostructures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the structures of the magnetic rods. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) was used to study their magnetic properties.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2003. / Typescript. Bibliography.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 247-269.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--University of Wollongong, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 104-108.

This study investigates the effects of Z-pinning on the delamination performance in opening and shear loading modes in woven fabric reinforced / epoxy composite materials, as well as the effects of friction between specimen crack faces and the Z-pin failure mechanisms involved in mode II delamination. Mode I and mode II delamination tests are carried out on Z-pinned unidirectional (UD) and woven laminates. Both UD and woven laminates exhibit enhanced delamination resistance and crack propagation stability through Z-pinning. The effects of various structural and Z-pin parameters on the mode I and mode II delamination behaviour are separately assessed. The 4ENF testing configuration is deemed as the appropriate mode II configuration for the testing of Z-pinned laminates. A new basic friction rig is used to measure the friction coefficient between crack faces in woven laminates. An additional friction effect attributed to fibre architecture is identified. A specially designed delamination specimen is used to overcome the difficulty of accurately measuring crack propagation in Z-pinned woven fabric materials and aid data reduction using the available analytical methods. The failure mechanisms involved in the mode II delamination of Z-pinned laminates have been investigated with the implementation of a new test. Z-pins fail under shear loading through a combination of resin crushing, laminate fibre breakage, pin shear, pin bending and pin pullout. The balance of the failure mechanisms is shown to be a function of the crack opening constraint, material type, stacking sequence, Z-pin angle and insertion depth to Z-pin diameter ratio. Z-pin and material parameters influencing Z-pinning quality are identified, categorised and quantified. The importance of controlling Z-pin insertion depth is underlined and updated manufacturing procedures are proposed. Partial pinning appears as an advantageous alternative. A reduction in in-plane stiffness and in-plane strength in UD and woven fabric composites is measured, whilst no significant change of in-plane shear stiffness of UD materials is observed. A reduction in the fibre volume fraction is the single most important parameter affecting the in-plane stiffness. The performance of a Z-pinned sub-structural component is investigated. Enhanced loading carrying capacity and damage tolerance is achieved through Z-pinning.

Em trabalhos anteriores de nosso grupo de pesquisa foram desenvolvidos fios supercondutores nanoestruturados de Nb3Sn com introdução de centros de aprisionamento artificiais (CAAs) de Cu(Sn), numa tentativa de melhorar as propriedades supercondutoras. Porém, os perfis de tratamentos térmicos utilizados não foram otimizados. No presente trabalho as amostras desses fios compósitos foram utilizadas para otimização dos perfis de tratamentos térmicos visando determinar a influência destes perfis no processo de difusão atômica, reação e formação de fases nestes supercondutores nanoestruturados, e, com isso, otimizar a capacidade de transporte de corrente desses materiais. As micrografias e as análises composicionais obtidas produziram um conjunto de informações sobre os mecanismos de difusão e formação da fase supercondutora de Nb3Sn. As amostras foram analisadas quanto às suas propriedades e características supercondutoras. Com as medidas de transporte e magnetização pôde-se obter o comportamento global do supercondutor e o comportamento de cada filamento individual de Nb3Sn, respectivamente. Os compósitos otimizados apresentaram valores de temperatura crítica Tc próximos de 17 K, valores de Bc2 da ordem de 18 T, e densidades de corrente crítica tão altas quanto 1750 A/mm² a 4,2K e 12 T. Os máximos das curvas de força de aprisionamento aconteceram em campos magnéticos tão altos quanto 10 T, aproximadamente 0,5 Bc2, em distinção ao valor de 4,5 T (cerca de 0,2 Bc2) para Nb3Sn convencional, deslocamento que demonstra mudanças no comportamento de aprisionamento de fluxo nestes materiais. Um comportamento inédito e importante, que mistura os mecanismos de aprisionamento de fluxo devido aos contornos de grãos e as fases normais, está presente e pôde ser quantificado em detalhe. A análise dos comportamentos de todas as amostras possibilitou um entendimento satisfatório da influência dos CAAs na fase supercondutora e da influência do efeito de proximidade no aprisionamento de fluxo e nas propriedades de transporte destes materiais. / In previous works of our research group it was shown the development of Nb3Sn nanostructured superconducting wires with introduction of artificial pinning centers (APCs) of Cu(Sn), in an attempt to improve the superconducting properties. However, the used heat treatment profiles were not optimized. In the present work samples of these composite wires were used to optimize the heat treatment profile aiming to determine the influence of these profiles on the processes of atomic diffusion, reaction and formation of phases in these nanostructured superconductors and, consequently, optimize the transport properties of these materials. The obtained micrographs and compositional analysis gave a set of information about the diffusion mechanisms and formation of the Nb3Sn superconducting phase. The samples were analyzed in relation to their superconducting properties and characteristics. The transport and magnetization measurements showed the global behavior of the superconductor and the behavior of each individual Nb3Sn filament, respectively. The optimized composites presented values of critical temperature Tc around 17 K, values of Bc2 around 18 T, and critical current densities as large as 1750 A/mm2 at 4,2 K and 12 T. The peaks of the pinning force curves, occurred at magnetic fields as large as 10 T, approximately 0.5 Bc2, in distinction to the value of 4.5 T (about 0.2 Bc2) for conventional Nb3Sn, displacement that demonstrates changes on the flux pinning behavior in these materials. An inedit and important behavior, which mixes the flux pinning mechanisms due to the grain boundaries and to the normal phases, is present and could be quantified in detail. The behavior analysis of all samples enable a satisfactory understanding of the APCs influence on the superconducting phase and of the influence of the proximity effect on the flux pinning and on the transport properties of these materials.

Em trabalhos anteriores de nosso grupo de pesquisa foram desenvolvidos fios supercondutores nanoestruturados de Nb3Sn com introdução de centros de aprisionamento artificiais (CAAs) de Cu(Sn), numa tentativa de melhorar as propriedades supercondutoras. Porém, os perfis de tratamentos térmicos utilizados não foram otimizados. No presente trabalho as amostras desses fios compósitos foram utilizadas para otimização dos perfis de tratamentos térmicos visando determinar a influência destes perfis no processo de difusão atômica, reação e formação de fases nestes supercondutores nanoestruturados, e, com isso, otimizar a capacidade de transporte de corrente desses materiais. As micrografias e as análises composicionais obtidas produziram um conjunto de informações sobre os mecanismos de difusão e formação da fase supercondutora de Nb3Sn. As amostras foram analisadas quanto às suas propriedades e características supercondutoras. Com as medidas de transporte e magnetização pôde-se obter o comportamento global do supercondutor e o comportamento de cada filamento individual de Nb3Sn, respectivamente. Os compósitos otimizados apresentaram valores de temperatura crítica Tc próximos de 17 K, valores de Bc2 da ordem de 18 T, e densidades de corrente crítica tão altas quanto 1750 A/mm² a 4,2K e 12 T. Os máximos das curvas de força de aprisionamento aconteceram em campos magnéticos tão altos quanto 10 T, aproximadamente 0,5 Bc2, em distinção ao valor de 4,5 T (cerca de 0,2 Bc2) para Nb3Sn convencional, deslocamento que demonstra mudanças no comportamento de aprisionamento de fluxo nestes materiais. Um comportamento inédito e importante, que mistura os mecanismos de aprisionamento de fluxo devido aos contornos de grãos e as fases normais, está presente e pôde ser quantificado em detalhe. A análise dos comportamentos de todas as amostras possibilitou um entendimento satisfatório da influência dos CAAs na fase supercondutora e da influência do efeito de proximidade no aprisionamento de fluxo e nas propriedades de transporte destes materiais. / In previous works of our research group it was shown the development of Nb3Sn nanostructured superconducting wires with introduction of artificial pinning centers (APCs) of Cu(Sn), in an attempt to improve the superconducting properties. However, the used heat treatment profiles were not optimized. In the present work samples of these composite wires were used to optimize the heat treatment profile aiming to determine the influence of these profiles on the processes of atomic diffusion, reaction and formation of phases in these nanostructured superconductors and, consequently, optimize the transport properties of these materials. The obtained micrographs and compositional analysis gave a set of information about the diffusion mechanisms and formation of the Nb3Sn superconducting phase. The samples were analyzed in relation to their superconducting properties and characteristics. The transport and magnetization measurements showed the global behavior of the superconductor and the behavior of each individual Nb3Sn filament, respectively. The optimized composites presented values of critical temperature Tc around 17 K, values of Bc2 around 18 T, and critical current densities as large as 1750 A/mm2 at 4,2 K and 12 T. The peaks of the pinning force curves, occurred at magnetic fields as large as 10 T, approximately 0.5 Bc2, in distinction to the value of 4.5 T (about 0.2 Bc2) for conventional Nb3Sn, displacement that demonstrates changes on the flux pinning behavior in these materials. An inedit and important behavior, which mixes the flux pinning mechanisms due to the grain boundaries and to the normal phases, is present and could be quantified in detail. The behavior analysis of all samples enable a satisfactory understanding of the APCs influence on the superconducting phase and of the influence of the proximity effect on the flux pinning and on the transport properties of these materials.

Récemment, les études des propriétés de vortex Abrikosov dans des systèmes fortement anisotropes et magnétiques ont été stimulées par la découverte des supraconducteurs à base de fer et des supraconducteurs ferromagnétiques.Dans cette thèse nous étudions la statique et la dynamique de vortex dans ces systèmes. D’abord, le problème de l'interaction de vortex avec un petit défaut a été examiné dans le cadre de la théorie de Ginzburg-Landau. Le potentiel de pinning pour une cavité cylindrique elliptique a été calculé. D'autre part, la conductivité d'un supraconducteur anisotrope à l'état mixte a été analysée en détail dans le cadre de la théorie de Ginzburg-Landau dépendant du temps.Une partie significative de la thèse est consacrée à l'étude de l'interaction entre lesondes de spin (magnons) et vortex dans les supraconducteurs ferromagnétiques.Nous avons démontré que le spectre de magnon acquiert une structure de bande en présence d'un réseau de vortex idéal. En utilisant les équations phénoménologiques de London et de Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert, nous avons étudié les réponses ac et dc de vortex dans les supraconducteurs ferromagnétiques. Enfin, nous avons examiné l'état de vortex dans des structures hybrides supraconducteur(S)-ferromagnétique(F)(par exemple, super-réseaux FS) avec une forte dispersion spatiale de la susceptibilité magnétique. Dans ces systèmes l'électrodynamique supraconductrice peut être fortement non locale, qui mène à l'attraction des vortex et à une transition de phase du premier ordre dans la phase de vortex. / Recently, the studies of the properties of Abrikosov vortices in strongly anisotropicand magnetic media have been stimulated by the discovery of the iron-based andferromagnetic superconductors. In this thesis an analysis of vortex statics anddynamics in such systems has been carried out. Firstly, the problem of vortex pinningon a small defect has been considered. Within the Ginzburg-Landau theory thepinning potential for a cavity in the form of an elliptical cylinder has been derived.Secondly, the flux-flow conductivity of an anisotropic superconductor has beenanalyzed in detail within the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory.A significant part of the thesis is devoted to the study of interplay between spinwaves (magnons) and vortices in ferromagnetic superconductors. We havedemonstrated that the magnon spectrum acquires a Bloch-like band structure in thepresence of an ideal vortex lattice. Using the phenomenological London and Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equations, we studied the ac and dc responses of vortices inferromagnetic superconductors. Finally, we investigated the vortex state insuperconductor-ferromagnet (FS) hybrid structures (e. g., FS superlattices) withstrong spatial dispersion of the magnetic susceptibility. In such systems thesuperconducting electrodynamics may be strongly nonlocal, which leads to theattraction of vortices and to a first order phase transition at the lower critical field.

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