Collective coupling in hybrid superconducting circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Shiro

Hybrid quantum systems utilizing superconducting circuits have attracted significant recent attention, not only for quantum information processing tasks but also as a way to explore fundamentally new physics regimes. In this talk, I will discuss two superconducting circuit based hybrid quantum system approaches. The first is a superconducting flux qubit - electron spin ensemble hybrid system in which quantum information manipulated in the flux qubit can be transferred to, stored in and retrieved from the ensemble. Although the coherence time of the ensemble is short, about 20 ns, this is a significant first step to utilize the spin ensemble as quantum memory for superconducting flux qubits. The second approach is a superconducting resonator - flux qubit ensemble hybrid system in which we fabricated a superconducting LC resonator coupled to a large ensemble of flux qubits. Here we observed a dispersive frequency shift of approximately 250 MHz in the resonators transmission spectrum. This indicates thousands of flux qubits are coupling to the resonator collectively. Although we need to improve our qubits inhomogeneity, our system has many potential uses including the creation of new quantum metamaterials, novel applications in quantum metrology and so on. This work was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 25220601.

Synthesis and superconductivity of In-doped SnTe nanostructures

DOE PAGES

Kumaravadivel, Piranavan; Pan, Grace A.; Zhou, Yu; ...

2017-07-01

In xSn 1-xTe is a time-reversal invariant candidate 3D topological superconductor derived from doping the topological crystalline insulator SnTe with indium. The ability to synthesize low-dimensional nanostructures of indium-doped SnTe is key for realizing the promise they hold in future spintronic and quantum information processing applications. But hitherto only bulk synthesized crystals and nanoplates have been used to study the superconducting properties. Here for the first time we synthesize In xSn 1-xTe nanostructures including nanowires and nanoribbons, which show superconducting transitions. In some of the lower dimensional morphologies, we observe signs of more than one superconducting transition and the absencemore » of complete superconductivity. We propose that material inhomogeneity, such as indium inhomogeneity and possible impurities from the metal catalyst, is amplified in the transport characteristics of the smaller nanostructures and is responsible for this mixed behavior. Our work represents the first demonstration of In xSn 1-xTe nanowires with the onset of superconductivity, and points to the need for improving the material quality for future applications« less

Synthesis and superconductivity of In-doped SnTe nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumaravadivel, Piranavan; Pan, Grace A.; Zhou, Yu; Xie, Yujun; Liu, Pengzi; Cha, Judy J.

2017-07-01

InxSn1-xTe is a time-reversal invariant candidate 3D topological superconductor derived from doping the topological crystalline insulator SnTe with indium. The ability to synthesize low-dimensional nanostructures of indium-doped SnTe is key for realizing the promise they hold in future spintronic and quantum information processing applications. But hitherto only bulk synthesized crystals and nanoplates have been used to study the superconducting properties. Here for the first time we synthesize InxSn1-xTe nanostructures including nanowires and nanoribbons, which show superconducting transitions. In some of the lower dimensional morphologies, we observe signs of more than one superconducting transition and the absence of complete superconductivity. We propose that material inhomogeneity, such as indium inhomogeneity and possible impurities from the metal catalyst, is amplified in the transport characteristics of the smaller nanostructures and is responsible for this mixed behavior. Our work represents the first demonstration of InxSn1-xTe nanowires with the onset of superconductivity, and points to the need for improving the material quality for future applications.

The upside of noise: engineered dissipation as a resource in superconducting circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapit, Eliot

2017-09-01

Historically, noise in superconducting circuits has been considered an obstacle to be removed. A large fraction of the research effort in designing superconducting circuits has focused on noise reduction, with great success, as coherence times have increased by four orders of magnitude in the past two decades. However, noise and dissipation can never be fully eliminated, and further, a rapidly growing body of theoretical and experimental work has shown that carefully tuned noise, in the form of engineered dissipation, can be a profoundly useful tool in designing and operating quantum circuits. In this article, I review important applications of engineered dissipation, including state generation, state stabilization, and autonomous quantum error correction, where engineered dissipation can mitigate the effect of intrinsic noise, reducing logical error rates in quantum information processing. Further, I provide a pedagogical review of the basic noise processes in superconducting qubits (photon loss and phase noise), and argue that any dissipative mechanism which can correct photon loss errors is very likely to automatically suppress dephasing. I also discuss applications for quantum simulation, and possible future research directions.

Hybrid Quantum Information Processing with Superconductors and Neutral Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDermott, Robert

Hybrid approaches to quantum information processing (QIP) aim to capitalize on the strengths of disparate quantum technologies to realize a system whose capabilities exceed those of any single experimental platform. At the University of Wisconsin, we are working toward integration of a fast superconducting quantum processor with a stable, long-lived quantum memory based on trapped neutral atoms. Here we describe the development of a quantum interface between superconducting thin-film cavity circuits and trapped Rydberg atoms, the key technological obstacle to realization of superconductor-atom hybrid QIP. Specific accomplishments to date include development of a theoretical protocol for high-fidelity state transfer between the atom and the cavity; fabrication and characterization of high- Q superconducting cavities with integrated trapping electrodes to enhance zero-point microwave fields at a location remote from the chip surface; and trapping and Rydberg excitation of single atoms within 1 mm of the cavity. We discuss the status of experiments to probe the strong coherent coupling of single Rydberg atoms and the superconducting cavity. Supported by ARO under contract W911NF-16-1-0133.

Method and apparatus for connecting high voltage leads to a high temperature super-conducting transformer

DOEpatents

Golner, Thomas M.; Mehta, Shirish P.

2005-07-26

A method and apparatus for connecting high voltage leads to a super-conducting transformer is provided that includes a first super-conducting coil set, a second super-conducting coil set, and a third super-conducting coil set. The first, second and third super-conducting coil sets are connected via an insulated interconnect system that includes insulated conductors and insulated connectors that are utilized to connect the first, second, and third super-conducting coil sets to the high voltage leads.

Materials Development for Auxiliary Components for Large Compact Mo/Au TES Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Finkbeiner, F. m.; Chervenak, J. A.; Bandler, S. R.; Brekosky, R.; Brown, A. D.; Figueroa-Feliciano, E.; Iyomoto, N.; Kelley, R. L.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Porter, F. S.;

Extrusion of metal oxide superconducting wire, tube or ribbon

DOEpatents

Dusek, Joseph T.

1993-10-05

A process for extruding a superconducting metal oxide composition YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x provides a wire (tube or ribbon) having a cohesive mass and a degree of flexibility together with enhanced electrical properties. Wire diameters in the range of 6-85 mils have been produced with smaller wires on the order of 10 mils in diameter exhibiting enhanced flexibility for forming braided, or multistrand, configurations for greater current carrying capacity. The composition for extrusion contains a polymeric binder to provide a cohesive mass to bind the particles together during the extrusion process with the binder subsequently removed at lower temperatures during sintering. The composition for extrusion further includes a deflocculent, an organic plasticizer and a solvent which also are subsequently removed during sintering. Electrically conductive tubing with an inner diameter of 52 mil and an outer diameter of 87-355 mil has also been produced. Flat ribbons have been produced in the range of 10-125 mil thick by 100-500 mil wide. The superconducting wire, tube or ribbon may include an outer ceramic insulating sheath co-extruded with the wire, tubing or ribbon.

Extrusion of metal oxide superconducting wire, tube or ribbon

DOEpatents

Dusek, Joseph T.

1993-01-01

A process for extruding a superconducting metal oxide composition YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x provides a wire (tube or ribbon) having a cohesive mass and a degree of flexibility together with enhanced electrical properties. Wire diameters in the range of 6-85 mils have been produced with smaller wires on the order of 10 mils in diameter exhibiting enhanced flexibility for forming braided, or multistrand, configurations for greater current carrying capacity. The composition for extrusion contains a polymeric binder to provide a cohesive mass to bind the particles together during the extrusion process with the binder subsequently removed at lower temperatures during sintering. The composition for extrusion further includes a deflocculent, an organic plasticizer and a solvent which also are subsequently removed during sintering. Electrically conductive tubing with an inner diameter of 52 mil and an outer diameter of 87-355 mil has also been produced. Flat ribbons have been produced in the range of 10-125 mil thick by 100-500 mil wide. The superconducting wire, tube or ribbon may include an outer ceramic insulating sheath co-extruded with the wire, tubing or ribbon.

Transport properties of ultrathin BaFe1.84Co0.16As2 superconducting nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Pusheng; Xu, Zhongtang; Li, Chen; Quan, Baogang; Li, Junjie; Gu, Changzhi; Ma, Yanwei

2018-07-01

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have an absolute advantage over other types of single-photon detectors, except for the low operating temperature. Therefore, much effort has been devoted to finding high-temperature superconducting materials that are suitable for preparing SNSPDs. Copper-based and MgB2 ultrathin superconducting nanowires have already been reported. However, the transport properties of iron-based ultrathin superconducting nanowires have not been studied. In this work, a 10 nm thick × 200 nm wide × 30 μm long high-quality superconducting nanowire was fabricated from ultrathin BaFe1.84Co0.16As2 films by a lift-off process. The precursor BaFe1.84Co0.16As2 film with a thickness of 10 nm and root-mean-square roughness of 1 nm was grown on CaF2 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The nanowire shows a high superconducting critical temperature {T}{{c}}{{zero}} = 20 K with a narrow transition width of ΔT = 2.5 K and exhibits a high critical current density J c of 1.8 × 107 A cm-2 at 10 K. These results of ultrathin BaFe1.84Co0.16As2 nanowire will attract interest in electronic applications, including SNSPDs.

Armored spring-core superconducting cable and method of construction

DOEpatents

McIntyre, Peter M.; Soika, Rainer H.

2002-01-01

An armored spring-core superconducting cable (12) is provided. The armored spring-core superconducting cable (12) may include a spring-core (20), at least one superconducting strand (24) wound onto the spring-core (20), and an armored shell (22) that encases the superconducting strands (24). The spring-core (20) is generally a perforated tube that allows purge gases and cryogenic liquids to be circulated through the armored superconducting cable (12), as well as managing the internal stresses within the armored spring-core superconducting cable (12). The armored shell (22) manages the external stresses of the armored spring-core superconducting cable (12) to protect the fragile superconducting strands (24). The armored spring-core superconducting cable (12) may also include a conductive jacket (34) formed outwardly of the armored shell (22).

Dense high temperature ceramic oxide superconductors

DOEpatents

Landingham, Richard L.

1993-01-01

Dense superconducting ceramic oxide articles of manufacture and methods for producing these articles are described. Generally these articles are produced by first processing these superconducting oxides by ceramic processing techniques to optimize materials properties, followed by reestablishing the superconducting state in a desired portion of the ceramic oxide composite.

Dense high temperature ceramic oxide superconductors

DOEpatents

Landingham, R.L.

1993-10-12

Dense superconducting ceramic oxide articles of manufacture and methods for producing these articles are described. Generally these articles are produced by first processing these superconducting oxides by ceramic processing techniques to optimize materials properties, followed by reestablishing the superconducting state in a desired portion of the ceramic oxide composite.

Processing and Fabrication of High Temperature Oxide Superconductors

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-11-30

I. Gusman and S. M. Johnson, "Cryochemical Method of Preparing Ultrafine Particles of High-Purity Superconducting Oxides," U.S. Patent 4,975,415...Supercon- PREPARING ULTRAFINE PARTICLES OF ducting-MRS EA 11, Apr. 1987, pp. 265-267. HIGH-PURITY SUPERCONDUCTING Materials and Processing Report vol. 2, No... ULTRAFINE PARTICLES OF HIGH-PURITY A. W. Sleight in U.S. Pa&. No. 3,932.315 discloses SUPERCONDUCTING OXIDES superconductive barium-lead-bismuth oxides of

Preliminary study of superconducting bulk magnets for Maglev

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Hiroyuki; Kamijo, Hiroki

Recent development shows that melt-processed YBaCuO (Y123) or Rare Earth (RE)123 superconductors have a high Jc at 77 K and high magnetic field, leading to high field application as a superconducting quasi-permanent bulk magnet with the liquid nitrogen refrigeration. One of the promising applications is a superconducting magnet for the magnetically levitated (Maglev) train. We discuss a superconducting bulk magnet for the Maglev train in the aspect of a preliminary design of the bulk magnet and also processing for (L)REBaCuO bulk superconductors and their characteristic superconducting properties.

Testing of qubit materials and fabrication using superconducting resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Shwetank; Steffen, Matthias; Divincenzo, David; Keefe, George; Rothwell, Mary Beth; Farinelli, Matthew; Rozen, Jim; Milliken, Frank; Ketchen, Mark

2009-03-01

We will present the results of measurements made on superconducting resonators fabricated using different substrates and superconducting metals. Specifically, the quality factor of these resonators will be shown to be closely related to not only the purity of the substrates and metals used in the process but also to the details of the fabrication. We will demonstrate the change in quality factor of a bare resonator when subjected to the qubit process. Based on our measurements we propose that superconducting resonators may form a test bed for troubleshooting the fabrication process for minimizing the materials related dissipation in the qubits.

The Fabrication of (bismuth, LEAD)(2) STRONTIUM(2) CALCIUM(2) COPPER(3) Oxygen(x) Superconductor in Bulk and Tape Forms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Hanjin

High-T_{rm c}<=ad doped rm Bi_2Sr_2Ca_2Cu _2Cu_3O_{x} (BSCCO 2223) superconductor bulk materials were prepared using conventional powder metallurgy techniques, which were made from precursors having different histories. The ease of formation of superconducting phases was highly dependent on the processing of primitive powder. With the three -powder process that combines three kinds of calcined precursor powders, the formation of the BSCCO superconductor was accelerated and the amount of the secondary phase (e.g., Ca_2CuO_3) was reduced. The critical transition temperature (T _{rm c}) of the superconductor from the three-powder process is higher than that from the one-powder process. In lead-doped BSCCO 2223, positron trapping and annihilation evidently occur in the open BiO double layers rather than in the superconducting CuO_2 layers of the structure. Both positron annihilation parameters (tau_1, tau _2, overlinetau) and Doppler parameters (P, W, P/W) were insensitive to the superconducting transition in this material. This is quite opposite to the case of YBCO and Dy doped YBCO where positron annihilation is sensitive to the superconducting transition. High-T_{rm c} BSCCO superconducting tapes were fabricated using the powder -in-tube (PIT) method that includes heat treatments as well as mechanical processing such as drawing, rolling, and pressing. The highest critical current densities (J _{rm c}) at 5 and 77 K were 5.12 times 10^5 A/cm^2 and 1.77 times 10^4 A/cm^2 , respectively, for the tape sample which was solid state processed at 840^circC with three short sintering steps. J_{ rm c} values at 5 and 77 K of tape samples were 1 and 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of bulk samples, respectively. The preferred orientations of the BSCCO 2212 phase in the tape samples were basal and (1 1 13) textures; for the BSCCO 2223 phase preferred orientations were also basal and (1 1 19) textures. By taking the ratios of the texture coefficients (TCs) for (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) reflections, one can describe the strength of the basal texture for each superconducting phase in both bulk and tape. From these ratios one can say that the best basal texture for the tape BSCCO 2212 was produced by the procedure which included partial melting at 850^circ C for 0.3 h. The best treatment for BSCCO 2223 was the tape sample with solid state processing at 840 ^circC in 10% oxygen.

Process for preparing superconducting film having substantially uniform phase development

DOEpatents

Bharacharya, Raghuthan; Parilla, Philip A.; Blaugher, Richard D.

1995-01-01

A process for preparing a superconducting film, such as a thallium-barium-calcium-copper oxide superconducting film, having substantially uniform phase development. The process comprises providing an electrodeposition bath having one or more soluble salts of one or more respective potentially superconducting metals in respective amounts adequate to yield a superconducting film upon subsequent appropriate treatment. Should all of the metals required for producing a superconducting film not be made available in the bath, such metals can be a part of the ambient during a subsequent annealing process. A soluble silver salt in an amount between about 0.1% and about 4.0% by weight of the provided other salts is also provided to the bath, and the bath is electrically energized to thereby form a plated film. The film is annealed in ambient conditions suitable to cause formation of a superconductor film. Doping with silver reduces the temperature at which the liquid phase appears during the annealing step, initiates a liquid phase throughout the entire volume of deposited material, and influences the nucleation and growth of the deposited material.

Process for preparing superconducting film having substantially uniform phase development

DOEpatents

Bharacharya, R.; Parilla, P.A.; Blaugher, R.D.

1995-12-19

A process is disclosed for preparing a superconducting film, such as a thallium-barium-calcium-copper oxide superconducting film, having substantially uniform phase development. The process comprises providing an electrodeposition bath having one or more soluble salts of one or more respective potentially superconducting metals in respective amounts adequate to yield a superconducting film upon subsequent appropriate treatment. Should all of the metals required for producing a superconducting film not be made available in the bath, such metals can be a part of the ambient during a subsequent annealing process. A soluble silver salt in an amount between about 0.1% and about 4.0% by weight of the provided other salts is also provided to the bath, and the bath is electrically energized to thereby form a plated film. The film is annealed in ambient conditions suitable to cause formation of a superconductor film. Doping with silver reduces the temperature at which the liquid phase appears during the annealing step, initiates a liquid phase throughout the entire volume of deposited material, and influences the nucleation and growth of the deposited material. 3 figs.

Model of superconductivity formation on ideal crystal lattice defect–twin or twin boundary (MSC-TB)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chizhov, V. A.; Zaitsev, F. S.; Bychkov, V. L.

2018-03-01

The report provides a review of the experimental material on superconductivity (SP) accumulated by 2017, a critical analysis of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory (BCS) has been given, and a new model of the super-conductivity effect proposed in works of V.A. Chizhov has been presented. The new model allows to understand the mechanism of the SP formation and to explain many experimental facts on the basis of the theory of pro-cesses occurring in the ideal defect of the crystal lattice – the twinning boundary (MSC-TB). Specific materials, including new ones, are described, which, in accordance with the theory of MSC-TB, should have improved properties of SC, promising directions for further research are formulated.

Technical issues of a high-Tc superconducting bulk magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Hiroyuki

2000-06-01

Superconducting magnets made of high-Tc superconductors are promising for industrial applications. It is well known that REBa2Cu3O7-x superconductors prepared by melt processes have a high critical current density, Jc, at 77 K and high magnetic fields. The materials are very promising for high magnetic field applications as a superconducting permanent/bulk magnet with liquid-nitrogen refrigeration. Light rare-earth (LRE) BaCuO bulks, compared with REBaCuO bulks, exhibit a larger Jc in high magnetic fields and a much improved irreversibility field, Hirr, at 77 K. In this study, we discuss technical issues of a high-Tc superconducting bulk magnet, namely the aspects of the melt processing for bulk superconductors, their characteristic superconducting properties and mechanical properties, and trapped field properties of a superconducting bulk magnet. One of the possible applications is a superconducting bulk magnet for the magnetically levitated (Maglev) train in the future.

Free-standing oxide superconducting articles

DOEpatents

Wu, X.D.; Muenchausen, R.E.

1993-12-14

A substrate-free, free-standing epitaxially oriented superconductive film including a layer of a template material and a layer of a ceramic superconducting material is provided together with a method of making such a substrate-free ceramic superconductive film by coating an etchable material with a template layer, coating the template layer with a layer of a ceramic superconductive material, coating the layer of ceramic superconductive material with a protective material, removing the etchable material by an appropriate means so that the etchable material is separated from a composite structure including the template layer.

Microwave photonics with superconducting quantum circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Xiu; Kockum, Anton Frisk; Miranowicz, Adam; Liu, Yu-xi; Nori, Franco

2017-11-01

In the past 20 years, impressive progress has been made both experimentally and theoretically in superconducting quantum circuits, which provide a platform for manipulating microwave photons. This emerging field of superconducting quantum microwave circuits has been driven by many new interesting phenomena in microwave photonics and quantum information processing. For instance, the interaction between superconducting quantum circuits and single microwave photons can reach the regimes of strong, ultra-strong, and even deep-strong coupling. Many higher-order effects, unusual and less familiar in traditional cavity quantum electrodynamics with natural atoms, have been experimentally observed, e.g., giant Kerr effects, multi-photon processes, and single-atom induced bistability of microwave photons. These developments may lead to improved understanding of the counterintuitive properties of quantum mechanics, and speed up applications ranging from microwave photonics to superconducting quantum information processing. In this article, we review experimental and theoretical progress in microwave photonics with superconducting quantum circuits. We hope that this global review can provide a useful roadmap for this rapidly developing field.

Control of artificial pinning centers in REBCO coated conductors derived from the trifluoroacetate metal-organic deposition process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izumi, T.; Nakaoka, K.

2018-07-01

The metal-organic deposition (MOD) process using metal trifluoroacetate salts (TFA) has the advantages of low-cost and high-scalability for the fabrication of REBa2Cu3O y (REBCO, RE: rare earth elements) superconducting coated conductors (CCs) with high critical current density, in principle, because of its non-vacuum process. For the magnetic applications of CCs such as motors, magnetic resonance imaging and superconducting magnetic energy storage, further improvement of superconducting performance under magnetic fields is required. However, the in-field superconducting performance of REBCO CCs derived from the TFA-MOD process had been inferior to those derived from the vapor-phase process. In order to improve the in-field performance, the size control of the artificial pinning centers has been known as an effective way. In the early stage, the BaZrO3 (BZO) material, which was one of the effective materials in the CCs by the vapor-phase process, was also introduced in the TFA-MOD-derived CCs. The unique feature of the BZO material in the TFA-MOD process is the shape. The BZO in the TFA-MOD process formed the particle shape, although in the vapor-phase process it has a rod shape with a long axis elongating along the thickness direction. In addition, a special heat treatment for refining the BZO particles was developed, which is called the ‘interim heat treatment’. This heating profile made the in-field characteristics higher, although they were still lower than those of the vapor-phase process. Then, the new MOD process including ‘ultra-thin once coating’ was recently developed for further refinement of the BZO particles. The characteristics of the new TFA-MOD-derived CCs in magnetic fields have become compatible with those of the CCs derived from the vapor-phase process.

Superconductor Composite

DOEpatents

Dorris, Stephen E.; Burlone, Dominick A.; Morgan; Carol W.

1999-02-02

A superconducting conductor fabricated from a plurality of wires, e.g., fine silver wires, coated with a superconducting powder. A process of applying superconducting powders to such wires, to the resulting coated wires and superconductors produced therefrom.

Processing and property evaluation of metal matrix superconducting materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, Appajosula S.

1995-01-01

Metal - superconductor (YBCO) systems have been prepared and characterized by resistivity, ac susceptibility and dc SQUID magnetic moment measurements. The silver composites showed superconducting transition for all the composites processed and the superconducting transition temperature tends to depend upon the concentration of the silver in the composite. Aluminum composites showed an unusual resistivity results with two transitions around 90 K and 120 K. The superconducting property of silver composites can be explained qualitatively in terms of the proximity theory that has been suggested for the low temperature superconductors.

Process for ion-assisted laser deposition of biaxially textured layer on substrate

DOEpatents

Russo, R.E.; Reade, R.P.; Garrison, S.M.; Berdahl, P.

1995-07-11

A process for depositing a biaxially aligned intermediate layer over a non-single crystal substrate is disclosed which permits the subsequent deposition thereon of a biaxially oriented superconducting film. The process comprises depositing on a substrate by laser ablation a material capable of being biaxially oriented and also capable of inhibiting the migration of substrate materials through the intermediate layer into such a superconducting film, while simultaneously bombarding the substrate with an ion beam. In a preferred embodiment, the deposition is carried out in the same chamber used to subsequently deposit a superconducting film over the intermediate layer. In a further aspect of the invention, the deposition of the superconducting layer over the biaxially oriented intermediate layer is also carried out by laser ablation with optional additional bombardment of the coated substrate with an ion beam during the deposition of the superconducting film. 8 figs.

Process for ion-assisted laser deposition of biaxially textured layer on substrate

DOEpatents

Russo, Richard E.; Reade, Ronald P.; Garrison, Stephen M.; Berdahl, Paul

1995-01-01

A process for depositing a biaxially aligned intermediate layer over a non-single crystal substrate is disclosed which permits the subsequent deposition thereon of a biaxially oriented superconducting film. The process comprises depositing on a substrate by laser ablation a material capable of being biaxially oriented and also capable of inhibiting the migration of substrate materials through the intermediate layer into such a superconducting film, while simultaneously bombarding the substrate with an ion beam. In a preferred embodiment, the deposition is carried out in the same chamber used to subsequently deposit a superconducting film over the intermediate layer. In a further aspect of the invention, the deposition of the superconducting layer over the biaxially oriented intermediate layer is also carried out by laser ablation with optional additional bombardment of the coated substrate with an ion beam during the deposition of the superconducting film.

Method of forming an HTS article

DOEpatents

Bhattacharya, Raghu N.; Zhang, Xun; Selvamanickam, Venkat

2014-08-19

A method of forming a superconducting article includes providing a substrate tape, forming a superconducting layer overlying the substrate tape, and depositing a capping layer overlying the superconducting layer. The capping layer includes a noble metal and has a thickness not greater than about 1.0 micron. The method further includes electrodepositing a stabilizer layer overlying the capping layer using a solution that is non-reactive to the superconducting layer. The superconducting layer has an as-formed critical current I.sub.C(AF) and a post-stabilized critical current I.sub.C(PS). The I.sub.C(PS) is at least about 95% of the I.sub.C(AF).

Free-standing oxide superconducting articles

DOEpatents

Wu, Xin D.; Muenchausen, Ross E.

1993-01-01

A substrate-free, free-standing epitaxially oriented superconductive film including a layer of a template material and a layer of a ceramic superconducting material is provided together with a method of making such a substrate-free ceramic superconductive film by coating an etchable material with a template layer, coating the template layer with a layer of a ceramic superconductive material, coating the layer of ceramic superconductive material with a protective material, removing the etchable material by an appropriate means so that the etchable material is separated from a composite structure including the template lay This invention is the result of a contract with the Department of Energy (Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36).

Reverse process of usual optical analysis of boson-exchange superconductors: impurity effects on s- and d-wave superconductors.

PubMed

Hwang, Jungseek

2015-03-04

We performed a reverse process of the usual optical data analysis of boson-exchange superconductors. We calculated the optical self-energy from two (MMP and MMP+peak) input model electron-boson spectral density functions using Allen's formula for one normal and two (s- and d-wave) superconducting cases. We obtained the optical constants including the optical conductivity and the dynamic dielectric function from the optical self-energy using an extended Drude model, and finally calculated the reflectance spectrum. Furthermore, to investigate impurity effects on optical quantities we added various levels of impurities (from the clean to the dirty limit) in the optical self-energy and performed the same reverse process to obtain the optical conductivity, the dielectric function, and reflectance. From these optical constants obtained from the reverse process we extracted the impurity-dependent superfluid densities for two superconducting cases using two independent methods (the Ferrel-Glover-Tinkham sum rule and the extrapolation to zero frequency of -ϵ1(ω)ω(2)); we found that a certain level of impurities is necessary to get a good agreement on results obtained by the two methods. We observed that impurities give similar effects on various optical constants of s- and d-wave superconductors; the greater the impurities the more distinct the gap feature and the lower the superfluid density. However, the s-wave superconductor gives the superconducting gap feature more clearly than the d-wave superconductor because in the d-wave superconductors the optical quantities are averaged over the anisotropic Fermi surface. Our results supply helpful information to see how characteristic features of the electron-boson spectral function and the s- and d-wave superconducting gaps appear in various optical constants including raw reflectance spectrum. Our study may help with a thorough understanding of the usual optical analysis process. Further systematic study of experimental data collected at various conditions using the optical analysis process will help to reveal the origin of the mediated boson in the boson-exchange superconductors.

Structure for HTS composite conductors and the manufacture of same

DOEpatents

Cotton, J.D.; Riley, G.N. Jr.

1999-06-01

A superconducting oxide composite structure including a superconducting oxide member, a metal layer surrounding the superconducting oxide member, and an insulating layer of a complex oxide formed in situ adjacent to the superconducting oxide member and the metal layer is provided together with a method of forming such a superconducting oxide composite structure including encapsulating a superconducting oxide member or precursor within a metal matrix layer from the group of: (1) a reactive metal sheath adjacent to the superconducting oxide member or precursor, the reactive metal sheath surrounded by a second metal layer or (2) an alloy containing a reactive metal; to form an intermediate product, and, heating the intermediate product at temperatures and for time sufficient to form an insulating layer of a complex oxide in situ, the insulating layer to the superconducting oxide member or precursor and the metal matrix layer. 10 figs.

Structure for hts composite conductors and the manufacture of same

DOEpatents

Cotton, James D.; Riley, Jr., Gilbert Neal

1999-01-01

A superconducting oxide composite structure including a superconducting oxide member, a metal layer surrounding the superconducting oxide member, and an insulating layer of a complex oxide formed in situ adjacent to the superconducting oxide member and the metal layer is provided together with a method of forming such a superconducting oxide composite structure including encapsulating a superconducting oxide member or precursor within a metal matrix layer from the group of: (i) a reactive metal sheath adjacent to the superconducting oxide member or precursor, the reactive metal sheath surrounded by a second metal layer or (ii) an alloy containing a reactive metal; to form an intermediate product, and, heating the intermediate product at temperatures and for time sufficient to form an insulating layer of a complex oxide in situ, the insulating layer to the superconducting oxide member or precursor and the metal matrix layer.

Present Status and Future Prospects in Bulk Processing of HIGH-Tc Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, S.; Chu, C. W.

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION * HIGH SUPERCONDUCTING TRANSITION TEMPERATURE * HIGH CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY * Grain Boundary Weak Links * Nature of Weak Links * Possible Processing Approaches for Weak Link Problem * Processing Techniques for Texture Formation * Flux Creep in HTSC * Desirable Pinning Defects * Processing for Flux Pinning Enhancement * PROSPECTS FOR BULK APPLICATIONS * Magnetic Field Gener * Energy Storage * Magnetic Shielding * Other Applications * CONCLUDING REMARKS * ACKNOWLEDGMENT * REFERENCES

Superconducting active impedance converter

DOEpatents

Ginley, David S.; Hietala, Vincent M.; Martens, Jon S.

1993-01-01

A transimpedance amplifier for use with high temperature superconducting, other superconducting, and conventional semiconductor allows for appropriate signal amplification and impedance matching to processing electronics. The amplifier incorporates the superconducting flux flow transistor into a differential amplifier configuration which allows for operation over a wide temperature range, and is characterized by high gain, relatively low noise, and response times less than 200 picoseconds over at least a 10-80 K. temperature range. The invention is particularly useful when a signal derived from either far-IR focal plane detectors or from Josephson junctions is to be processed by higher signal/higher impedance electronics, such as conventional semiconductor technology.

Superconducting transmission line particle detector

DOEpatents

Gray, K.E.

1988-07-28

A microvertex particle detector for use in a high energy physic collider including a plurality of parallel superconducting thin film strips separated from a superconducting ground plane by an insulating layer to form a plurality of superconducting waveguides. The microvertex particle detector indicates passage of a charged subatomic particle by measuring a voltage pulse measured across a superconducting waveguide caused by the transition of the superconducting thin film strip from a superconducting to a non- superconducting state in response to the passage of a charged particle. A plurality of superconducting thin film strips in two orthogonal planes plus the slow electromagnetic wave propagating in a superconducting transmission line are used to resolve N/sup 2/ ambiguity of charged particle events. 6 figs.

Superconducting transmission line particle detector

DOEpatents

Gray, Kenneth E.

1989-01-01

A microvertex particle detector for use in a high energy physic collider including a plurality of parallel superconducting thin film strips separated from a superconducting ground plane by an insulating layer to form a plurality of superconducting waveguides. The microvertex particle detector indicates passage of a charged subatomic particle by measuring a voltage pulse measured across a superconducting waveguide caused by the transition of the superconducting thin film strip from a superconducting to a non-superconducting state in response to the passage of a charged particle. A plurality of superconducting thin film strips in two orthogonal planes plus the slow electromagnetic wave propogating in a superconducting transmission line are used to resolve N.sup.2 ambiguity of charged particle events.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of ceramic/metal interface reactions related to high T(sub c) superconducting applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Notis, Michael R.; Oh, Min-Seok

1990-01-01

Superconducting ceramic materials, no matter what their form, size or shape, must eventually make contact with non-superconducting materials in order to accomplish current transfer to other parts of a real operating system, or for testing and measurement of properties. Thus, whether the configuration is a clad wire, a bulk superconducting disc, tape, or a thick or thin superconducting film on a substrate, the physical and mechanical behavior of interface (interconnections, joints, etc.) between superconductors and normal conductor materials of all kinds is of extreme importance to the technological development of these systems. Fabrication heat treatments associated with the particular joining process allow possible reactions between the superconducting ceramic and the contact to occur, and consequently influence properties at the interface region. The nature of these reactions is therefore of great broad interest, as these may be a primary determinant for the real capability of these materials. Research related both to fabrication of composite sheathed wire products, and the joining contacts for physical property measurements, as well as, a review of other related literature in the field are described. Comparison are made between 1-2-3, Bi-, and Tl-based ceramic superconductors joined to a variety of metals including Cu, Ni, Fe, Cr, Ag, Ag-Pd, Au, In, and Ga. The morphology of reaction products and the nature of interface degradation as a function of time will be highlighted.

Quantum Optics with Superconducting Circuits: From Single Photons to Schrodinger Cats

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schoelkopf, Rob

Over the last decade and a half, superconducting circuits have advanced to the point where we can generate and detect highly-entangled states, and perform universal quantum gates. Meanwhile, the coherence properties of these systems have improved more than 10,000-fold. I will describe recent experiments, such as the latest advance in coherence using a three-dimensional implementation of qubits interacting with microwave cavities, called “3D circuit QED.” The control and strong interactions possible in superconducting circuits make it possible to generate non-classical states of light, including large superpositions known as “Schrodinger cat” states. This field has many interesting prospects both for applicationsmore » in quantum information processing, and fundamental investigations of the boundary between the macroscopic classical world and the microscopic world of the quantum.« less

The Fabrication Technique and Property Analysis of Racetrack-Type High Temperature Superconducting Magnet for High Power Motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, S. F.; Wang, Y.; Wang, D. Y.; Zhang, X. J.; Zhao, B.; Zhang, Y. Y.; Li, L.; Li, Y. N.; Chen, P. M.

2013-03-01

The superconducting motor is now the focus of the research on the application of high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials. In this manuscript, we mainly introduce the recent progress on the fabrication technique and property research of the superconducting motor magnet in Luoyang Ship Material Research Institute (LSMRI) in China, including the materials, the winding and impregnation technique, and property measurement of magnet. Several techniques and devices were developed to manufacture the magnet, including the technique of insulation and thermal conduction, the device for winding the racetrack-type magnet, etc. At last, the superconducting magnet used for the MW class motor were successfully developed, which is the largest superconducting motor magnet in china at present. The critical current of the superconducting magnet exceeds the design value (90 A at 30 K).

Process for Fabrication of Superconducting Vias for Electrical Connection to Groundplane in Cryogenic Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denis, Kevin L. (Inventor)

2018-01-01

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for fabrication of silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers with a superconductive via for electrical connection to a groundplane. Fabrication of the SOI wafer with a superconductive via can involve depositing a superconducting groundplane onto a substrate with the superconducting groundplane having an oxidizing layer and a non-oxidizing layer. A layer of monocrystalline silicon can be bonded to the superconducting groundplane and a photoresist layer can be applied to the layer of monocrystalline silicon and the SOI wafer can be etched with the oxygen rich etching plasma, resulting in a monocrystalline silicon top layer with a via that exposes the superconducting groundplane. Then, the fabrication can involve depositing a superconducting surface layer to cover the via.

Superconducting transmission line particle detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gray, K.E.

This paper describes a microvertex particle detector for use in a high energy physic collider including a plurality of parallel superconducting thin film strips separated from a superconducting ground plane by an insulating layer to form a plurality of superconducting waveguides. The microvertex particle detector indicates passage of a charged subatomic particle by measuring a voltage pulse measured across a superconducting waveguide caused by the transition of the superconducting thin film strip from a superconducting to a non-superconducting state in response to the passage of a charged particle. A plurality of superconducting thin film strips in two orthogonal planes plusmore » the slow electromagnetic wave propogating in a superconducting transmission line are used to resolve N{sup 2} ambiguity of charged particle events.« less

Superconducting transmission line particle detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gray, K.E.

A microvertex particle detector for use in a high energy physic collider including a plurality of parallel superconducting thin film strips separated from a superconducting ground plane by an insulating layer to form a plurality of superconducting waveguides. The microvertex particle detector indicates passage of a charged subatomic particle by measuring a voltage pulse measured across a superconducting waveguide caused by the transition of the superconducting thin film strip from a superconducting to a non- superconducting state in response to the passage of a charged particle. A plurality of superconducting thin film strips in two orthogonal planes plus the slowmore » electromagnetic wave propagating in a superconducting transmission line are used to resolve N/sup 2/ ambiguity of charged particle events. 6 figs.« less

High field superconducting magnets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hait, Thomas P. (Inventor); Shirron, Peter J. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A superconducting magnet includes an insulating layer disposed about the surface of a mandrel; a superconducting wire wound in adjacent turns about the mandrel to form the superconducting magnet, wherein the superconducting wire is in thermal communication with the mandrel, and the superconducting magnet has a field-to-current ratio equal to or greater than 1.1 Tesla per Ampere; a thermally conductive potting material configured to fill interstices between the adjacent turns, wherein the thermally conductive potting material and the superconducting wire provide a path for dissipation of heat; and a voltage limiting device disposed across each end of the superconducting wire, wherein the voltage limiting device is configured to prevent a voltage excursion across the superconducting wire during quench of the superconducting magnet.

Superconducting active impedance converter

DOEpatents

Ginley, D.S.; Hietala, V.M.; Martens, J.S.

1993-11-16

A transimpedance amplifier for use with high temperature superconducting, other superconducting, and conventional semiconductors allows for appropriate signal amplification and impedance matching to processing electronics. The amplifier incorporates the superconducting flux flow transistor into a differential amplifier configuration which allows for operation over a wide temperature range, and is characterized by high gain, relatively low noise, and response times less than 200 picoseconds over at least a 10-80 K. temperature range. The invention is particularly useful when a signal derived from either far-IR focal plane detectors or from Josephson junctions is to be processed by higher signal/higher impedance electronics, such as conventional semiconductor technology. 12 figures.

Cryogenic deformation of high temperature superconductive composite structures

DOEpatents

Roberts, Peter R.; Michels, William; Bingert, John F.

2001-01-01

An improvement in a process of preparing a composite high temperature oxide superconductive wire is provided and involves conducting at least one cross-sectional reduction step in the processing preparation of the wire at sub-ambient temperatures.

Reliability of large superconducting magnets through design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henning, C. D.

1981-01-01

Design and quality control of large superconducting magnets for reliability comparable to pressure vessels are discussed. The failure modes are analyzed including thermoelectric instabilities, electrical shorts, cryogenic/vacuum defects, and mechanical malfunctions. Design must take into consideration conductor stability, insulation based on the Paschen curves, and the possible burnout of cryogenic transition leads if the He flow is interrupted. The final stage of the metal drawing process should stress the superconductor material to a stress value higher than the magnet design stress, cabled conductors should be used to achieve mechanical redundancy, and ground-plane insulation must be multilayered for arc prevention.

Conventional magnetic superconductors

DOE PAGES

Wolowiec, C. T.; White, B. D.; Maple, M. B.

2015-07-01

We discuss several classes of conventional magnetic superconductors including the ternary rhodium borides and molybdenum chalcogenides (or Chevrel phases), and the quaternary nickel-borocarbides. These materials exhibit some exotic phenomena related to the interplay between superconductivity and long-range magnetic order including: the coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order; reentrant and double reentrant superconductivity, magnetic field induced superconductivity, and the formation of a sinusoidally-modulated magnetic state that coexists with superconductivity. We introduce the article with a discussion of the binary and pseudobinary superconducting materials containing magnetic impurities which at best exhibit short-range “glassy” magnetic order. Early experiments on these materials led tomore » the idea of a magnetic exchange interaction between the localized spins of magnetic impurity ions and the spins of the conduction electrons which plays an important role in understanding conventional magnetic superconductors. Furthermore, these advances provide a natural foundation for investigating unconventional superconductivity in heavy-fermion compounds, cuprates, and other classes of materials in which superconductivity coexists with, or is in proximity to, a magnetically-ordered phase.« less

Mechanical alignment of particles for use in fabricating superconducting and permanent magnetic materials

DOEpatents

Nellis, William J.; Maple, M. Brian

1992-01-01

A method for mechanically aligning oriented superconducting or permanently magnetic materials for further processing into constructs. This pretreatment optimizes the final crystallographic orientation and, thus, properties in these constructs. Such materials as superconducting fibers, needles and platelets are utilized.

Superconducting fault current-limiter with variable shunt impedance

DOEpatents

Llambes, Juan Carlos H; Xiong, Xuming

2013-11-19

A superconducting fault current-limiter is provided, including a superconducting element configured to resistively or inductively limit a fault current, and one or more variable-impedance shunts electrically coupled in parallel with the superconducting element. The variable-impedance shunt(s) is configured to present a first impedance during a superconducting state of the superconducting element and a second impedance during a normal resistive state of the superconducting element. The superconducting element transitions from the superconducting state to the normal resistive state responsive to the fault current, and responsive thereto, the variable-impedance shunt(s) transitions from the first to the second impedance. The second impedance of the variable-impedance shunt(s) is a lower impedance than the first impedance, which facilitates current flow through the variable-impedance shunt(s) during a recovery transition of the superconducting element from the normal resistive state to the superconducting state, and thus, facilitates recovery of the superconducting element under load.

Composite Ceramic Superconducting Wires for Electric Motor Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-07-07

generators that have been built using NbTi superconducting wire at liquid 3 helium temperature (4.2*K). Most of these magnets , motors, and generators have...temperature superconductors. A magnetic diffusivity value cannot be rigorously determined for the superconductor in the superconducting state when flux jump...cv, FIRST ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PROJECT "COMPOSITE CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTING WIRES FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR APPLICATIONS" 2 PRIME CONTRACTOR CERAMICS PROCESS

High critical current superconducting tapes

DOEpatents

Holesinger, Terry G [Los Alamos, NM; Jia, Quanxi [Los Alamos, NM; Foltyn, Stephen R [Los Alamos, NM

2003-09-23

Improvements in critical current capacity for superconducting film structures are disclosed and include the use of a superconducting RE-BCO layer including a mixture of rare earth metals, e.g., yttrium and europium, where the ratio of yttrium to europium in the RE-BCO layer ranges from about 3 to 1 to from about 1.5 to 1.

Permanent magnet design for high-speed superconducting bearings

DOEpatents

Hull, John R.; Uherka, Kenneth L.; Abdoud, Robert G.

1996-01-01

A high temperature superconducting bearing including a permanent magnet rotor levitated by a high temperature superconducting structure. The rotor preferably includes one or more concentric permanent magnet rings coupled to permanent magnet ring structures having substantially triangular and quadrangular cross-sections. Both alternating and single direction polarity magnet structures can be used in the bearing.

Superconducting Vacuum-Gap Crossovers for High Performance Microwave Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denis, Kevin L.; Brown, Ari D.; Chang, Meng-Ping; Hu, Ron; U-Yen, Kongpop; Wollack, Edward J.

2016-01-01

The design and fabrication of low-loss wide-bandwidth superconducting vacuum-gap crossovers for high performance millimeter wave applications are described. In order to reduce ohmic and parasitic losses at millimeter wavelengths a vacuum gap is preferred relative to dielectric spacer. Here, vacuum-gap crossovers were realized by using a sacrificial polymer layer followed by niobium sputter deposition optimized for coating coverage over an underlying niobium signal layer. Both coplanar waveguide and microstrip crossover topologies have been explored in detail. The resulting fabrication process is compatible with a bulk micro-machining process for realizing waveguide coupled detectors, which includes sacrificial wax bonding, and wafer backside deep reactive ion etching for creation of leg isolated silicon membrane structures. Release of the vacuum gap structures along with the wax bonded wafer after DRIE is implemented in the same process step used to complete the detector fabrication. ?

Development, preparation, and characterization of high-performance superconducting materials for space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thorpe, Arthur N.; Barkatt, Aaron

1991-01-01

The preparation of high-temperature superconducting ceramics in bulk form is a major challenge in materials science. The current status of both partial melting and melt quenching techniques, with or without an intermediate powder processing stage, is described in detail, and the problems associated with each of the methods are discussed. Results of studies performed on melt-processed materials are reported and discussed. The discussion places emphasis on magnetization and on other physical properties associated with it, such as critical current density, levitation force, and flux creep. The nature of structural features which give rise to flux pinning, including both small and large defects, is discussed with reference to theoretical considerations. The rates of flux creep and the factors involved in attempting to retard the decay of the magnetization are surveyed.

Processing study of high temperature superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Safari, A.; Wachtman, J.B. Jr.; Ward, C.

Processing of the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 6+x} superconducting phase by employing different precursor powder preparation techniques (ball milling, attrition milling) and samples formed by different sintering conditions are discussed. The superconducting phase has been identified by powder x-ray diffraction. The effect of different powder processing and pressing conditions on the structure, density, resistivity and a.c. magnetic susceptibility were studied. Though there is no variation in T{sub c} for all the samples, attrition milled samples show a much lower resistance and less temperature dependence compared to ball milled samples above the superconducting transition temperature up to room temperature. Ball milled samplesmore » were loosely packed with more voids compared to attrition milled samples which are more densely packed with a needle-like structure.« less

[The discussion of superconducting MRI magnet transformation without LHe].

PubMed

Yu, Huixian

2014-01-01

In this paper, from the current situation of the domestic use of superconducting MRI, on liquid helium supply and demand crisis in the market, the significance of the transformation without LHe of the superconducting MRI magnet was explained, and according to the enterprise's production process, a number of operating without liquid helium transformation practice and ideas were raised, important value orientation for the domestic manufacture and use of superconducting MRI was provided.

JETC (Japanese Technology Evaluation Center) Panel Report on High Temperature Superconductivity in Japan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shelton, Duane; Gamota, George

1989-01-01

The Japanese regard success in R and D in high temperature superconductivity as an important national objective. The results of a detailed evaluation of the current state of Japanese high temperature superconductivity development are provided. The analysis was performed by a panel of technical experts drawn from U.S. industry and academia, and is based on reviews of the relevant literature and visits to Japanese government, academic and industrial laboratories. Detailed appraisals are presented on the following: Basic research; superconducting materials; large scale applications; processing of superconducting materials; superconducting electronics and thin films. In all cases, comparisons are made with the corresponding state-of-the-art in the United States.

Permanent magnet design for high-speed superconducting bearings

DOEpatents

Hull, J.R.; Uherka, K.L.; Abdoud, R.G.

1996-09-10

A high temperature superconducting bearing including a permanent magnet rotor levitated by a high temperature superconducting structure is disclosed. The rotor preferably includes one or more concentric permanent magnet rings coupled to permanent magnet ring structures having substantially triangular and quadrangular cross-sections. Both alternating and single direction polarity magnet structures can be used in the bearing. 9 figs.

Superconducting coil and method of stress management in a superconducting coil

DOEpatents

McIntyre, Peter M.; Shen, Weijun; Diaczenko, Nick; Gross, Dan A.

1999-01-01

A superconducting coil (12) having a plurality of superconducting layers (18) is provided. Each superconducting layer (18) may have at least one superconducting element (20) which produces an operational load. An outer support structure (24) may be disposed outwardly from the plurality of layers (18). A load transfer system (22) may be coupled between at least one of the superconducting elements (20) and the outer support structure (24). The load transfer system (22) may include a support matrix structure (30) operable to transfer the operational load from the superconducting element (20) directly to the outer support structure (24). A shear release layer (40) may be disposed, in part, between the superconducting element (20) and the support matrix structure (30) for relieving a shear stress between the superconducting element (20) and the support matrix structure (30). A compliant layer (42) may also be disposed, in part, between the superconducting element (20) and the support matrix structure (30) for relieving a compressive stress on the superconducting element (20).

Apparatus and process for making a superconducting magnet for particle accelerators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jarabak, A.J.; Sunderman, W.H.; Mendola, E.G.

1992-03-10

This patent describes an apparatus for manufacturing a coil of superconducting material. It comprises a horizontally disposed winding mandrel; an adjustable support for receiving a spool of superconducting material, the spool having a vertical axis; means for translating the spool of superconducting material in a generally oval path around the winding mandrel so that the superconducting material is de-reeled from the spool, in order to wind a predetermined amount of superconducting material onto the mandrel, such that a coil of superconducting material is formed; means for guiding the superconducting material from the spool so as to deliver the superconducting materialmore » to the winding mandrel on a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the spool and parallel with a winding plane on the winding mandrel; means for imparting a tensioning force on the superconducting material as it is guided from the spool; means for rotating the winding mandrel about the horizontal axis thereof; means for clamping the superconducting material against the winding mandrel as the wire is wound thereon; means for securing the coil to the winding mandrel for lifting mandrel with the coil thereon; and means for curing the coil of superconducting material whereby a finished coil of superconducting material is formed.« less

Development of a Cryostat to Characterize Nano-scale Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Longo, Mathew; Matheny, Matthew; Knudsen, Jasmine

2016-03-01

We have designed and constructed a low-noise vacuum cryostat to be used for the characterization of nano-scale superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). Such devices are very sensitive to magnetic fields and can measure changes in flux on the order of a single electron magnetic moment. As a part of the design process, we calculated the separation required between the cryogenic preamplifier and superconducting magnet, including a high-permeability magnetic shield, using a finite-element model of the apparatus. The cryostat comprises a vacuum cross at room temperature for filtered DC and shielded RF electrical connections, a thin-wall stainless steel support tube, a taper-sealed cryogenic vacuum can, and internal mechanical support and wiring for the nanoSQUID. The Dewar is modified with a room-temperature flange with a sliding seal for the cryostat. The flange supports the superconducting 3 Tesla magnet and thermometry wiring. Upon completion of the cryostat fabrication and Dewar modifications, operation of the nanoSQUIDs as transported from our collaborator's laboratory in Israel will be confirmed, as the lead forming the SQUID is sensitive to oxidation and the SQUIDs must be shipped in a vacuum container. After operation of the nanoSQUIDs is confirmed, the primary work of characterizing their high-speed properties will begin. This will include looking at the measurement of relaxation oscillations at high bandwidth in comparison to the theoretical predictions of the current model.

System and method for cooling a superconducting rotary machine

DOEpatents

Ackermann, Robert Adolf [Schenectady, NY; Laskaris, Evangelos Trifon [Schenectady, NY; Huang, Xianrui [Clifton Park, NY; Bray, James William [Niskayuna, NY

2011-08-09

A system for cooling a superconducting rotary machine includes a plurality of sealed siphon tubes disposed in balanced locations around a rotor adjacent to a superconducting coil. Each of the sealed siphon tubes includes a tubular body and a heat transfer medium disposed in the tubular body that undergoes a phase change during operation of the machine to extract heat from the superconducting coil. A siphon heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the siphon tubes for extracting heat from the siphon tubes during operation of the machine.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dai, Jing; Quan, Sheng-Wen; Zhang, Bao-Cheng

The RF performance of a 1.3 GHz 9-cell superconducting niobium cavity was evaluated at cryogenic temperatures following surface processing by using the standard ILC-style recipe. The cavity is a TESLA-style 9-cell superconducting niobium cavity, with complete end group components including a higher order mode coupler, built in China for practical applications. An accelerating gradient of 28.6 MV/m was achieved at an unloaded quality factor of 4 x 10{sup 9}. The morphological property of mechanical features on the RF surface of this cavity was characterized through optical inspection. Correlation between the observed mechanical features and the RF performance of the cavitymore » is attempted.« less

Effect of boron doping on first-order Raman scattering in superconducting boron doped diamond films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Dinesh; Chandran, Maneesh; Ramachandra Rao, M. S.

2017-05-01

Aggregation of impurity levels into an impurity band in heavily boron doped diamond results in a background continuum and discrete zone centre phonon interference during the inelastic light scattering process. In order to understand the Raman scattering effect in granular BDD films, systematically heavily doped samples in the semiconducting and superconducting regimes have been studied using the excitation wavelengths in the UV and visible regions. A comprehensive analysis of the Fano resonance effect as a function of the impurity concentrations and the excitation frequencies is presented. Various Raman modes available in BDD including signals from the grain boundaries are discussed.

Andreev reflection enhancement in semiconductor-superconductor structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouscher, Shlomi; Winik, Roni; Hayat, Alex

2018-02-01

We develop a theoretical approach for modeling a wide range of semiconductor-superconductor structures with arbitrary potential barriers and a spatially dependent superconducting order parameter. We demonstrate asymmetry in the conductance spectrum as a result of a Schottky barrier shape. We further show that the Andreev reflection process can be significantly enhanced through resonant tunneling with appropriate barrier configuration, which can incorporate the Schottky barrier as a contributing component of the device. Moreover, we show that resonant tunneling can be achieved in superlattice structures as well. These theoretically demonstrated effects along with our modeling approach enable much more efficient Cooper pair injection into semiconductor-superconductor structures, including superconducting optoelectronic devices.

Development of high T(sub c) (greater than 110 K) Bi, Tl, and Y-based materials as superconducting circuit elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haertling, Gene H.; Grabert, Gregory; Gilmour, Phillip

1992-01-01

Experimental work has continued on the development and characterization of bulk and hot pressed powders and tapecast materials in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O systems. A process for producing warp-free, sintered, superconducting tapes of Bi composition Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O(x) with a mixed oxide process was established. This procedure required a triple calcination at 830 C for 24 hours and sintering at 845 C from 20 to 200 hours. Hot pressing the triple calcined powder at 845 C for 6 hours at 5000 psi yielded a dense material which on further heat treatment at 845 C for 24 hours exhibited a Tc of 108.2 K. A further improvement in the processing of the bismuth materials was achieved via a chemical coprecipitation process wherein the starting nitrate materials were coprecipitated with oxalic acid, thus yielding a more chemically homogeneous, more reactive powder. With the coprecipitated powders, only one calcine at 830 C for 12 hours and a final sinter at 845 C for 30 hours was sufficient to produce a bulk superconducting material with a Tc of 108.4 K. SAFIRE-type grounding links were successfully fabricated from sintered, tapecast, coprecipitated BSCCO 2223 powders. Compositional and processing investigations were continued on the Tl-based superconductors. Manganese and lithium additions and sintering temperature and time were examined to determine their influence on superconducting properties. It was found that lithium substitutions for copper enhance the transition temperatures while manganese additions produced deleterious effects on the superconducting properties. A suitable procedure for producing reproducible bulk and tapecast material of Tl composition Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O(x) was developed and used in fabricating uniform superconducting tapes. The highest transition temperature for Tl-based tapes was measured at 110.2 K. Thallium superconducting SAFIRE-type grounding links were fabricated from the tapes.

Production and fabrication of 2500-lb Nb--Ti ingots to rod

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cordier, T.E.; McDonald, W.K.

Interest in Nb--Ti superconducting devices is exploding. This paper outlines the critical production criteria for this material. Areas discussed include ingot blending, melting, forging, extrusion, and rod reducing with emphasis on the metallurgical considerations affecting mechanical properties. Data are included relating process parameters to TEM finding as well as R.T. ductility and optical microscopy. (auth)

Cooling of superconducting devices by liquid storage and refrigeration unit

DOEpatents

Laskaris, Evangelos Trifon; Urbahn, John Arthur; Steinbach, Albert Eugene

2013-08-20

A system is disclosed for cooling superconducting devices. The system includes a cryogen cooling system configured to be coupled to the superconducting device and to supply cryogen to the device. The system also includes a cryogen storage system configured to supply cryogen to the device. The system further includes flow control valving configured to selectively isolate the cryogen cooling system from the device, thereby directing a flow of cryogen to the device from the cryogen storage system.

EDITORIAL: Welcome to the New Year!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hampshire, D. P.

2008-01-01

I have the privilege of taking over from Professor Gordon Donaldson as Editor-in-Chief of Superconductor Science and Technology (SuST) for the next two years. During the last ten years, he has refereed several thousand papers and ensured that SuST has the highest impact factor of any specialist journal in the field. It is a pleasure to take this opportunity to thank him on behalf of our whole community. It is a great time to be involved with superconductivity. Following the physics Nobel prize in 2003 for pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductivity and superfluidity, many of us hope that another Nobel prize will be awarded for contributions to superconductivity when the mechanism that causes high temperature superconductivity (HTS) is explained. The mechanism for HTS currently provides one of the most important challenges for basic science. We also have the successes associated with large-scale superconducting systems including the LHC and the $10 billion ITER fusion tokomak to look forward to. Since the management of energy resources will be one of the critical issues in the 21st century, superconductivity will have an important contribution to make to the development of new technologies. It is one of the exciting and rewarding aspects of research in superconductivity where many world-class basic and applied research groups collaborate. In this context, SuST is well-positioned to broaden the scope and appeal of the journal and publish the best papers in both the science and technology of superconductivity. I would like to encourage scientists in all fields of superconductivity to submit their papers to the journal. Here are three reasons why SuST has already become the leading specialist journal in superconductivity: The average publication time, if your paper is accepted, is around 80 days from submission to online publication; All papers published are free to download from the web for 30 days from publication; SuST has the highest impact factor of all journals specialising in superconductivity. Further improvements, implemented from this January issue onwards, include: The introduction of article numbering which will speed up the publication process. Papers in different issues can be published online as soon as they are ready, without having to wait for a whole issue or section to be allocated page numbers. This will improve submission to publication times. Bringing the journal into line with other IOP journals so that reports from two referees are required for each paper prior to an acceptance/rejection decision. Refreshing the design of SuST's cover, modernising the typography and creating a consistent look and feel across the range of journals. Naturally we have also been asking how SuST and IOP Publishing can help the superconductivity community meet the challenges of the future and maintain the broad international readership that supports SuST. Clearly a specialist journal like SuST has a very different role in our community from general science journals such as Science and Nature. However the superconductivity community would benefit if publication in SuST brought with it the prestige of a yet higher impact factor, comparable to the very best physics, chemistry and engineering journals. In this context, I have identified the following aims for the Editorial Board: To increase the impact factor of SuST; To broaden the scope and size of the journal by increasing its profile and publishing the best papers in superconductivity— both in basic science and in technology; To improve the refereeing process by eliminating the tail of low impact papers submitted to SuST and reducing the time from submission to online availability; To make SuST the natural place to publish invited papers from the best of the community's pure and applied conferences and workshops; To improve the effectiveness of the Editorial Board; To improve the services that IOP Publishing provides for the superconductivity community. I am looking forward to working with IOP— one of the fabulous (not-for-profit) learned societies in the UK. IOP has a long tradition of supporting world-class international science in both the developed and developing world. It just remains for me to say that I am very much looking forward to working with you in the future and welcome any suggestions that will help to ensure that SuST remains essential reading for anyone working in superconductivity.

Nb3Sn superconducting radiofrequency cavities: fabrication, results, properties, and prospects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Posen, S.; Hall, D. L.

2017-03-01

A microns-thick film of Nb3Sn on the inner surface of a superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity has been demonstrated to substantially improve cryogenic efficiency compared to the standard niobium material, and its predicted superheating field is approximately twice as high. We review in detail the advantages of Nb3Sn coatings for SRF cavities. We describe the vapor diffusion process used to fabricate this material in the most successful experiments, and we compare the differences in the process used at different labs. We overview results of Nb3Sn SRF coatings, including CW and pulsed measurements of cavities as well as microscopic measurements. We discuss special considerations that must be practised when using Nb3Sn cavities in applications. Finally, we conclude by summarizing the state-of-the-art and describing the outlook for this alternative SRF material.

Enhanced superconductivity of fullerenes

DOEpatents

Washington, II, Aaron L.; Teprovich, Joseph A.; Zidan, Ragaiy

2017-06-20

Methods for enhancing characteristics of superconductive fullerenes and devices incorporating the fullerenes are disclosed. Enhancements can include increase in the critical transition temperature at a constant magnetic field; the existence of a superconducting hysteresis over a changing magnetic field; a decrease in the stabilizing magnetic field required for the onset of superconductivity; and/or an increase in the stability of superconductivity over a large magnetic field. The enhancements can be brought about by transmitting electromagnetic radiation to the superconductive fullerene such that the electromagnetic radiation impinges on the fullerene with an energy that is greater than the band gap of the fullerene.

Experimenting with a Superconducting Levitation Train

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miryala, Santosh; Koblischka, M. R.

2014-01-01

The construction and operation of a prototype high-"Tc" superconducting train model is presented. The train is levitated by a melt-processed GdBa[subscript 2]Cu[subscript 3]O[subscript x] (Gd-123) superconducting material over a magnetic rail (track). The oval shaped track is constructed in S-N-S or PM3N configuration arranged on an iron…

Superconducting levitating bearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moon, Francis C. (Inventor)

1996-01-01

A superconducting bearing assembly includes a coil field source that may be superconducting and a superconducting structure. The coil field source assembly and superconducting structure are positioned so as to enable relative rotary movement therebetween. The structure and coil field source are brought to a supercooled temperature before a power supply induces a current in the coil field source. A Meissner-like effect is thereby obtained and little or no penetration of the field lines is seen in the superconducting structure. Also, the field that can be obtained from the superconducting coil is 2-8 times higher than that of permanent magnets. Since the magnetic pressure is proportioned to the square of the field, magnetic pressures from 4 to 64 times higher are achieved.

Fracture analysis for a penny-shaped crack problem of a superconducting cylinder in a parallel magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, S. W.; Feng, W. J.; Fang, X. Q.; Zhang, G. L.

2014-11-01

In this work, the penny-shaped crack problem is investigated for an infinite long superconducting cylinder under electromagnetic forces. The distributions of magnetic flux density in the superconducting cylinder are obtained analytically for both the zero-field cooling (ZFC) and the field cooling (FC) activation processes, where the magnetically impermeable crack surface condition and the Bean model outside the crack region are adopted. Based on the finite element method (FEM), the stress intensity factor (SIF) and energy release rate (ERR) at the crack tips in the process of field descent are further numerically calculated. Numerical results obtained show that according to the maximal energy release rate criterion, the FC process is generally easier to enhance crack initiation and propagation than the ZFC activation process. On the other hand, for the FC activation process, the larger the maximal applied magnetic field, more likely the crack propagates. Additionally, crack size has important and slightly different effects on the crack extension forces for the ZFC and FC cases. Thus, all of the activation processes, the applied field and the diameter of the penny-shaped crack have significant effects on the intensity analysis and design of superconducting materials.

Superconducting Switch for Fast On-Chip Routing of Quantum Microwave Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pechal, M.; Besse, J.-C.; Mondal, M.; Oppliger, M.; Gasparinetti, S.; Wallraff, A.

2016-08-01

A switch capable of routing microwave signals at cryogenic temperatures is a desirable component for state-of-the-art experiments in many fields of applied physics, including but not limited to quantum-information processing, communication, and basic research in engineered quantum systems. Conventional mechanical switches provide low insertion loss but disturb operation of dilution cryostats and the associated experiments by heat dissipation. Switches based on semiconductors or microelectromechanical systems have a lower thermal budget but are not readily integrated with current superconducting circuits. Here we design and test an on-chip switch built by combining tunable transmission-line resonators with microwave beam splitters. The device is superconducting and as such dissipates a negligible amount of heat. It is compatible with current superconducting circuit fabrication techniques, operates with a bandwidth exceeding 100 MHz, is capable of handling photon fluxes on the order of 1 05 μ s-1 , equivalent to powers exceeding -90 dBm , and can be switched within approximately 6-8 ns. We successfully demonstrate operation of the device in the quantum regime by integrating it on a chip with a single-photon source and using it to route nonclassical itinerant microwave fields at the single-photon level.

Method and means for separating and classifying superconductive particles

DOEpatents

Park, Jin Y.; Kearney, Robert J.

1991-01-01

The specification and drawings describe a series of devices and methods for classifying and separating superconductive particles. The superconductive particles may be separated from non-superconductive particles, and the superconductive particles may be separated by degrees of susceptibility to the Meissner effect force. The particles may also be simultaneously separated by size or volume and mass to obtain substantially homogeneous groups of particles. The separation techniques include levitation, preferential sedimentation and preferential concentration. Multiple separation vector forces are disclosed.

Superconductive articles including cerium oxide layer

DOEpatents

Wu, X.D.; Muenchausen, R.E.

1993-11-16

A ceramic superconductor comprising a metal oxide substrate, a ceramic high temperature superconductive material, and a intermediate layer of a material having a cubic crystal structure, said layer situated between the substrate and the superconductive material is provided, and a structure for supporting a ceramic superconducting material is provided, said structure comprising a metal oxide substrate, and a layer situated over the surface of the substrate to substantially inhibit interdiffusion between the substrate and a ceramic superconducting material deposited upon said structure. 7 figures.

Superconductive articles including cerium oxide layer

DOEpatents

Wu, Xin D.; Muenchausen, Ross E.

1993-01-01

A ceramic superconductor comprising a metal oxide substrate, a ceramic high temperature superconductive material, and a intermediate layer of a material having a cubic crystal structure, said layer situated between the substrate and the superconductive material is provided, and a structure for supporting a ceramic superconducting material is provided, said structure comprising a metal oxide substrate, and a layer situated over the surface of the substrate to substantially inhibit interdiffusion between the substrate and a ceramic superconducting material deposited upon said structure.

Method of depositing an electrically conductive oxide buffer layer on a textured substrate and articles formed therefrom

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, M. Parans; Aytug, Tolga; Christen, David K.

2005-10-18

An article with an improved buffer layer architecture includes a substrate having a textured metal surface, and an electrically conductive lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer on the surface of the substrate. The article can also include an epitaxial superconducting layer deposited on the epitaxial buffer layer. An epitaxial capping layer can be placed between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer. A method for preparing an epitaxial article includes providing a substrate with a metal surface and depositing on the metal surface a lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer. The method can further include depositing a superconducting layer on the epitaxial buffer layer, and depositing an epitaxial capping layer between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer.

Method of depositing an electrically conductive oxide buffer layer on a textured substrate and articles formed therefrom

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, M. Parans; Aytug, Tolga; Christen, David K.

2003-09-09

An article with an improved buffer layer architecture includes a substrate having a textured metal surface, and an electrically conductive lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer on the surface of the substrate. The article can also include an epitaxial superconducting layer deposited on the epitaxial buffer layer. An epitaxial capping layer can be placed between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer. A method for preparing an epitaxial article includes providing a substrate with a metal surface and depositing on the metal surface a lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer. The method can further include depositing a superconducting layer on the epitaxial buffer layer, and depositing an epitaxial capping layer between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer.

Superconducting articles, and methods for forming and using same

DOEpatents

Knoll, Allan Robert [Guilderland, NY; Lenseth, Kenneth Patrick [Wynantskill, NY

2007-01-09

A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate including a plurality of indicia provided on the first surface spaced apart along a length of the substrate; and a superconductor layer overlying the second surface. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.

Superconductive radiofrequency window assembly

DOEpatents

Phillips, Harry Lawrence; Elliott, Thomas S.

1998-01-01

The present invention is a superconducting radiofrequency window assembly for use in an electron beam accelerator. The srf window assembly (20) has a superconducting metal-ceramic design. The srf window assembly (20) comprises a superconducting frame (30), a ceramic plate (40) having a superconducting metallized area, and a superconducting eyelet (50) for sealing plate (40) into frame (30). The plate (40) is brazed to eyelet (50) which is then electron beam welded to frame (30). A method for providing a ceramic object mounted in a metal member to withstand cryogenic temperatures is also provided. The method involves a new metallization process for coating a selected area of a ceramic object with a thin film of a superconducting material. Finally, a method for assembling an electron beam accelerator cavity utilizing the srf window assembly is provided. The procedure is carried out within an ultra clean room to minimize exposure to particulates which adversely affect the performance of the cavity within the electron beam accelerator.

Superconductive radiofrequency window assembly

DOEpatents

Phillips, H.L.; Elliott, T.S.

1998-05-19

The present invention is a superconducting radiofrequency window assembly for use in an electron beam accelerator. The SRF window assembly has a superconducting metal-ceramic design. The SRF window assembly comprises a superconducting frame, a ceramic plate having a superconducting metallized area, and a superconducting eyelet for sealing plate into frame. The plate is brazed to eyelet which is then electron beam welded to frame. A method for providing a ceramic object mounted in a metal member to withstand cryogenic temperatures is also provided. The method involves a new metallization process for coating a selected area of a ceramic object with a thin film of a superconducting material. Finally, a method for assembling an electron beam accelerator cavity utilizing the SRF window assembly is provided. The procedure is carried out within an ultra clean room to minimize exposure to particulates which adversely affect the performance of the cavity within the electron beam accelerator. 11 figs.

Superconducting radiofrequency window assembly

DOEpatents

Phillips, Harry L.; Elliott, Thomas S.

1997-01-01

The present invention is a superconducting radiofrequency window assembly for use in an electron beam accelerator. The srf window assembly (20) has a superconducting metal-ceramic design. The srf window assembly (20) comprises a superconducting frame (30), a ceramic plate (40) having a superconducting metallized area, and a superconducting eyelet (50) for sealing plate (40) into frame (30). The plate (40) is brazed to eyelet (50) which is then electron beam welded to frame (30). A method for providing a ceramic object mounted in a metal member to withstand cryogenic temperatures is also provided. The method involves a new metallization process for coating a selected area of a ceramic object with a thin film of a superconducting material. Finally, a method for assembling an electron beam accelerator cavity utilizing the srf window assembly is provided. The procedure is carried out within an ultra clean room to minimize exposure to particulates which adversely affect the performance of the cavity within the electron beam accelerator.

Superconducting radiofrequency window assembly

DOEpatents

Phillips, H.L.; Elliott, T.S.

1997-03-11

The present invention is a superconducting radiofrequency window assembly for use in an electron beam accelerator. The srf window assembly has a superconducting metal-ceramic design. The srf window assembly comprises a superconducting frame, a ceramic plate having a superconducting metallized area, and a superconducting eyelet for sealing plate into frame. The plate is brazed to eyelet which is then electron beam welded to frame. A method for providing a ceramic object mounted in a metal member to withstand cryogenic temperatures is also provided. The method involves a new metallization process for coating a selected area of a ceramic object with a thin film of a superconducting material. Finally, a method for assembling an electron beam accelerator cavity utilizing the srf window assembly is provided. The procedure is carried out within an ultra clean room to minimize exposure to particulates which adversely affect the performance of the cavity within the electron beam accelerator. 11 figs.

Influence of chemical etching and heat-treatment on the structure and superconducting properties of YGdBCO coated conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, M. J.; Wang, W. T.; Liu, L.; Huo, B. L.; Yang, X.; Cheng, C. H.; Zhao, Y.

2017-07-01

The effects of chemical etching (to remove metal stabilizer layers) and novel heat treatment process on the structure and superconducting properties of YGdBCO CCs for preparing a superconducting joint were studied. After removing the Cu stabilizer layer with the FeCl3 alcohol solution, the mixture of NH3.H2O and H2O2 was used to remove Ag stabilizer layer with various conditions such as etching temperature and time. Due to the decomposition of YGdBCO at high temperature, few secondary phases such as YGd211 and BaCuO2 were detected after partial melting. It is interested to note that these secondary phases were not detected after recrystallization at a relatively lower temperature. According to the pseudo-binary phase diagrams of Lee [1], the peritectic reaction of YGd211 was occurred and the YGd123 particle was aligned again along c-axis. Additionally, the oxygenation annealing process was indispensable to restore the degraded superconducting properties of YGdBCO CCs caused by the oxygen diffusion out of itself during heat treatment process. The above results were favorable to prepare the superconducting joint of YGdBCO CCs in our future work.

Enhanced pinning in YBCO films with BaZrO.sub.3 nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Driscoll, Judith L.; Foltyn, Stephen R.

2010-06-15

A process and composition of matter are provided and involve flux pinning in thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO by inclusion of particles including barium and a group 4 or group 5 metal, such as zirconium, in the thin film.

Reproducible fabrication and applications of superconducting scanning tunneling microscope tips

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naaman, Ofer; Teizer, Winfried; Dynes, Robert C.

2001-03-01

We report on a method developed in our lab, for the fabrication of superconducting scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tips in a reproducible fashion. The fabrication process relies on sequential deposition of superconducting Pb and a proximity-coupled Ag capping layer onto a Pt/Ir tip. The tips were characterized by tunneling into both normal-metal and superconducting films, and the results confirm that the tips are superconducting with Tc and Δ close to that of bulk lead. The lead phonon structure in the tunneling density of states was observed, indicating a single step tunneling process. In an attempt to form STM Josephson junctions, we used our tips to form S/I/S junctions with R_NN ~50-100 kΩ. Results from spectroscopic measurements of these junctions at 2.0 K are discussed within the framework of the Ivanchenko and Zil'berman theory (Soviet Physics JETP, vol.28, 1272; 1969) of Josephson tunneling in the presence of strong phase fluctuations.

Direct observation of ballistic Andreev reflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klapwijk, T. M.; Ryabchun, S. A.

2014-12-01

An overview is presented of experiments on ballistic electrical transport in inhomogeneous superconducting systems which are controlled by the process of Andreev reflection. The initial experiments based on the coexistence of a normal phase and a superconducting phase in the intermediate state led to the concept itself. It was followed by a focus on geometrically inhomogeneous systems like point contacts, which provided a very clear manifestation of the energy and direction dependence of the Andreev reflection process. The point contacts have recently evolved towards the atomic scale owing to the use of mechanical break-junctions, revealing a very detailed dependence of Andreev reflection on the macroscopic phase of the superconducting state. In present-day research, the superconducting in homogeneity is constructed by clean room technology and combines superconducting materials, for example, with low-dimensional materials and topological insulators. Alternatively, the superconductor is combined with nano-objects, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, or semiconducting nanowires. Each of these "inhomogeneous systems" provides a very interesting range of properties, all rooted in some manifestation of Andreev reflection.

Discovery of superconductivity in quasicrystal.

PubMed

Kamiya, K; Takeuchi, T; Kabeya, N; Wada, N; Ishimasa, T; Ochiai, A; Deguchi, K; Imura, K; Sato, N K

2018-01-11

Superconductivity is ubiquitous as evidenced by the observation in many crystals including carrier-doped oxides and diamond. Amorphous solids are no exception. However, it remains to be discovered in quasicrystals, in which atoms are ordered over long distances but not in a periodically repeating arrangement. Here we report electrical resistivity, magnetization, and specific-heat measurements of Al-Zn-Mg quasicrystal, presenting convincing evidence for the emergence of bulk superconductivity at a very low transition temperature of [Formula: see text] K. We also find superconductivity in its approximant crystals, structures that are periodic, but that are very similar to quasicrystals. These observations demonstrate that the effective interaction between electrons remains attractive under variation of the atomic arrangement from periodic to quasiperiodic one. The discovery of the superconducting quasicrystal, in which the fractal geometry interplays with superconductivity, opens the door to a new type of superconductivity, fractal superconductivity.

Superconducting structure

DOEpatents

Kwon, Chuhee; Jia, Quanxi; Foltyn, Stephen R.

2003-04-01

A superconductive structure including a dielectric oxide substrate, a thin buffer layer of a superconducting material thereon; and, a layer of a rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film thereon the thin layer of yttrium-barium-copper oxide, the rare earth selected from the group consisting of samarium, gadolinium, ytterbium, erbium, neodymium, dysprosium, holmium, lutetium, a combination of more than one element from the rare earth group and a combination of one or more elements from the rare earth group with yttrium, the buffer layer of superconducting material characterized as having chemical and structural compatibility with the dielectric oxide substrate and the rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film is provided.

Superconducting Structure

DOEpatents

Kwon, Chuhee; Jia, Quanxi; Foltyn, Stephen R.

2005-09-13

A superconductive structure including a dielectric oxide substrate, a thin buffer layer of a superconducting material thereon; and, a layer of a rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film thereon the thin layer of yttrium-barium-copper oxide, the rare earth selected from the group consisting of samarium, gadolinium, ytterbium, erbium, neodymium, dysprosium, holmium, lutetium, a combination of more than one element from the rare earth group and a combination of one or more elements from the rare earth group with yttrium, the buffer layer of superconducting material characterized as having chemical and structural compatibility with the dielectric oxide substrate and the rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconducting film is provided.

Observation of enhanced superconductivity in the vicinity of Ar-induced nano-cavities in Pb(111).

PubMed

Song, Sang Yong; Seo, Jungpil

2017-09-22

Local variations of superconductivity have been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy around nano-cavities formed by Ar ions embedded in Pb(111). Various factors including the density of states at Fermi energy, electron-phonon couplings, and quantum well states, which are known to affect superconductivity, have been examined. We show that the superconductivity is enhanced near the nano-cavities and propose that quantum effects such as quantum confinement, proximity effect and multi-gap effect are possibly involved in determining the superconducting gap of this system. These results have important implications for the characterization and understanding of superconductivity at a nanometer scale.

Effect of residual gas on structural, electrical and mechanical properties of niobium films deposited by magnetron sputtering deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lanruo; Zhong, Yuan; Li, Jinjin; Cao, Wenhui; Zhong, Qing; Wang, Xueshen; Li, Xu

2018-04-01

Magnetron sputtering is an important method in the superconducting thin films deposition. The residual gas inside the vacuum chamber will directly affect the quality of the superconducting films. In this paper, niobium films are deposited by magnetron sputtering under different chamber residual gas conditions. The influence of baking and sputtering process on residual gas are studied as well. Surface morphology, electrical and mechanical properties of the films are analysed. The residual gas analysis result before the sputtering process could be regarded as a reference condition to achieve high quality superconducting thin films.

Superconductivity in Russia: Update and prospects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ozhogin, V.

1995-01-01

The research projects and new technological developments that have occured in Russia are highlighted in this document. Some of the research discussed includes: x-ray structure analysis of YBCO superconducting single crystals and accompanying phase transformations; the role of electron-electron interaction in High Temperature Superconductors (HTSC); the formation of Cooper pairs in crystals; the synthesis and research on a new family of superconductors based on complex copper and mercury oxides (HgBa2CuO4 + alpha and HgBa2CaCu2O6 + alpha); methods for the extraction of higher (up to C200) fullerenes and metalfullerenides has been developed; and process of production of Josephson junctions and development of SQUID's.

Temporal resistance variation of the second generation HTS tape during superconducting-to-normal state transition.

PubMed

Malginov, Vladimir A; Malginov, Andrey V; Fleishman, Leonid S

2013-01-01

The quench process in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wires plays an important role in superconducting power devices, such as fault current limiters, magnets, cables, etc. The superconducting device should survive after the overheating due to quench. We studied the evolution of the resistance of the YBCO tape wire during the quench process with 1 ms time resolution for various excitation voltages. The resistive normal zone was found to be located in a domain of about 1-4 cm long. The normal state nucleation begins in 40-60 ms after voltage is applied across the HTS tape. In subsequent 200-300 ms other normal state regions appear. The normal domain heating continues in the following 5-10s that results in a factor of 2-3 increase of its resistance. Formation of the normal domain during the quench process follows the same stages for different excitation voltages. Characteristic domain sizes, lifetimes and temperatures are determined for all stages.

Growth and patterning of laser ablated superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 films on LaAlO3 substrates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Warner, J. D.; Bhasin, K. B.; Varaljay, N. C.; Bohman, D. Y.; Chorey, C. M.

1989-01-01

A high quality superconducting film on a substrate with a low dielectric constant is desired for passive microwave circuit applications. In addition, it is essential that the patterning process does not effect the superconducting properties of the thin films to achieve the highest circuit operating temperatures. YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting films were grown on lanthanum aluminate substrates using laser ablation with resulting maximum transition temperature (T sub c) of 90 K. The films were grown on a LaAlO3 which was at 775 C and in 170 mtorr of oxygen and slowly cooled to room temperature in 1 atm of oxygen. These films were then processed using photolithography and a negative photoresist with an etch solution of bromine and ethanol. Results are presented on the effect of the processing on T(sub c) of the film and the microwave properties of the patterned films.

High Tc superconducting bolometric and nonbolometric infrared (IR) detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakeou, Samuel

1994-01-01

The original workplan for the first year of the project includes the following: establishment of a pilot superconductivity application laboratory at UDC to support the research component of the project; research on the source of electrical noise in High Tc superconducting films in order to optimize the film microstructure and lower the NEP; and lay the foundation of an academic support for exposing UDC students to the theory and application of High Tc superconductivity. Attached to this status report are abstracts and the course description for Introduction to Applications of Superconductivity.

Quantized conductance doubling and hard gap in a two-dimensional semiconductor-superconductor heterostructure.

PubMed

Kjaergaard, M; Nichele, F; Suominen, H J; Nowak, M P; Wimmer, M; Akhmerov, A R; Folk, J A; Flensberg, K; Shabani, J; Palmstrøm, C J; Marcus, C M

2016-09-29

Coupling a two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor heterostructure to a superconductor opens new research and technology opportunities, including fundamental problems in mesoscopic superconductivity, scalable superconducting electronics, and new topological states of matter. One route towards topological matter is by coupling a 2D electron gas with strong spin-orbit interaction to an s-wave superconductor. Previous efforts along these lines have been adversely affected by interface disorder and unstable gating. Here we show measurements on a gateable InGaAs/InAs 2DEG with patterned epitaxial Al, yielding devices with atomically pristine interfaces between semiconductor and superconductor. Using surface gates to form a quantum point contact (QPC), we find a hard superconducting gap in the tunnelling regime. When the QPC is in the open regime, we observe a first conductance plateau at 4e 2 /h, consistent with theory. The hard-gap semiconductor-superconductor system demonstrated here is amenable to top-down processing and provides a new avenue towards low-dissipation electronics and topological quantum systems.

Quantized conductance doubling and hard gap in a two-dimensional semiconductor–superconductor heterostructure

PubMed Central

Kjaergaard, M.; Nichele, F.; Suominen, H. J.; Nowak, M. P.; Wimmer, M.; Akhmerov, A. R.; Folk, J. A.; Flensberg, K.; Shabani, J.; Palmstrøm, C. J.; Marcus, C. M.

2016-01-01

Coupling a two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor heterostructure to a superconductor opens new research and technology opportunities, including fundamental problems in mesoscopic superconductivity, scalable superconducting electronics, and new topological states of matter. One route towards topological matter is by coupling a 2D electron gas with strong spin–orbit interaction to an s-wave superconductor. Previous efforts along these lines have been adversely affected by interface disorder and unstable gating. Here we show measurements on a gateable InGaAs/InAs 2DEG with patterned epitaxial Al, yielding devices with atomically pristine interfaces between semiconductor and superconductor. Using surface gates to form a quantum point contact (QPC), we find a hard superconducting gap in the tunnelling regime. When the QPC is in the open regime, we observe a first conductance plateau at 4e2/h, consistent with theory. The hard-gap semiconductor–superconductor system demonstrated here is amenable to top-down processing and provides a new avenue towards low-dissipation electronics and topological quantum systems. PMID:27682268

Quantum Devices Bonded Beneath a Superconducting Shield: Part 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McRae, Corey Rae; Abdallah, Adel; Bejanin, Jeremy; Earnest, Carolyn; McConkey, Thomas; Pagel, Zachary; Mariantoni, Matteo

The next-generation quantum computer will rely on physical quantum bits (qubits) organized into arrays to form error-robust logical qubits. In the superconducting quantum circuit implementation, this architecture will require the use of larger and larger chip sizes. In order for on-chip superconducting quantum computers to be scalable, various issues found in large chips must be addressed, including the suppression of box modes (due to the sample holder) and the suppression of slot modes (due to fractured ground planes). By bonding a metallized shield layer over a superconducting circuit using thin-film indium as a bonding agent, we have demonstrated proof of concept of an extensible circuit architecture that holds the key to the suppression of spurious modes. Microwave characterization of shielded transmission lines and measurement of superconducting resonators were compared to identical unshielded devices. The elimination of box modes was investigated, as well as bond characteristics including bond homogeneity and the presence of a superconducting connection.

Method for producing microcomposite powders using a soap solution

DOEpatents

Maginnis, Michael A.; Robinson, David A.

1996-01-01

A method for producing microcomposite powders for use in superconducting and non-superconducting applications. A particular method to produce microcomposite powders for use in superconducting applications includes the steps of: (a) preparing a solution including ammonium soap; (b) dissolving a preselected amount of a soluble metallic such as silver nitrate in the solution including ammonium soap to form a first solution; (c) adding a primary phase material such as a single phase YBC superconducting material in particle form to the first solution; (d) preparing a second solution formed from a mixture of a weak acid and an alkyl-mono-ether; (e) adding the second solution to the first solution to form a resultant mixture; (f) allowing the resultant mixture to set until the resultant mixture begins to cloud and thicken into a gel precipitating around individual particles of the primary phase material; (g) thereafter drying the resultant mixture to form a YBC superconducting material/silver nitrate precursor powder; and (h) calcining the YBC superconducting material/silver nitrate precursor powder to convert the silver nitrate to silver and thereby form a YBC/silver microcomposite powder wherein the silver is substantially uniformly dispersed in the matrix of the YBC material.

Nb 3Sn superconducting radiofrequency cavities: Fabrication, results, properties, and prospects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Posen, S.; Hall, D. L.

A microns-thick film of Nb 3Sn on the inner surface of a superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity has been demonstrated to substantially improve cryogenic efficiency compared to the standard niobium material, and its predicted superheating field is approximately twice as high. We review in detail the advantages of Nb 3Sn coatings for SRF cavities. We describe the vapor diffusion process used to fabricate this material in the most successful experiments, and we compare the differences in the process used at different labs. We overview results of Nb 3Sn SRF coatings, including CW and pulsed measurements of cavities as well as microscopicmore » measurements. We discuss special considerations that must be practised when using Nb 3Sn cavities in applications. Lastly, we conclude by summarizing the state-of-the-art and describing the outlook for this alternative SRF material.« less

Nb 3Sn superconducting radiofrequency cavities: Fabrication, results, properties, and prospects

DOE PAGES

Posen, S.; Hall, D. L.

2017-01-23

A microns-thick film of Nb 3Sn on the inner surface of a superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity has been demonstrated to substantially improve cryogenic efficiency compared to the standard niobium material, and its predicted superheating field is approximately twice as high. We review in detail the advantages of Nb 3Sn coatings for SRF cavities. We describe the vapor diffusion process used to fabricate this material in the most successful experiments, and we compare the differences in the process used at different labs. We overview results of Nb 3Sn SRF coatings, including CW and pulsed measurements of cavities as well as microscopicmore » measurements. We discuss special considerations that must be practised when using Nb 3Sn cavities in applications. Lastly, we conclude by summarizing the state-of-the-art and describing the outlook for this alternative SRF material.« less

The reaction process of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system and the forming mechanism of the 2212 superconducting phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Guohong; Wang, Minquan; Fan, Xianping; Tang, Xiaoming

1993-02-01

The reaction process and the reaction behavior of each component in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system are presented in this paper. It reveals that the reaction is carried out in three different stages: forming of an insulating interphase at 680°C 790°C, forming of the 2212 superconducting phase at 790°C 860°C and forming often semiconducting phases in the presence of the liquid phase at 860°C 970°C. It is also confirmed that the 2212 superconducting phase ( T c=85 K) is formed by the reaction of a trinary interphase together with CuO, SrO and CaO. A new two-step method is presented to prepare the 2212 superconducting phase by a presynthesized interphase.

Flexible Microstrip Circuits for Superconducting Electronics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, James; Mateo, Jennette

2013-01-01

Flexible circuits with superconducting wiring atop polyimide thin films are being studied to connect large numbers of wires between stages in cryogenic apparatus with low heat load. The feasibility of a full microstrip process, consisting of two layers of superconducting material separated by a thin dielectric layer on 5 mil (approximately 0.13 mm) Kapton sheets, where manageable residual stress remains in the polyimide film after processing, has been demonstrated. The goal is a 2-mil (approximately 0.051-mm) process using spin-on polyimide to take advantage of the smoother polyimide surface for achieving highquality metal films. Integration of microstrip wiring with this polyimide film may require high-temperature bakes to relax the stress in the polyimide film between metallization steps.

Superconducting magnetic shielding apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Clem, John R.; Clem, John R.

1983-01-01

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing magnetic shielding around a working volume. The apparatus includes a hollow elongated superconducting shell or cylinder having an elongated low magnetic pinning central portion, and two high magnetic pinning end regions. Transition portions of varying magnetic pinning properties are interposed between the central and end portions. The apparatus further includes a solenoid substantially coextensive with and overlying the superconducting cylinder, so as to be magnetically coupled therewith. The method includes the steps passing a longitudinally directed current through the superconducting cylinder so as to depin magnetic reservoirs trapped in the cylinder. Next, a circumferentially directed current is passed through the cylinder, while a longitudinally directed current is maintained. Depinned magnetic reservoirs are moved to the end portions of the cylinder, where they are trapped.

Superconducting magnetic shielding apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Clem, J.R.; Clem, J.R.

1983-10-11

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for providing magnetic shielding around a working volume. The apparatus includes a hollow elongated superconducting shell or cylinder having an elongated low magnetic pinning central portion, and two high magnetic pinning end regions. Transition portions of varying magnetic pinning properties are interposed between the central and end portions. The apparatus further includes a solenoid substantially coextensive with and overlying the superconducting cylinder, so as to be magnetically coupled therewith. The method includes the steps passing a longitudinally directed current through the superconducting cylinder so as to depin magnetic reservoirs trapped in the cylinder. Next, a circumferentially directed current is passed through the cylinder, while a longitudinally directed current is maintained. Depinned magnetic reservoirs are moved to the end portions of the cylinder, where they are trapped. 5 figs.

Superconducting magnetic shielding apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Clem, J.R.

1982-07-09

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing magnetic shielding around a working volume. The apparatus includes a hollow elongated superconducting shell or cylinder having an elongated low magnetic pinning central portion, and two high magnetic pinning end regions. Transition portions of varying magnetic pinning properties are interposed between the central and end portions. The apparatus further includes a solenoid substantially coextensive with and overlying the superconducting cylinder, so as to be magnetically coupled therewith. The method includes the steps passing a longitudinally directed current through the superconducting cylinder so as to depin magnetic reservoirs trapped in the cylinder. Next, a circumferentially directed current is passed through the cylinder, while a longitudinally directed current is maintained. Depinned magnetic reservoirs are moved to the end portions of the cylinder, where they are trapped.

An acetate precursor process for BSCCO (2223) thin films and coprecipitated powders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haertling, Gene H.

1992-01-01

Since the discovery of high temperature superconducting oxides much attention has been paid to finding better and useful ways to take advantage of the special properties exhibited by these materials. One such process is the development of thin films for engineering applications. Another such process is the coprecipitation route to producing superconducting powders. An acetate precursor process for use in thin film fabrication and a chemical coprecipitation route to Bismuth based superconducting materials has been developed. Data obtained from the thin film process were inconclusive to date and require more study. The chemical coprecipitation method of producing bulk material is a viable method, and is preferred over the previously used solid state route. This method of powder production appears to be an excellent route to producing thin section tape cast material and screen printed devices, as it requires less calcines than the oxide route to produce quality powders.

Levitation Kits Demonstrate Superconductivity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worthy, Ward

1987-01-01

Describes the "Project 1-2-3" levitation kit used to demonstrate superconductivity. Summarizes the materials included in the kit. Discusses the effect demonstrated and gives details on how to obtain kits. Gives an overview of the documentation that is included. (CW)

Invited review article: physics and Monte Carlo techniques as relevant to cryogenic, phonon, and ionization readout of Cryogenic Dark Matter Search radiation detectors.

PubMed

Leman, Steven W

2012-09-01

This review discusses detector physics and Monte Carlo techniques for cryogenic, radiation detectors that utilize combined phonon and ionization readout. A general review of cryogenic phonon and charge transport is provided along with specific details of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search detector instrumentation. In particular, this review covers quasidiffusive phonon transport, which includes phonon focusing, anharmonic decay, and isotope scattering. The interaction of phonons in the detector surface is discussed along with the downconversion of phonons in superconducting films. The charge transport physics include a mass tensor which results from the crystal band structure and is modeled with a Herring-Vogt transformation. Charge scattering processes involve the creation of Neganov-Luke phonons. Transition-edge-sensor (TES) simulations include a full electric circuit description and all thermal processes including Joule heating, cooling to the substrate, and thermal diffusion within the TES, the latter of which is necessary to model normal-superconducting phase separation. Relevant numerical constants are provided for these physical processes in germanium, silicon, aluminum, and tungsten. Random number sampling methods including inverse cumulative distribution function (CDF) and rejection techniques are reviewed. To improve the efficiency of charge transport modeling, an additional second order inverse CDF method is developed here along with an efficient barycentric coordinate sampling method of electric fields. Results are provided in a manner that is convenient for use in Monte Carlo and references are provided for validation of these models.

Superconducting transition edge sensors and methods for design and manufacture thereof

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

Methods for forming sensors using transition edge sensors (TES) and sensors therefrom are described. The method includes forming a plurality of sensor arrays includes at least one TES device. The TES device includes a TES device body, a first superconducting lead contacting a first portion of the TES device body, and a second superconducting lead contacting of a second portion of the TES device body, where the first and second superconducting leads separated on the TES device body by a lead spacing. The lead spacing can be selected to be different for at least two of the plurality of sensor arrays. The method also includes determining a transition temperature for each of the plurality of sensor arrays and generating a signal responsive to detecting a change in the electrical characteristics of one of the plurality of sensor arrays meeting a transition temperature criterion.

Francis Bitter National Laboratory quarterly progress report, July 1, 1972--September 30, 1972

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1972-10-31

Reports on research projects at Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory are presented on 19 different topics including the following: far infrared magneto-optics; quantum optics; soft x-rays and laser-produced plasmas; magneto-optical theory; magnetism and superconductivity; Mossbauer effect studies; superconducting thin films; amorphous semiconductors and superconductivity; nuclear magnetic resonance of biomolecules; low magnetic fields; superconducting medical magnet; magnetically guided catheters; magnetic separation; high current switching; development of guided electromagnetic flight; Alcator; high voltage discharges in cryocables; and low temperature thermometry in high magnetic fields. The Magnet Research and Technology Program and reports of visiting scientists are also included in this report. Reportsmore » on some research not supported by NSF are included, and the supporting agencies are indicated. A list of publications and speeches presented at meetings during the quarter covered by this report are included in an appendix.« less

Superconductivity at 7.4 K in few layer graphene by Li-intercalation.

PubMed

Tiwari, Anand P; Shin, Soohyeon; Hwang, Eunhee; Jung, Soon-Gil; Park, Tuson; Lee, Hyoyoung

2017-11-08

Superconductivity in graphene has been highly sought after for its promise in various device applications and for general scientific interest. Ironically, the simple electronic structure of graphene, which is responsible for novel quantum phenomena, hinders the emergence of superconductivity. Theory predicts that doping the surface of the graphene effectively alters the electronic structure, thus promoting propensity towards Cooper pair instability (Profeta et al (2012) Nat. Phys. 8 131-4; Nandkishore et al (2012) Nat. Phys. 8 158-63) [1, 2]. Here we report the emergence of superconductivity at 7.4 K in Li-intercalated few-layer-graphene (FLG). The absence of superconductivity in 3D Li-doped graphite underlines that superconductivity in Li-FLG arises from the novel electronic properties of the 2D graphene layer. These results are expected to guide future research on graphene-based superconductivity, both in theory and experiments. In addition, easy control of the Li-doping process holds promise for various device applications.

Method for manufacturing a rotor having superconducting coils

DOEpatents

Driscoll, David I.; Shoykhet, Boris A.

2001-01-01

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a rotor for use with a rotating machine is provided that employs a superconducting coil on the rotor. An adhesive is applied to an outer surface of the rotor body, which may include a groove disposed within an outer surface of the rotor body. A superconducting coil is then mounted onto the rotor body such that the adhesive bonds the superconducting coil to the rotor body.

Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Pb-Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor films via an electrodeposition process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maxfield, M.; Eckhardt, H.; Iqbal, Z.; Reidinger, F.; Baughman, R. H.

1989-05-01

A novel electrochemical process has been developed for the formation of superconducting films. Using this process, superconducting films of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 and (Pb,Bi)2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 have been formed. The process consists of simultaneously depositing the metallic constituents of the superconductor from a single electrolyte, and thermally oxidizing the resulting precursors film to form the superconducting phase. Application of -4 to -5 V vs Ag/Ag(+) to a conductive cathode substrate which is immersed in an electrolyte containing salts of all of the metals reduces the metal cations, causing then to deposit on the cathode as a metallic film precursor. Precursor films having desired stoichiometries were obtained by regulating the electrolyte bath composition.

Method of producing Pb-stabilized superconductor precursors and method of producing superconductor articles therefrom

DOEpatents

Kroeger, D.M.; Hsu, H.S.; Brynestad, J.

1995-03-07

Metal oxide superconductor powder precursors are prepared in an aerosol pyrolysis process. A solution of the metal cations is introduced into a furnace at 600--1,000 C for 0.1 to 60 seconds. The process produces micron to submicron size powders without the usual loss of the lead stabilizer. The resulting powders have a narrow particle size distribution, a small grain size, and are readily converted to a superconducting composition upon subsequent heat treatment. The precursors are placed in a metal body deformed to form a wire or tape and heated to form a superconducting article. The fine powders permit a substantial reduction in heat treatment time, thus enabling a continuous processing of the powders into superconducting wire, tape or multifilamentary articles by the powder-in-tube process. 3 figs.

Method of producing Pb-stabilized superconductor precursors and method of producing superconductor articles therefrom

DOEpatents

Kroeger, Donald M.; Hsu, Huey S.; Brynestad, Jorulf

1995-01-01

Metal oxide superconductor powder precursors are prepared in an aerosol pyrolysis process. A solution of the metal cations is introduced into a furnace at 600.degree.-1000.degree. C. for 0.1 to 60 seconds. The process produces micron to submicron size powders without the usual loss of the lead stabilizer. The resulting powders have a narrow particle size distribution, a small grain size, and are readily converted to a superconducting composition upon subsequent heat treatment. The precursors are placed in a metal body deformed to form a wire or tape and heated to form a superconducting article. The fine powders permit a substantial reduction in heat treatment time, thus enabling a continuous processing of the powders into superconducting wire, tape or multifilamentary articles by the powder-in-tube process.

Process for applying a superconductive powder to a wide variety of substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hooker, Matthew W.; Wise, Stephanie A.; Tran, Sang Q.

1992-12-01

A fine superconducting powder such as YBa2Cu3O(7-x), wherein x is less than one, is blended into a liquid mixture comprising an epoxy resin and a thinner. This liquid mixture with the blended superconducting powder is coated onto a substrate. Next, the thinner is evaporated and the remaining coating cured, resulting in a coating of cured epoxy resin having superconducting powder suspended therein. This coating exhibits the Meissner effect, i.e., it expels a magnetic flux which protects the substrate from external magnetic interference. Since the coated substrate need only be heated for evaporation and curing at relatively low temperatures compared to firing, the superconducting coating can be applied to a wide variety of different materials.

Measurement and control of quasiparticle dynamics in a superconducting qubit.

PubMed

Wang, C; Gao, Y Y; Pop, I M; Vool, U; Axline, C; Brecht, T; Heeres, R W; Frunzio, L; Devoret, M H; Catelani, G; Glazman, L I; Schoelkopf, R J

2014-12-18

Superconducting circuits have attracted growing interest in recent years as a promising candidate for fault-tolerant quantum information processing. Extensive efforts have always been taken to completely shield these circuits from external magnetic fields to protect the integrity of the superconductivity. Here we show vortices can improve the performance of superconducting qubits by reducing the lifetimes of detrimental single-electron-like excitations known as quasiparticles. Using a contactless injection technique with unprecedented dynamic range, we quantitatively distinguish between recombination and trapping mechanisms in controlling the dynamics of residual quasiparticle, and show quantized changes in quasiparticle trapping rate because of individual vortices. These results highlight the prominent role of quasiparticle trapping in future development of superconducting qubits, and provide a powerful characterization tool along the way.

Characterization of the dominant loss mechanisms in superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calusine, Greg; Melville, Alexander; Woods, Wayne; Kim, David K.; Miloshi, Xhovalin; Sevi, Arjan; Yoder, Jonilyn; Oliver, William D.

The characterization of losses in superconducting coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonators is commonly used as a surrogate means to probe relaxation in superconducting qubit capacitor structures. However, this method is complicated by device-to-device variations that result from a sensitivity to variations in fabrication processes, packaging, and measurement methods. We present results on characterizing ensembles of aluminum, niobium, and titanium nitride superconducting CPW resonators to determine the statistical significance of the effects of fabrication process changes on resonator intrinsic quality factor. Furthermore, we report progress on experiments aimed at determining the impact of other competing loss mechanisms such as vortex trapping, package coupling, and substrate loss. These results are then applied to the study of relaxation in superconducting qubits and investigations into the microscopic origins of surface losses. This research was funded in part by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of IARPA or the US Government.

The p-wave superconductivity in the presence of Rashba interaction in 2DEG

PubMed Central

Weng, Ke-Chuan; Hu, C. D.

2016-01-01

We investigate the effect of the Rashba interaction on two dimensional superconductivity. The presence of the Rashba interaction lifts the spin degeneracy and gives rise to the spectrum of two bands. There are intraband and interband pairs scattering which result in the coupled gap equations. We find that there are isotropic and anisotropic components in the gap function. The latter has the form of cos φk where . The former is suppressed because the intraband and the interband scatterings nearly cancel each other. Hence, −the system should exhibit the p-wave superconductivity. We perform a detailed study of electron-phonon interaction for 2DEG and find that, if only normal processes are considered, the effective coupling strength constant of this new superconductivity is about one-half of the s-wave case in the ordinary 2DEG because of the angular average of the additional in the anisotropic gap function. By taking into account of Umklapp processes, we find they are the major contribution in the electron-phonon coupling in superconductivity and enhance the transition temperature Tc. PMID:27459677

Direct observation of ballistic Andreev reflection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klapwijk, T. M., E-mail: t.m.klapwijk@tudelft.nl; Ryabchun, S. A.

2014-12-15

An overview is presented of experiments on ballistic electrical transport in inhomogeneous superconducting systems which are controlled by the process of Andreev reflection. The initial experiments based on the coexistence of a normal phase and a superconducting phase in the intermediate state led to the concept itself. It was followed by a focus on geometrically inhomogeneous systems like point contacts, which provided a very clear manifestation of the energy and direction dependence of the Andreev reflection process. The point contacts have recently evolved towards the atomic scale owing to the use of mechanical break-junctions, revealing a very detailed dependence ofmore » Andreev reflection on the macroscopic phase of the superconducting state. In present-day research, the superconducting in homogeneity is constructed by clean room technology and combines superconducting materials, for example, with low-dimensional materials and topological insulators. Alternatively, the superconductor is combined with nano-objects, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, or semiconducting nanowires. Each of these “inhomogeneous systems” provides a very interesting range of properties, all rooted in some manifestation of Andreev reflection.« less

Prototype Parts of a Digital Beam-Forming Wide-Band Receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaplan, Steven B.; Pylov, Sergey V.; Pambianchi, Michael

2003-01-01

Some prototype parts of a digital beamforming (DBF) receiver that would operate at multigigahertz carrier frequencies have been developed. The beam-forming algorithm in a DBF receiver processes signals from multiple antenna elements with appropriate time delays and weighting factors chosen to enhance the reception of signals from a specific direction while suppressing signals from other directions. Such a receiver would be used in the directional reception of weak wideband signals -- for example, spread-spectrum signals from a low-power transmitter on an Earth-orbiting spacecraft or other distant source. The prototype parts include superconducting components on integrated-circuit chips, and a multichip module (MCM), within which the chips are to be packaged and connected via special inter-chip-communication circuits. The design and the underlying principle of operation are based on the use of the rapid single-flux quantum (RSFQ) family of logic circuits to obtain the required processing speed and signal-to-noise ratio. RSFQ circuits are superconducting circuits that exploit the Josephson effect. They are well suited for this application, having been proven to perform well in some circuits at frequencies above 100 GHz. In order to maintain the superconductivity needed for proper functioning of the RSFQ circuits, the MCM must be kept in a cryogenic environment during operation.

Melt-processing high-T{sub c} superconductors under an elevated magnetic field [Final report no. 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

John B. Vander Sande

2001-09-05

This report presents models for crystallographic texture development for high temperature superconducting oxides processed in the absence of a magnetic field and in the presence of a high magnetic field. The results of the models are confirmed through critical experiments. Processing thick films and tapes of high temperature superconducting oxides under a high magnetic field (5-10T) improves the critical current density exhibited.

A graph-theoretical representation of multiphoton resonance processes in superconducting quantum circuits

DOE PAGES

Jooya, Hossein Z.; Reihani, Kamran; Chu, Shih-I

2016-11-21

We propose a graph-theoretical formalism to study generic circuit quantum electrodynamics systems consisting of a two level qubit coupled with a single-mode resonator in arbitrary coupling strength regimes beyond rotating-wave approximation. We define colored-weighted graphs, and introduce different products between them to investigate the dynamics of superconducting qubits in transverse, longitudinal, and bidirectional coupling schemes. In conclusion, the intuitive and predictive picture provided by this method, and the simplicity of the mathematical construction, are demonstrated with some numerical studies of the multiphoton resonance processes and quantum interference phenomena for the superconducting qubit systems driven by intense ac fields.

Solid State Division progress report for period ending September 30, 1993

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Green, P.H.; Hinton, L.W.

1994-08-01

This report covers research progress in the Solid State Division from April 1, 1992, to September 30, 1993. During this period, the division conducted a broad, interdisciplinary materials research program with emphasis on theoretical solid state physics, neutron scattering, synthesis and characterization of materials, ion beam and laser processing, and the structure of solids and surfaces. This research effort was enhanced by new capabilities in atomic-scale materials characterization, new emphasis on the synthesis and processing of materials, and increased partnering with industry and universities. The theoretical effort included a broad range of analytical studies, as well as a new emphasismore » on numerical simulation stimulated by advances in high-performance computing and by strong interest in related division experimental programs. Superconductivity research continued to advance on a broad front from fundamental mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity to the development of new materials and processing techniques. The Neutron Scattering Program was characterized by a strong scientific user program and growing diversity represented by new initiatives in complex fluids and residual stress. The national emphasis on materials synthesis and processing was mirrored in division research programs in thin-film processing, surface modification, and crystal growth. Research on advanced processing techniques such as laser ablation, ion implantation, and plasma processing was complemented by strong programs in the characterization of materials and surfaces including ultrahigh resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, atomic-resolution chemical analysis, synchrotron x-ray research, and scanning tunneling microscopy.« less

Ab initio Eliashberg Theory: Making Genuine Predictions of Superconducting Features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanna, Antonio; Flores-Livas, José A.; Davydov, Arkadiy; Profeta, Gianni; Dewhurst, Kay; Sharma, Sangeeta; Gross, E. K. U.

2018-04-01

We present an application of Eliashberg theory of superconductivity to study a set of novel superconducting systems with a wide range of structural and chemical properties. The set includes three intercalated group-IV honeycomb layered structures, SH3 at 200 GPa (the superconductor with the highest measured critical temperature), the similar system SeH3 at 150 GPa, and a lithium doped mono-layer of black phosphorus. The theoretical approach we adopt is a recently developed, fully ab initio Eliashberg approach that takes into account the Coulomb interaction in a full energy-resolved fashion avoiding any free parameters like μ*. This method provides reasonable estimations of superconducting properties, including TC and the excitation spectra of superconductors.

Recent Progress of the Series-Connected Hybrid Magnet Projects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adkins, Todd; Bole, Scott

2010-01-01

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) in Tallahassee, Florida has designed and is now constructing two Series Connected Hybrid (SCH) magnets, each connecting a superconducting outsert coil and a resistive Florida Bitter insert coil electrically in series. The SCH to be installed at the NHMFL will produce 36 T and provide 1 ppm maximum field inhomogeneity over a 1 cm diameter spherical volume. The SCH to be installed at the Helmholtz Center Berlin (HZB) in combination with a neutron source will produce 25 T to 30 T depending on the resistive insert. The two magnets have a common designmore » for their cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) and superconducting outsert coils. The CICC outsert coil winding packs have an inner diameter of 0.6 m and contribute 13.1 T to the central field using three grades of CICC conductors. Each conductor grade carries 20 kA and employs the same type of Nb{sub 3}Sn superconducting wire, but each grade contains different quantities of superconducting wires, different cabling patterns and different aspect ratios. The cryostats and resistive insert coils for the two magnets are different. This paper discusses the progress in CIC conductor and coil fabrication over the last year including specification, qualification and production activities for wire, cable, conductor and coil processing.« less

Subranging technique using superconducting technology

DOEpatents

Gupta, Deepnarayan

2003-01-01

Subranging techniques using "digital SQUIDs" are used to design systems with large dynamic range, high resolution and large bandwidth. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) embodying the invention include a first SQUID based "coarse" resolution circuit and a second SQUID based "fine" resolution circuit to convert an analog input signal into "coarse" and "fine" digital signals for subsequent processing. In one embodiment, an ADC includes circuitry for supplying an analog input signal to an input coil having at least a first inductive section and a second inductive section. A first superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is coupled to the first inductive section and a second SQUID is coupled to the second inductive section. The first SQUID is designed to produce "coarse" (large amplitude, low resolution) output signals and the second SQUID is designed to produce "fine" (low amplitude, high resolution) output signals in response to the analog input signals.

Synthesis of superconducting phases in Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayya, S. S.; Stangle, G. C.; Snyder, R. L.

1992-04-01

This paper describes various novel processing techniques for the synthesis of superconducting phases in the Ti-Ba-Ca-Cu-O system. A Self propagating high temperature synthesis technique has been used to synthesize phase pure 2212 and 2223. Various engineering parameters are identified for this process. A glass-ceramic (melt quench) technique with subsequent post heat-treatment produced pure 2201 and 2212 phases. Tl2O3 itself is not a very good glass former and the addition of other glass formers is necessary to form stable glasses. Only the gallate glass system has been found to stabilize the 2201 and 2212 superconducting phases. Molten salt synthesis studies showed that the superconducting phases in the thallium system are stable in the NaCl-KCl eutectic salt system. Highly textured 2201 grains (about 60 μm×60 ¯ platelets) were grown by this technique. Various potential applications of these techniques are also discussed.

Quantum information processing with superconducting circuits: a review.

PubMed

Wendin, G

2017-10-01

During the last ten years, superconducting circuits have passed from being interesting physical devices to becoming contenders for near-future useful and scalable quantum information processing (QIP). Advanced quantum simulation experiments have been shown with up to nine qubits, while a demonstration of quantum supremacy with fifty qubits is anticipated in just a few years. Quantum supremacy means that the quantum system can no longer be simulated by the most powerful classical supercomputers. Integrated classical-quantum computing systems are already emerging that can be used for software development and experimentation, even via web interfaces. Therefore, the time is ripe for describing some of the recent development of superconducting devices, systems and applications. As such, the discussion of superconducting qubits and circuits is limited to devices that are proven useful for current or near future applications. Consequently, the centre of interest is the practical applications of QIP, such as computation and simulation in Physics and Chemistry.

Quantum information processing with superconducting circuits: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wendin, G.

2017-10-01

During the last ten years, superconducting circuits have passed from being interesting physical devices to becoming contenders for near-future useful and scalable quantum information processing (QIP). Advanced quantum simulation experiments have been shown with up to nine qubits, while a demonstration of quantum supremacy with fifty qubits is anticipated in just a few years. Quantum supremacy means that the quantum system can no longer be simulated by the most powerful classical supercomputers. Integrated classical-quantum computing systems are already emerging that can be used for software development and experimentation, even via web interfaces. Therefore, the time is ripe for describing some of the recent development of superconducting devices, systems and applications. As such, the discussion of superconducting qubits and circuits is limited to devices that are proven useful for current or near future applications. Consequently, the centre of interest is the practical applications of QIP, such as computation and simulation in Physics and Chemistry.

Studies of the Superconducting Transition in the Mo/Au-Bilayer Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John; Smith, Stephen; Iyomoto, naoko; Bandler, Simon; Chervenak, Jay; Brown, Ari; Brekowsky, Regis; Kilbourne, Caroline; Robinson, Ian

2007-01-01

At NASA Goddard, microcalorimeter arrays using superconducting transition edge sensor thermometers (TESs) are under development for high energy resolution X-ray astrophysics applications. We report on our studies of the superconducting transition in our Mo/Au-bilayer TES films including: low current measurements of the superconducting bilayer's resistance transition versus temperature on pixels with different normal metal absorber attachment designs and measured temperature scaling of the critical current and critical magnetic field.

PREFACE: Focus section on superconducting power systems Focus section on superconducting power systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardwell, D. A.; Amemiya, N.; Fair, R.

2012-01-01

This focus section of Superconductor Science and Technology looks at the properties, technology and applications of (RE)BCO and MgB2 based superconductors for power engineering systems. Both bulk and conductor forms of material are addressed, including elements of materials fabrication and processing, and the measurement of their applied properties for various levels of system application. The areas of research include ac losses in type II materials in power devices, cables and coated conductors, the development of high current dc cables and the application of superconductors in levitation devices, motors and fault current limiters. This focus section presents a broad cross-section of contemporary issues, that represent state-of-the-art for power applications of superconductors, and highlights the areas that require further development if commercial applications of these rapidly emerging materials are to be realised. It contains papers from some of the major groups in the field, including contributions from Europe, the USA and Japan, and describes devices that are relatively close to market.

Study on processing immiscible materials in zero gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reger, J. L.; Mendelson, R. A.

1975-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate mixing immiscible metal combinations under several process conditions. Under one-gravity, these included thermal processing, thermal plus electromagnetic mixing, and thermal plus acoustic mixing. The same process methods were applied during free fall on the MSFC drop tower facility. The design is included of drop tower apparatus to provide the electromagnetic and acoustic mixing equipment, and a thermal model was prepared to design the specimen and cooling procedure. Materials systems studied were Ca-La, Cd-Ga and Al-Bi; evaluation of the processed samples included the morphology and electronic property measurements. The morphology was developed using optical and scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analyses. Electronic property characterization of the superconducting transition temperatures were made using an impedance change-tuned coil method.

Beating liquid helium: the technologies of cryogen-free superconducting magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burgoyne, John

2015-03-01

Cryogen-free superconducting magnets have been available now for almost 15 years, but have only become standard commercial products in more recent years. In this review we will consider the pros and cons of ``dry'' design including superconducting wire development and selection, thermal budgeting, and the alternative methods for achieving magnet cooling.

Advanced Manufacturing of Superconducting Magnets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Senti, Mark W.

1996-01-01

The development of specialized materials, processes, and robotics technology allows for the rapid prototype and manufacture of superconducting and normal magnets which can be used for magnetic suspension applications. Presented are highlights of the Direct Conductor Placement System (DCPS) which enables automatic design and assembly of 3-dimensional coils and conductor patterns using LTS and HTS conductors. The system enables engineers to place conductors in complex patterns with greater efficiency and accuracy, and without the need for hard tooling. It may also allow researchers to create new types of coils and patterns which were never practical before the development of DCPS. The DCPS includes a custom designed eight-axis robot, patented end effector, CoilCAD(trademark) design software, RoboWire(trademark) control software, and automatic inspection.

Superconducting Continuous Graphene Fibers via Calcium Intercalation.

PubMed

Liu, Yingjun; Liang, Hui; Xu, Zhen; Xi, Jiabin; Chen, Genfu; Gao, Weiwei; Xue, Mianqi; Gao, Chao

2017-04-25

Superconductors are important materials in the field of low-temperature magnet applications and long-distance electrical power transmission systems. Besides metal-based superconducting materials, carbon-based superconductors have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Up to now, five allotropes of carbon, including diamond, graphite, C 60 , CNTs, and graphene, have been reported to show superconducting behavior. However, most of the carbon-based superconductors are limited to small size and discontinuous phases, which inevitably hinders further application in macroscopic form. Therefore, it raises a question of whether continuously carbon-based superconducting wires could be accessed, which is of vital importance from viewpoints of fundamental research and practical application. Here, inspired by superconducting graphene, we successfully fabricated flexible graphene-based superconducting fibers via a well-established calcium (Ca) intercalation strategy. The resultant Ca-intercalated graphene fiber (Ca-GF) shows a superconducting transition at ∼11 K, which is almost 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of early reported alkali metal intercalated graphite and comparable to that of commercial superconducting NbTi wire. The combination of lightness and easy scalability makes Ca-GF highly promising as a lightweight superconducting wire.

Fabrication of Superconducting Detectors for Studying the Universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Ari-David

2012-01-01

Superconducting detectors offer unparalleled means of making astronomical/cosmological observations. Fabrication of these detectors is somewhat unconventional; however, a lot of novel condensed matter physics/materials scientific discoveries and semiconductor fabrication processes can be generated in making these devices.

Magnetoresistance in the superconducting state at the (111) LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, S.; Huang, Z.; Han, K.; Ariando, Venkatesan, T.; Chandrasekhar, V.

2017-10-01

Condensed-matter systems that simultaneously exhibit superconductivity and ferromagnetism are rare due the antagonistic relationship between conventional spin-singlet superconductivity and ferromagnetic order. In materials in which superconductivity and magnetic order are known to coexist (such as some heavy-fermion materials), the superconductivity is thought to be of an unconventional nature. Recently, the conducting gas that lives at the interface between the perovskite band insulators LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3 (STO) has also been shown to host both superconductivity and magnetism. Most previous research has focused on LAO/STO samples in which the interface is on the (001) crystal plane. Relatively little work has focused on the (111) crystal orientation, which has hexagonal symmetry at the interface, and has been predicted to have potentially interesting topological properties, including unconventional superconducting pairing states. Here we report measurements of the magnetoresistance of (111) LAO/STO heterostructures at temperatures at which they are also superconducting. As with the (001) structures, the magnetoresistance is hysteretic, indicating the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity, but in addition, we find that this magnetoresistance is anisotropic. Such an anisotropic response is completely unexpected in the superconducting state and suggests that (111) LAO/STO heterostructures may support unconventional superconductivity.

An argon ion beam milling process for native AlOx layers enabling coherent superconducting contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grünhaupt, Lukas; von Lüpke, Uwe; Gusenkova, Daria; Skacel, Sebastian T.; Maleeva, Nataliya; Schlör, Steffen; Bilmes, Alexander; Rotzinger, Hannes; Ustinov, Alexey V.; Weides, Martin; Pop, Ioan M.

2017-08-01

We present an argon ion beam milling process to remove the native oxide layer forming on aluminum thin films due to their exposure to atmosphere in between lithographic steps. Our cleaning process is readily integrable with conventional fabrication of Josephson junction quantum circuits. From measurements of the internal quality factors of superconducting microwave resonators with and without contacts, we place an upper bound on the residual resistance of an ion beam milled contact of 50 mΩ μm2 at a frequency of 4.5 GHz. Resonators for which only 6% of the total foot-print was exposed to the ion beam milling, in areas of low electric and high magnetic fields, showed quality factors above 106 in the single photon regime, and no degradation compared to single layer samples. We believe these results will enable the development of increasingly complex superconducting circuits for quantum information processing.

Two-band induced superconductivity in single-layer graphene and topological insulator bismuth selenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talantsev, E. F.; Crump, W. P.; Tallon, J. L.

2018-01-01

Proximity-induced superconductivity in single-layer graphene (SLG) and in topological insulators represent almost ideal examples of superconductivity in two dimensions. Fundamental mechanisms governing superconductivity in the 2D limit are of central interest for modern condensed-matter physics. To deduce fundamental parameters of superconductor/graphene/superconductor and superconductor/bismuth selenide/superconductor junctions we investigate the self-field critical currents in these devices using the formalism of the Ambegaokar-Baratoff model. Our central finding is that the induced superconducting state in SLG and bismuth selenide each exhibits gapping on two superconducting bands. Based on recent results obtained on ultra-thin films of natural superconductors, including single-atomic layer of iron selenide, double and triple atomic layers of gallium, and several atomic layer tantalum disulphide, we conclude that a two-band induced superconducting state in SLG and bismuth selenide is part of a wider, more general multiple-band phenomenology of currently unknown origin.

Comparison of the effects of platinum and CeO2 on the properties of single grain, Sm-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Wen; Shi, Yunhua; Radušovská, Monika; Dennis, Anthony R.; Durrell, John H.; Diko, Pavel; Cardwell, David A.

2016-12-01

SmBa2Cu3O7-δ (Sm-123) is a light-rare-earth barium-cuprate (LRE-BCO) high-temperature superconductor (HTS) with significant potential for high field industrial applications. We report the fabrication of large, single grain bulk [Sm-Ba-Cu-O (SmBCO)] superconductors containing 1 wt% CeO2 and 0.1 wt% Pt using a top-seeded melt growth process. The performance of the SmBCO bulk superconductors containing the different dopants was evaluated based on an analysis of their superconducting properties, including critical transition temperature, T c and critical current density, J c , and on sample microstructure. We find that both CeO2 and Pt dopants refine the size of Sm2BaCuO5 (Sm-211) particles trapped in the Sm-123 superconducting phase matrix, which act as effective flux pinning centres, although the addition of CeO2 results in broadly improved superconducting performance of the fully processed bulk single grain. However, 1 wt% CeO2 is significantly cheaper than 0.1 wt% Pt, which has clear economic benefits for use in medium to large scale production processes for these technologically important materials. Finally, the use of CeO2 results generally in the formation of finer Sm-211 particles and to the generation of fewer macro-cracks and Sm-211 free regions in the sample microstructure.

Cryogenic engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beliakov, V. P.

Recent developments and trends in cryogenic engineering are reviewed, with emphasis on the role of cryogenics in power generation, machine building, chemistry, and metallurgy. Several cryogenic systems are described, including air-separation apparatus, cryogenic storage systems, cryothermovacuum devices, and the cryogenic systems of superconducting devices. The theoretical principles underlying the design of cryogenic systems are examined, along with the theory for the processes involved.

The physics of inhomogeneous striped superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, I.; Ortiz, G.; Eroles, J.; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

2001-05-01

We present a minimal model of a doped Mott insulator that simultaneously supports antiferromagnetic stripes and d-wave superconductivity. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the various phases of the cuprates, including weak and strong pseudogap phases, and two different types of superconductivity in the underdoped and the overdoped regimes, find a natural interpretation. We argue that on the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous — striped nanoscale coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism — and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. On the overdoped side, the state is overall homogeneous and the superconductivity is of the classical BCS type.

Degradation of superconducting Nb/NbN films by atmospheric oxidation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Henry, M. David; Wolfley, Steve; Young, Travis

2017-03-01

Niobium and niobium nitride thin films are transitioning from fundamental research toward wafer scale manufacturing with technology drivers that include superconducting circuits and electronics, optical single photon detectors, logic, and memory. Successful microfabrication requires precise control over the properties of sputtered superconducting films, including oxidation. Previous work has demonstrated the mechanism in oxidation of Nb and how film structure could have deleterious effects upon the superconducting properties. This study provides an examination of atmospheric oxidation of NbN films. By examination of the room temperature sheet resistance of NbN bulk oxidation was identified and confirmed by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Asmore » a result, Meissner magnetic measurements confirmed the bulk oxidation not observed with simple cryogenic resistivity measurements.« less

Performance of conduction cooled splittable superconducting magnet package for linear accelerators

DOE PAGES

Kashikhin, Vladimire S.; Andreev, N.; Cheban, S.; ...

2016-02-19

New Linear Superconducting Accelerators need a superconducting magnet package installed inside SCRF Cryomodules to focus and steer electron or proton beams. A superconducting magnet package was designed and built as a collaborative effort of FNAL and KEK. The magnet package includes one quadrupole, and two dipole windings. It has a splittable in the vertical plane configuration, and features for conduction cooling. The magnet was successfully tested at room temperature, in a liquid He bath, and in a conduction cooling experiment. The paper describes the design and test results including: magnet cooling, training, and magnetic measurements by rotational coils. Furthermore, themore » effects of superconductor and iron yoke magnetization, hysteresis, and fringe fields are discussed.« less

Superconducting Multilayer High-Density Flexible Printed Circuit Board for Very High Thermal Resistance Interconnections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de la Broïse, Xavier; Le Coguie, Alain; Sauvageot, Jean-Luc; Pigot, Claude; Coppolani, Xavier; Moreau, Vincent; d'Hollosy, Samuel; Knarosovski, Timur; Engel, Andreas

2018-05-01

We have successively developed two superconducting flexible PCBs for cryogenic applications. The first one is monolayer, includes 552 tracks (10 µm wide, 20 µm spacing), and receives 24 wire-bonded integrated circuits. The second one is multilayer, with one track layer between two shielding layers interconnected by microvias, includes 37 tracks, and can be interconnected at both ends by wire bonding or by connectors. The first cold measurements have been performed and show good performances. The novelty of these products is, for the first one, the association of superconducting materials with very narrow pitch and bonded integrated circuits and, for the second one, the introduction of a superconducting multilayer structure interconnected by vias which is, to our knowledge, a world-first.

Evolution of High-Temperature Superconductivity from a Low-T_{c} Phase Tuned by Carrier Concentration in FeSe Thin Flakes.

PubMed

Lei, B; Cui, J H; Xiang, Z J; Shang, C; Wang, N Z; Ye, G J; Luo, X G; Wu, T; Sun, Z; Chen, X H

2016-02-19

We report the evolution of superconductivity in an FeSe thin flake with systematically regulated carrier concentrations by the liquid-gating technique. With electron doping tuned by the gate voltage, high-temperature superconductivity with an onset at 48 K can be achieved in an FeSe thin flake with T_{c} less than 10 K. This is the first time such high temperature superconductivity in FeSe is achieved without either an epitaxial interface or external pressure, and it definitely proves that the simple electron-doping process is able to induce high-temperature superconductivity with T_{c}^{onset} as high as 48 K in bulk FeSe. Intriguingly, our data also indicate that the superconductivity is suddenly changed from a low-T_{c} phase to a high-T_{c} phase with a Lifshitz transition at a certain carrier concentration. These results help to build a unified picture to understand the high-temperature superconductivity among all FeSe-derived superconductors and shed light on the further pursuit of a higher T_{c} in these materials.

Melt processing of Bi--2212 superconductors using alumina

DOEpatents

Holesinger, Terry G.

1999-01-01

Superconducting articles and a method of forming them, where the superconducting phase of an article is Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.y (Bi-2212). Alumina is combined with Bi-2212 powder or Bi-2212 precursor powder and, in order to form an intimate mixture, the mixture is melted and rapidly cooled to form a glassy solid. The glassy solid is comminuted and the resulting powder is combined with a carrier. An alternative to melting is to form the mixture of nanophase alumina and material having a particle size of less than about 10 microns. The powder, with the carrier, is melt processed to form a superconducting article.

Processing, electrical and microwave properties of sputtered Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O superconducting thin films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Subramanyam, G.; Kapoor, V. J.; Chorey, C. M.; Bhasin, K. B.

1993-01-01

A reproducible fabrication process has been established for TlCaBaCuO thin films on LaAlO3 substrates by RF magnetron sputtering and post-deposition processing methods. Electrical transport properties of the thin films were measured on patterned four-probe test devices. Microwave properties of the films were obtained from unloaded Q measurements of all-superconducting ring resonators. This paper describes the processing, electrical and microwave properties of Tl2Ca1Ba2Cu2O(x) 2122-plane phase thin films.

Nanoantenna enhancement for telecom-wavelength superconducting single photon detectors.

PubMed

Heath, Robert M; Tanner, Michael G; Drysdale, Timothy D; Miki, Shigehito; Giannini, Vincenzo; Maier, Stefan A; Hadfield, Robert H

2015-02-11

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors are rapidly emerging as a key infrared photon-counting technology. Two front-side-coupled silver dipole nanoantennas, simulated to have resonances at 1480 and 1525 nm, were fabricated in a two-step process. An enhancement of 50 to 130% in the system detection efficiency was observed when illuminating the antennas. This offers a pathway to increasing absorption into superconducting nanowires, creating larger active areas, and achieving more efficient detection at longer wavelengths.

A network of superconducting gravimeters detects submicrogal coseismic gravity changes.

PubMed

Imanishi, Yuichi; Sato, Tadahiro; Higashi, Toshihiro; Sun, Wenke; Okubo, Shuhei

2004-10-15

With high-resolution continuous gravity recordings from a regional network of superconducting gravimeters, we have detected permanent changes in gravity acceleration associated with a recent large earthquake. Detected changes in gravity acceleration are smaller than 10(-8) meters seconds(-2) (1 micro-Galileo, about 10(-9) times the surface gravity acceleration) and agree with theoretical values calculated from a dislocation model. Superconducting gravimetry can contribute to the studies of secular gravity changes associated with tectonic processes.

Shooting quasiparticles from Andreev bound states in a superconducting constriction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riwar, R.-P.; Houzet, M.; Meyer, J. S.

2014-12-15

A few-channel superconducting constriction provides a set of discrete Andreev bound states that may be populated with quasiparticles. Motivated by recent experimental research, we study the processes in an a.c. driven constriction whereby a quasiparticle is promoted to the delocalized states outside the superconducting gap and flies away. We distinguish two processes of this kind. In the process of ionization, a quasiparticle present in the Andreev bound state is transferred to the delocalized states leaving the constriction. The refill process involves two quasiparticles: one flies away while another one appears in the Andreev bound state. We notice an interesting asymmetrymore » of these processes. The electron-like quasiparticles are predominantly emitted to one side of the constriction while the hole-like ones are emitted to the other side. This produces a charge imbalance of accumulated quasiparticles, that is opposite on opposite sides of the junction. The imbalance may be detected with a tunnel contact to a normal metal lead.« less

Manufacturing Superconducting Cables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

England, Christopher

1996-01-01

Process proposed for manufacture of cables containing ceramic high-temperature-superconductor YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-a). For protection, superconducting ceramic encapsulated before activation. Cables carry electrical current with little or no loss of power when cooled to or below temperatures of about minus 200 degrees C. Process accommodates brittle nature of YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-a) and economical and readily controllable. Also flexible in sense modified to accommodate variety of precursor materials to be processed into YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-a).

From single magnetic adatoms on superconductors to coupled spin chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franke, Katharina J.

Magnetic adsorbates on conventional s-wave superconductors lead to exchange interactions that induce Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states inside the superconducting energy gap. Here, we employ tunneling spectroscopy at 1.1 K to investigate magnetic atoms and chains on superconducting Pb surfaces. We show that individual Manganese (Mn) atoms give rise to a distinct number of YSR-states. The single-atom junctions are stable over several orders of magnitude in conductance. We identify single-electron tunneling as well as Andreev processes. When the atoms are brought into sufficiently close distance, the Shiba states hybridize, thus giving rise to states with bonding and anti-bonding character. It has been shown that the Pb(110) surface supports the self-assembly of Fe chains, which exhibit fingerprints of Majorana bound states. Using superconducting tips, we resolve a rich subgap structure including peaks at zero energy and low-energy resonances, which overlap with the putative Majorana states. We gratefully acknowledge funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through collaborative research Grant Sfb 658, and through Grant FR2726/4, as well by the European Research Council through Consolidator Grant NanoSpin.

Overview of the future upgrade of the INFN-LNS superconducting cyclotron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calabretta, Luciano; Calanna, Alessandra; Cuttone, Giacomo; D'Agostino, Grazia; Rifuggiato, Danilo; Domenico Russo, Antonio

2017-06-01

The LNS Superconducting Cyclotron, named “Ciclotrone Superconduttore” (CS), has been in operation for more than 20 years. A wide range of ion species from hydrogen to lead, with energy in the range 10 to 80 AMeV, have been delivered to users. The maximum beam power is limited to 100 W due to the beam dissipation on the electrostatic deflectors. To fulfil the demand of users aiming at studying rare processes in nuclear physics, an upgrade of the cyclotron is necessarily intended to increase the intensity of ion beams with mass lower than 40 a.m.u. up to a power 10 kW. This will be achieved by means of extraction by stripping. This solution needs to replace the cryostat including the superconducting coils. The present capability of the cyclotron will be maintained, i.e. all the ion species allowed by the operating diagram will be available, being extracted by electrostatic extraction. In addition to the high power beams for nuclear physics, it will be possible to produce medical radioisotopes like 211At using an internal target.

Role of superconducting electronics in advancing science and technology (invited) (abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faris, S. M.

1988-08-01

The promises of the ultrahigh-performance properties of superconductivity and Josephson junction technologies have been known for quite some time. This presentation describes the first superconducting electronics and measurement system and its important role as a major tool to advance microwave and millimeter wave technologies. This breakthrough tool is a sampling oscilloscope with 5-ps rise time, 50-μV sensitivity, and a time domain reflectometer with 8-ps rise time. In order to achieve these performance goals, several technological hurdles had to be overcome including perfecting a manufacturing process for building Josephson junction IC chips, developing an innovative cooling technique, developing interfaces and interconnections with bandwidths in excess of 70 GHz, and developing the room-temperature hardware and software necessary to make the instruments convenient, easy to use, easy to learn, in addition to making available functions and features users have come to expect from sophisticated digital test instrumentation. These technological developments are stepping stones leading to the realization of more sophisticated and complex electronic systems satisfying the needs of scientists, technologists, and engineers. The unprecedented speed and sensitivity make it possible to attack new frontiers.

Buffer layers for REBCO films for use in superconducting devices

DOEpatents

Goyal, Amit; Wee, Sung-Hun

2014-06-10

A superconducting article includes a substrate having a biaxially textured surface. A biaxially textured buffer layer, which can be a cap layer, is supported by the substrate. The buffer layer includes a double perovskite of the formula A.sub.2B'B''O.sub.6, where A is rare earth or alkaline earth metal and B' and B'' are different transition metal cations. A biaxially textured superconductor layer is deposited so as to be supported by the buffer layer. A method of making a superconducting article is also disclosed.

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 8: Aerothermodynamics Automation and Robotics (A/R) systems sensors, high-temperature superconductivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Viewgraphs of briefings presented at the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP) on aerothermodynamics, automation and robotics systems, sensors, and high-temperature superconductivity are included. Topics covered include: aerothermodynamics; aerobraking; aeroassist flight experiment; entry technology for probes and penetrators; automation and robotics; artificial intelligence; NASA telerobotics program; planetary rover program; science sensor technology; direct detector; submillimeter sensors; laser sensors; passive microwave sensing; active microwave sensing; sensor electronics; sensor optics; coolers and cryogenics; and high temperature superconductivity.

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 8: Aerothermodynamics Automation and Robotics (A/R) systems sensors, high-temperature superconductivity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

Viewgraphs of briefings presented at the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP) on aerothermodynamics, automation and robotics systems, sensors, and high-temperature superconductivity are included. Topics covered include: aerothermodynamics; aerobraking; aeroassist flight experiment; entry technology for probes and penetrators; automation and robotics; artificial intelligence; NASA telerobotics program; planetary rover program; science sensor technology; direct detector; submillimeter sensors; laser sensors; passive microwave sensing; active microwave sensing; sensor electronics; sensor optics; coolers and cryogenics; and high temperature superconductivity.

Equal-Spin Andreev Reflection on Junctions of Spin-Resolved Quantum Hall Bulk State and Spin-Singlet Superconductor.

PubMed

Matsuo, Sadashige; Ueda, Kento; Baba, Shoji; Kamata, Hiroshi; Tateno, Mizuki; Shabani, Javad; Palmstrøm, Christopher J; Tarucha, Seigo

2018-02-22

The recent development of superconducting spintronics has revealed the spin-triplet superconducting proximity effect from a spin-singlet superconductor into a spin-polarized normal metal. In addition recently superconducting junctions using semiconductors are in demand for highly controlled experiments to engineer topological superconductivity. Here we report experimental observation of Andreev reflection in junctions of spin-resolved quantum Hall (QH) states in an InAs quantum well and the spin-singlet superconductor NbTi. The measured conductance indicates a sub-gap feature and two peaks on the outer side of the sub-gap feature in the QH plateau-transition regime increases. The observed structures can be explained by considering transport with Andreev reflection from two channels, one originating from equal-spin Andreev reflection intermediated by spin-flip processes and second arising from normal Andreev reflection. This result indicates the possibility to induce the superconducting proximity gap in the the QH bulk state, and the possibility for the development of superconducting spintronics in semiconductor devices.

Development status of a 125 horsepower superconducting motor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schiferl, R.F.; Zhang, B.X.; Driscoll, D.I.

1997-06-01

The current development status of an air core synchronous motor with high-temperature superconducting field coils is presented. The work described is part of a U.S. DoE Superconductivity Partnership Initiative award. The motor design features a topology with a combination of a modified conventional armature and a rotating four-pole superconducting field winding operating at a nominal temperature of 27 K. For testing purposes, an open-loop cryogenic system is adopted to supply helium gas to the rotor cryostat for maintaining the operating temperature of the superconducting field winding. The exhaust helium gas intercepts heat leak into the rotor cryostat before being vented.more » The motor is expected to deliver 125 horsepower (hp) at 1,800 rpm. Successful demonstration of the 125 hp motor will represent a major milestone in the process of developing commercial superconducting motors with integrated closed-loop cryogenic systems. Design objectives and results as well as current project status are discussed.« less

Thermal stability analysis of a superconducting magnet considering heat flow between magnet surface and liquid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, J. Y.; Hwang, Y. J.; Ahn, M. C.; Choi, Y. S.

2018-07-01

This paper represents a numerical calculation method that enables highly-accurate simulations on temperature analysis of superconducting magnets considering the heat flow between the magnet and liquid helium during a quench. A three-dimensional (3D) superconducting magnet space was divided into many cells and the finite-difference method (FDM) was adopted to calculate the superconducting magnet temperatures governed by the heat transfer and joule heating of the each cell during a quench. To enhance the accuracy of the temperature calculations during a quench, the heat flow between the superconducting magnet surface and liquid helium, which lowers the magnet temperatures, was considered in this work. The electrical equation coupled with the governing thermal equation was also applied to calculate the change of the decay of the magnet current related to the joule heating. The proposed FDM method for temperatures calculation of a superconducting magnet during a quench process achieved results that were in good agreement with those obtained from an experiment.

Analytical and numerical study of New field emitter processing for superconducting cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volkov, Vladimir; Petrov, Victor

2018-02-01

In this article a scientific prove for a new technology to maximize the accelerating gradient in superconducting cavities by processing on higher order mode frequencies is presented. As dominant energy source the heating of field emitters by an induced rf current (rf-heating) is considered. The field emitter structure is assumed to be a chain of conductive particles, which are formed by attractive forces.

Processing method for superconducting ceramics

DOEpatents

Bloom, Ira D.; Poeppel, Roger B.; Flandermeyer, Brian K.

1993-01-01

A process for preparing a superconducting ceramic and particularly YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta., where .delta. is in the order of about 0.1-0.4, is carried out using a polymeric binder which decomposes below its ignition point to reduce carbon residue between the grains of the sintered ceramic and a nonhydroxylic organic solvent to limit the problems with water or certain alcohols on the ceramic composition.

Processing method for superconducting ceramics

DOEpatents

Bloom, Ira D.; Poeppel, Roger B.; Flandermeyer, Brian K.

1993-02-02

A process for preparing a superconducting ceramic and particularly YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta., where .delta. is in the order of about 0.1-0.4, is carried out using a polymeric binder which decomposes below its ignition point to reduce carbon residue between the grains of the sintered ceramic and a nonhydroxylic organic solvent to limit the problems with water or certain alcohols on the ceramic composition.

Role of hybridization in the superconducting properties of an extended d p Hubbard model: a detailed numerical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calegari, E. J.; Magalhães, S. G.; Gomes, A. A.

2005-04-01

The Roth's two-pole approximation has been used by the present authors to study the effects of the hybridization in the superconducting properties of a strongly correlated electron system. The model used is the extended Hubbard model which includes the d-p hybridization, the p-band and a narrow d-band. The present work is an extension of our previous work (J. Mod. Phys. B 18(2) (2004) 241). Nevertheless, some important correlation functions necessary to estimate the Roth's band shift, are included together with the temperature T and the Coulomb interaction U to describe the superconductivity. The superconducting order parameter of a cuprate system, is obtained following Beenen and Edwards formalism. Here, we investigate in detail the change of the order parameter associated to temperature, Coulomb interaction and Roth's band shift effects on superconductivity. The phase diagram with Tc versus the total occupation number nT, shows the difference respect to the previous work.

Levitation pressure and friction losses in superconducting bearings

DOEpatents

Hull, John R.

2001-01-01

A superconducting bearing having at least one permanent magnet magnetized with a vertical polarization. The lower or stator portion of the bearing includes an array of high-temperature superconducting elements which are comprised of a plurality of annular rings. An annular ring is located below each permanent magnet and an annular ring is offset horizontally from at least one of the permanent magnets. The rings are composed of individual high-temperature superconducting elements located circumferentially along the ring. By constructing the horizontally-offset high-temperature superconducting ring so that the c-axis is oriented in a radial direction, a higher levitation force can be achieved. Such an orientation will also provide substantially lower rotational drag losses in the bearing.

Fidelity study of superconductivity in extended Hubbard models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plonka, N.; Jia, C. J.; Wang, Y.; Moritz, B.; Devereaux, T. P.

2015-07-01

The Hubbard model with local on-site repulsion is generally thought to possess a superconducting ground state for appropriate parameters, but the effects of more realistic long-range Coulomb interactions have not been studied extensively. We study the influence of these interactions on superconductivity by including nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor extended Hubbard interactions in addition to the usual on-site terms. Utilizing numerical exact diagonalization, we analyze the signatures of superconductivity in the ground states through the fidelity metric of quantum information theory. We find that nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions have thresholds above which they destabilize superconductivity regardless of whether they are attractive or repulsive, seemingly due to competing charge fluctuations.

β-decay studies of r-process nuclei at NSCL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, J.; Aprahamian, A.; Arndt, O.; Becerril, A.; Elliot, T.; Estrade, A.; Galaviz, D.; Hennrich, S.; Hosmer, P.; Schnorrenberger, L.; Kessler, R.; Kratz, K.-L.; Lorusso, G.; Mantica, P. F.; Matos, M.; Montes, F.; Pfeiffer, B.; Quinn, M.; Santi, P.; Schatz, H.; Schertz, F.; Smith, E.; Tomlin, B. E.; Walters, W. B.; Wöhr, A.

2008-06-01

Observed neutron-capture elemental abundances in metal-poor stars, along with ongoing analysis of the extremely metal-poor Eu-enriched sub-class provide new guidance for astrophysical models aimed at finding the r-process sites. The present paper emphasizes the importance of nuclear physics parameters entering in these models, particularly β-decay properties of neutron-rich nuclei. In this context, several r-process motivated β-decay experiments performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) are presented, including a summary of results and impact on model calculations.

A minimal model of striped superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, I.; Ortiz, G.; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

2001-12-01

We present a minimal model of high-temperature superconductors that simultaneously supports antiferromagnetic stripes and d-wave superconductivity. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the various phases of the cuprates, including weak and strong pseudogap phases, and two different types of superconductivity in the underdoped and the overdoped regimes, find a natural interpretation. We argue that on the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. On the overdoped side, the state is overall homogeneous and the superconductivity is of a classical BCS type.

A multilayered approach to superconducting tunnel junction x ray detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rippert, E. D.; Song, S. N.; Ketterson, J. B.; Maglic, S. R.; Lomatch, S.; Thomas, C.; Cheida, M. A.; Ulmer, M. P.

1992-01-01

'First generation' superconducting tunnel junction X-ray detectors (characterized by a single tunnel junction in direct contact with its substrate, with totally external amplification) remain more than an order of magnitude away from their theoretical energy resolutions which are in the order of eV's. The difficulties that first generation devices are encountering are being attacked by a 'second generation' of superconducting X-ray detector designs including quasiparticle trapping configurations and Josephson junction arrays. A second generation design concept, the multilayered superconducting tunnel junction X-ray detector, consisting of tens to hundreds of tunnel junctions stacked on top of one another (a superlattice), is presented. Some of the possibilities of this engineered materials approach include the tuning of phonon transmission characteristics of the material, suppression of parasitic quasiparticle trapping and intrinsic amplification.

Two distinct superconducting phases in LiFeAs

PubMed Central

Nag, P. K.; Schlegel, R.; Baumann, D.; Grafe, H.-J.; Beck, R.; Wurmehl, S.; Büchner, B.; Hess, C.

2016-01-01

A non-trivial temperature evolution of superconductivity including a temperature-induced phase transition between two superconducting phases or even a time-reversal symmetry breaking order parameter is in principle expected in multiband superconductors such as iron-pnictides. Here we present scanning tunnelling spectroscopy data of LiFeAs which reveal two distinct superconducting phases: at = 18 K a partial superconducting gap opens, evidenced by subtle, yet clear features in the tunnelling spectra, i.e. particle-hole symmetric coherence peak and dip-hump structures. At Tc = 16 K, these features substantiate dramatically and become characteristic of full superconductivity. Remarkably, the distance between the dip-hump structures and the coherence peaks remains practically constant in the whole temperature regimeT ≤ . This rules out the connection of the dip-hump structures to an antiferromagnetic spin resonance. PMID:27297474

Effect of Te doping on FeSe superconductor synthesized by powder-in-tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imaduddin, A.; Nisa, K.; Yudanto, S. D.; Nugraha, H.; Siswayanti, B.

2017-04-01

FeSe is a superconducting material, which has the simplest crystal structure among the Fe-based superconductors. It has no arsenic element, which is very harmful to the human body. In this study, we analyzed the effects of milling time and Te doping on FeSe superconductors. The synthesis of the samples were carried out using powder-in-tube method in a SS304 stainless steel tube. After the pressing process, followed by the sintering process at 500° C for 20 hours, the samples were removed from the tubes. Later, we analyzed its crystal structures, surfaces morphology and the superconductivity properties. Δ-FeSe phase (hexagonal, non-superconductor) and β-FeSe (tetragonal, superconductor) were formed in the samples, including minor phases of Fe and Fe3Se4. Te doping changed the crystal structure from β-FeSe and Δ-FeSe into FeSe0.5Te0.5. In addition, the onset critical temperature (TC, onset) shifted to higher temperature.

Testing of machine wound second generation HTS tape Vacuum Pressure Impregnated coils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swaffield, D.; Lewis, C.; Eugene, J.; Ingles, M.; Peach, D.

2014-05-01

Delamination of second generation (2G) High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) tapes has previously been reported when using resin based insulation systems for wound coils. One proposed root cause is the differential thermal contraction between the coil former and the resin encapsulated coil turns resulting in the tape c-axis tensile stress being exceeded. Importantly, delamination results in unacceptable degradation of the superconductor critical current level. To mitigate the delamination risk and prove winding, jointing and Vacuum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) processes in the production of coils for superconducting rotating machines at GE Power Conversion two scaled trial coils have been wound and extensively tested. The coils are wound from 12mm wide 2G HTS tape supplied by AMSC onto stainless steel 'racetrack' coil formers. The coils are wound in two layers which include both in-line and layer-layer joints subject to in-process test. The resin insulation system chosen is VPI and oven cured. Tests included; insulation resistance, repeat quench and recovery of the superconductor, heat runs and measurement of n-value, before and after multiple thermal cycling between ambient and 35 Kelvin. No degradation of coil performance is evidenced.

Near net shape processing of continuous lengths of superconducting wire

DOEpatents

Danyluk, Steven; McNallan, Michael; Troendly, Robert; Poeppel, Roger; Goretta, Kenneth; Lanagan, Michael

1997-01-01

A system and method for mechanically forming a ceramic superconductor product. A system for making the ceramic superconductor includes a metallic channel portion having a cross section for receiving a ceramic superconductor powder, a roll to mechanically reduce the channel cross section and included superconductor powder and a cap portion welded to the channel portion using a localized high energy source. The assembled bar is then mechanically reduced to form a tape or wire end product.

Superconducting electromechanical rotating device having a liquid-cooled, potted, one layer stator winding

DOEpatents

Dombrovski, Viatcheslav V.; Driscoll, David I.; Shovkhet, Boris A.

2001-01-01

A superconducting electromechanical rotating (SER) device, such as a synchronous AC motor, includes a superconducting field winding and a one-layer stator winding that may be water-cooled. The stator winding is potted to a support such as the inner radial surface of a support structure and, accordingly, lacks hangers or other mechanical fasteners that otherwise would complicate stator assembly and require the provision of an unnecessarily large gap between adjacent stator coil sections. The one-layer winding topology, resulting in the number of coils being equal to half the number of slots or other mounting locations on the support structure, allows one to minimize or eliminate the gap between the inner radial ends of adjacent straight sections of the stator coilswhile maintaining the gap between the coil knuckles equal to at least the coil width, providing sufficient room for electrical and cooling element configurations and connections. The stator winding may be potted to the support structure or other support, for example, by a one-step VPI process relying on saturation of an absorbent material to fill large gaps in the stator winding or by a two-step process in which small gaps are first filled via a VPI or similar operation and larger gaps are then filled via an operation that utilizes the stator as a portion of an on-site mold.

Subgap transport in silicene-based superconducting hybrid structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hai

2016-08-01

We investigate the influences of exchange field and perpendicular electric field on the subgap transport in silicene-based ferromagnetic/superconducting (FS) and ferromagnetic/superconducting/ferromagnetic (FSF) junctions. Owing to the unique buckling structure of silicene, the Andreev reflection and subgap conductance can be effectively modulated by a perpendicular electric field. It is revealed that the subgap conductance in the FS junction can be distinctly enhanced by an exchange field. Remarkably, resorting to the tunable band gap of silicene, an exclusive crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) process in the FSF junction can be realized within a wide range of related parameters. Moreover, in the FSF junction the exclusive CAR and exclusive elastic cotunneling processes can be switched by reversing the magnetization direction in one of the ferromagnetic regions.

Quantum optimal control with automatic differentiation using graphics processors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, Nelson; Abdelhafez, Mohamed; Chakram, Srivatsan; Naik, Ravi; Groszkowski, Peter; Koch, Jens; Schuster, David

We implement quantum optimal control based on automatic differentiation and harness the acceleration afforded by graphics processing units (GPUs). Automatic differentiation allows us to specify advanced optimization criteria and incorporate them into the optimization process with ease. We will describe efficient techniques to optimally control weakly anharmonic systems that are commonly encountered in circuit QED, including coupled superconducting transmon qubits and multi-cavity circuit QED systems. These systems allow for a rich variety of control schemes that quantum optimal control is well suited to explore.

Fabrication of Large YBCO Superconducting Disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koczor, Ronald J.; Noever, David A.; Robertson, Glen A.

1999-01-01

We have undertaken fabrication of large bulk items to develop a repeatable process and to provide test articles in laboratory experiments investigating reported coupling of electromagnetic fields with the local gravity field in the presence of rotating superconducting disks. A successful process was developed which resulted in fabrication of 30 cm diameter annular disks. The disks were fabricated of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O(7-x). Various material parameters of the disks were measured.

Levitation force of melt-textured YBCO superconductors under non-quasi-static situation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Z. M.; Xu, J. M.; Yuan, X. Y.; Zhang, C. P.

2018-06-01

The superconducting levitation force of a simple superconductor-magnet system under non-quasi-static situation is investigated experimentally. Two yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) samples with different performances are chosen from two small batches of samples prepared by the top-seeded melt-textured growth process. The residual carbon content of the precursor powders of the two batches is different due to different heat treatment processes. During the experimental process for measuring the levitation force, the value of the relative speed between the YBCO sample and the permanent magnet is higher than that in conventional studies. The variation characteristics of the superconducting levitation force are analyzed and a crossing phenomenon in the force-displacement hysteresis curves is observed. The results indicate that the superconducting levitation force is different due to the different residual carbon contents. As residual carbon contents reduce, the crossing phenomenon is more obvious accordingly.

Mixed-mu superconducting bearings

DOEpatents

Hull, John R.; Mulcahy, Thomas M.

1998-01-01

A mixed-mu superconducting bearing including a ferrite structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet structure. The ferrite structure is levitated by said stationary permanent magnet structure.

Experimental system design for the integration of trapped-ion and superconducting qubit systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Motte, D.; Grounds, A. R.; Rehák, M.; Rodriguez Blanco, A.; Lekitsch, B.; Giri, G. S.; Neilinger, P.; Oelsner, G.; Il'ichev, E.; Grajcar, M.; Hensinger, W. K.

2016-12-01

We present a design for the experimental integration of ion trapping and superconducting qubit systems as a step towards the realization of a quantum hybrid system. The scheme addresses two key difficulties in realizing such a system: a combined microfabricated ion trap and superconducting qubit architecture, and the experimental infrastructure to facilitate both technologies. Developing upon work by Kielpinski et al. (Phys Rev Lett 108(13):130504, 2012. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.130504), we describe the design, simulation and fabrication process for a microfabricated ion trap capable of coupling an ion to a superconducting microwave LC circuit with a coupling strength in the tens of kHz. We also describe existing difficulties in combining the experimental infrastructure of an ion trapping set-up into a dilution refrigerator with superconducting qubits and present solutions that can be immediately implemented using current technology.

Strong-coupling superconductivity induced by calcium intercalation in bilayer transition-metal dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szczȩśniak, R.; Durajski, A. P.; Jarosik, M. W.

2018-04-01

We theoretically investigate the possibility of achieving a superconducting state in transition-metal dichalcogenide bilayers through intercalation, a process previously and widely used to achieve metallization and superconducting states in novel superconductors. For the Ca-intercalated bilayers MoS2 and WS2, we find that the superconducting state is characterized by an electron-phonon coupling constant larger than 1.0 and a superconducting critical temperature of 13.3 and 9.3 K, respectively. These results are superior to other predicted or experimentally observed two-dimensional conventional superconductors and suggest that the investigated materials may be good candidates for nanoscale superconductors. More interestingly, we proved that the obtained thermodynamic properties go beyond the predictions of the mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer approximation and that the calculations conducted within the framework of the strong-coupling Eliashberg theory should be treated as those that yield quantitative results.

Fidelity study of superconductivity in extended Hubbard models

DOE PAGES

Plonka, N.; Jia, C. J.; Wang, Y.; ...

2015-07-08

The Hubbard model with local on-site repulsion is generally thought to possess a superconducting ground state for appropriate parameters, but the effects of more realistic long-range Coulomb interactions have not been studied extensively. We study the influence of these interactions on superconductivity by including nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor extended Hubbard interactions in addition to the usual on-site terms. Utilizing numerical exact diagonalization, we analyze the signatures of superconductivity in the ground states through the fidelity metric of quantum information theory. Finally, we find that nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions have thresholds above which they destabilize superconductivity regardless of whether they aremore » attractive or repulsive, seemingly due to competing charge fluctuations.« less

Crystal structure, magnetic susceptibility and thermopower of superconducting and non-superconducting Nd 1.85Ce 0.15CuO 4+y

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magelschots, I.; Andersen, N. H.; Lebech, B.; Wisniewski, A.; Jacobsen, C. S.

1992-12-01

An experimental study of superconducting and non-superconducting Nd 1.85Ce 0.15CuO 4+ y, including structure determination by neutron powder diffraction, recording of oxygen changes by gas volumetry, and susceptibility and thermoelectric measurements, is reported. Difference neutron diffraction patterns from samples prepared on-line at the spectrometer show that the structures of superconducting and non-superconducting samples are identical within the limits set by the statistical errors of our data. Simultaneous gas volumetric measurements reveal that Δy<0.03 (1) when the sample is oxidized from the superconducting to the non-superconducting state. Structural refinements confirm that Nd 1.85Ce 0.15CuO 4+ y has the T‧-type tetragonal structure reported in the literature, but additional oxygen may be located on the apical O(3) oxygen site of the T-type structure, with a total oxygen content of 4+ y=4.03 (5). Consistent with this result, we find very small values of the thermoelectric power indicating that Nd 1.85Ce 0.15CuO 4+ y is close to the formal threshold, yc=0.075, between electron and hole conduction, but surprisingly, the thermoelectric power of the superconducting sample is positive, while it is negative in the non-superconducting sample below 210 K.

RbEu (Fe1-xNix) 4As4 : From a ferromagnetic superconductor to a superconducting ferromagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yi; Liu, Ya-Bin; Yu, Ya-Long; Tao, Qian; Feng, Chun-Mu; Cao, Guang-Han

2017-12-01

The intrinsically hole-doped RbEuFe4As4 exhibits bulk superconductivity at Tsc=36.5 K and ferromagnetic ordering in the Eu sublattice at Tm=15 K. Here we present a hole-compensation study by introducing extra itinerant electrons via a Ni substitution in the ferromagnetic superconductor RbEuFe4As4 with Tsc>Tm . With the Ni doping, Tsc decreases rapidly, and the Eu-spin ferromagnetism and its Tm remain unchanged. Consequently, the system RbEu (Fe1-xNix) 4As4 transforms into a superconducting ferromagnet with Tm>Tsc for 0.07 ≤x ≤0.08 . The occurrence of superconducting ferromagnets is attributed to the decoupling between Eu2 + spins and superconducting Cooper pairs. The superconducting and magnetic phase diagram is established, which additionally includes a recovered yet suppressed spin-density-wave state.

In Situ deposition of YBCO high-T(sub c) superconducting thin films by MOCVD and PE-MOCVD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhao, J.; Noh, D. W.; Chern, C.; Li, Y. Q.; Norris, P.; Gallois, B.; Kear, B.

1990-01-01

Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) offers the advantages of a high degree of compositional control, adaptability for large scale production, and the potential for low temperature fabrication. The capability of operating at high oxygen partial pressure is particularly suitable for in situ formation of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) films. Yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) thin films having a sharp zero-resistance transition with T( sub c) greater than 90 K and Jc approx. 10 to the 4th power A on YSZ have been prepared, in situ, at a substrate temperature of about 800 C. Moreover, the ability to form oxide films at low temperature is very desirable for device applications of HTSC materials. Such a process would permit the deposition of high quality HTSC films with a smooth surface on a variety of substrates. Highly c-axis oriented, dense, scratch resistant, superconducting YBCO thin films with mirror-like surfaces have been prepared, in situ, at a reduced substrate temperature as low as 570 C by a remote microwave-plasma enhanced metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (PE-MOCVD) process. Nitrous oxide was used as a reactant gas to generate active oxidizing species. This process, for the first time, allows the formation of YBCO thin films with the orthorhombic superconducting phase in the as-deposited state. The as-deposited films grown by PE-MOCVD show attainment of zero resistance at 72 K with a transition width of about 5 K. MOCVD was carried out in a commercial production scale reactor with the capability of uniform deposition over 100 sq cm per growth run. Preliminary results indicate that PE-MOCVD is a very attractive thin film deposition process for superconducting device technology.

Feasibility of turbidity removal by high-gradient superconducting magnetic separation.

PubMed

Zeng, Hua; Li, Yiran; Xu, Fengyu; Jiang, Hao; Zhang, Weimin

2015-01-01

Several studies have focused on pollutant removal by magnetic seeding and high-gradient superconducting magnetic separation (HGSMS). However, few works reported the application of HGSMS for treating non-magnetic pollutants by an industrial large-scale system. The feasibility of turbidity removal by a 600 mm bore superconducting magnetic separation system was evaluated in this study. The processing parameters were evaluated by using a 102 mm bore superconducting magnetic separation system that was equipped with the same magnetic separation chamber that was used in the 600 mm bore system. The double-canister system was used to process water pollutants. Analytical grade magnetite was used as a magnetic seed and the turbidity of the simulated raw water was approximately 110 NTU, and the effects of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and magnetic seeds on turbidity removal were evaluated. The use of more PAC and magnetic seeds had few advantages for the HGSMS at doses greater than 8 and 50 mg/l, respectively. A magnetic intensity of 5.0 T was beneficial for HGSMS, and increasing the flow rate through the steel wool matrix decreased the turbidity removal efficiency. In the breakthrough experiments, 90% of the turbidity was removed when 100 column volumes were not reached. The processing capacity of the 600 mm bore industry-scale superconducting magnetic separator for turbidity treatment was approximately 78.0 m(3)/h or 65.5 × 10(4) m(3)/a. The processing cost per ton of water for the 600 mm bore system was 0.1 $/t. Thus, the HGSMS separator could be used in the following special circumstances: (1) when adequate space is not available for traditional water treatment equipment, especially the sedimentation tank, and (2) when decentralized sewage treatment HGSMS systems are easier to transport and install.

In-situ deposition of YBCO high-Tc superconducting thin films by MOCVD and PE-MOCVD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhao, J.; Noh, D. W.; Chern, C.; Li, Y. Q.; Norris, P. E.; Kear, B.; Gallois, B.

1991-01-01

Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) offers the advantages of a high degree of compositional control, adaptability for large scale production, and the potential for low temperature fabrication. The capability of operating at high oxygen partial pressure is particularly suitable for in situ formation of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) films. Yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) thin films having a sharp zero-resistance transition with T(sub c) greater than 90 K and J(sub c) of approximately 10(exp 4) A on YSZ have been prepared, in situ, at a substrate temperature of about 800 C. Moreover, the ability to form oxide films at low temperature is very desirable for device applications of HTSC materials. Such a process would permit the deposition of high quality HTSC films with a smooth surface on a variety of substrates. Highly c-axis oriented, dense, scratch resistant, superconducting YBCO thin films with mirror-like surfaces have been prepared, in situ, at a reduced substrate temperature as low as 570 C by a remote microwave-plasma enhanced metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (PE-MOCVD) process. Nitrous oxide was used as a reactant gas to generate active oxidizing species. This process, for the first time, allows the formation of YBCO thin films with the orthorhombic superconducting phase in the as-deposited state. The as-deposited films grown by PE-MOCVD show attainment of zero resistance at 72 K with a transition width of about 5 K. MOCVD was carried out in a commercial production scale reactor with the capability of uniform deposition over 100 sq cm per growth run. Preliminary results indicate that PE-MOCVD is a very attractive thin film deposition process for superconducting device technology.

Ceramic superconductor/metal composite materials employing the superconducting proximity effect

DOEpatents

Holcomb, Matthew J.

2002-01-01

Superconducting composite materials having particles of superconducting material disposed in a metal matrix material with a high electron-boson coupling coefficient (.lambda.). The superconducting particles can comprise any type of superconductor including Laves phase materials, Chevrel phase materials, A15 compounds, and perovskite cuprate ceramics. The particles preferably have dimensions of about 10-500 nanometers. The particles preferably have dimensions larger than the superconducting coherence length of the superconducting material. The metal matrix material has a .lambda. greater than 0.2, preferably the .lambda. is much higher than 0.2. The metal matrix material is a good proximity superconductor due to its high .lambda.. When cooled, the superconductor particles cause the metal matrix material to become superconducting due to the proximity effect. In cases where the particles and the metal matrix material are chemically incompatible (i.e., reactive in a way that destroys superconductivity), the particles are provided with a thin protective metal coating. The coating is chemically compatible with the particles and metal matrix material. High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cuprate ceramic particles are reactive and therefore require a coating of a noble metal resistant to oxidation (e.g., silver, gold). The proximity effect extends through the metal coating. With certain superconductors, non-noble metals can be used for the coating.

Superconductivity and spin-orbit coupling in non-centrosymmetric materials: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smidman, M.; Salamon, M. B.; Yuan, H. Q.; Agterberg, D. F.

2017-03-01

In non-centrosymmetric superconductors, where the crystal structure lacks a centre of inversion, parity is no longer a good quantum number and an electronic antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (ASOC) is allowed to exist by symmetry. If this ASOC is sufficiently large, it has profound consequences on the superconducting state. For example, it generally leads to a superconducting pairing state which is a mixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet components. The possibility of such novel pairing states, as well as the potential for observing a variety of unusual behaviors, led to intensive theoretical and experimental investigations. Here we review the experimental and theoretical results for superconducting systems lacking inversion symmetry. Firstly we give a conceptual overview of the key theoretical results. We then review the experimental properties of both strongly and weakly correlated bulk materials, as well as two dimensional systems. Here the focus is on evaluating the effects of ASOC on the superconducting properties and the extent to which there is evidence for singlet-triplet mixing. This is followed by a more detailed overview of theoretical aspects of non-centrosymmetric superconductivity. This includes the effects of the ASOC on the pairing symmetry and the superconducting magnetic response, magneto-electric effects, superconducting finite momentum pairing states, and the potential for non-centrosymmetric superconductors to display topological superconductivity.

Development of 70 MW class superconducting generator with quick-response excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyaike, Kiyoshi; Kitajima, Toshio; Ito, Tetsuo

2002-03-01

The development of a superconducting generator had been carried out for 12 years under the first stage of a Super GM project. The 70 MW class model machine with quick response excitation was manufactured and evaluated in the project. This type of superconducting generator improves power system stability against rapid load fluctuations at the power system faults. This model machine achieved all development targets including high stability during rapid excitation control. It was also connected to the actual 77 kV electrical power grid as a synchronous condenser and proved advantages and high-operation reliability of the superconducting generator.

Seed crystals with improved properties for melt processing superconductors for practical applications

DOEpatents

Veal, Boyd W.; Paulikas, Arvydas; Balachandran, Uthamalingam; Zhong, Wei

1997-01-01

A method of fabricating bulk superconducting material including RBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. comprising heating compressed powder oxides and/or carbonates of R and Ba and Cu present in mole ratios to form RBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. in physical contact with an oxide single crystal seed to a temperature sufficient to form a liquid phase in the RBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. while maintaining the single crystal seed solid to grow the superconducting material and thereafter cooling to provide a material including RBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta.. R is a rare earth or Y or La and the single crystal seed has a lattice mismatch with RBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. of less than about 2% at the growth temperature. The starting material may be such that the final product contains a minor amount of R.sub.2 BaCuO.sub.5.

Chemical Technology Division, Annual technical report, 1991

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1992-03-01

Highlights of the Chemical Technology (CMT) Division's activities during 1991 are presented. In this period, CMT conducted research and development in the following areas: (1) electrochemical technology, including advanced batteries and fuel cells; (2) technology for fluidized-bed combustion and coal-fired magnetohydrodynamics; (3) methods for treatment of hazardous and mixed hazardous/radioactive waste; (4) the reaction of nuclear waste glass and spent fuel under conditions expected for an unsaturated repository; (5) processes for separating and recovering transuranic elements from nuclear waste streams; (6) recovery processes for discharged fuel and the uranium blanket in the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR); (7) processes for removalmore » of actinides in spent fuel from commercial water-cooled nuclear reactors and burnup in IFRs; and (8) physical chemistry of selected materials in environments simulating those of fission and fusion energy systems. The Division also conducts basic research in catalytic chemistry associated with molecular energy resources; chemistry of superconducting oxides and other materials of interest with technological application; interfacial processes of importance to corrosion science, catalysis, and high-temperature superconductivity; and the geochemical processes involved in water-rock interactions occurring in active hydrothermal systems. In addition, the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in CMT provides a broad range of analytical chemistry support services to the technical programs at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL).« less

Chemical Technology Division, Annual technical report, 1991

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1992-03-01

Highlights of the Chemical Technology (CMT) Division`s activities during 1991 are presented. In this period, CMT conducted research and development in the following areas: (1) electrochemical technology, including advanced batteries and fuel cells; (2) technology for fluidized-bed combustion and coal-fired magnetohydrodynamics; (3) methods for treatment of hazardous and mixed hazardous/radioactive waste; (4) the reaction of nuclear waste glass and spent fuel under conditions expected for an unsaturated repository; (5) processes for separating and recovering transuranic elements from nuclear waste streams; (6) recovery processes for discharged fuel and the uranium blanket in the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR); (7) processes for removalmore » of actinides in spent fuel from commercial water-cooled nuclear reactors and burnup in IFRs; and (8) physical chemistry of selected materials in environments simulating those of fission and fusion energy systems. The Division also conducts basic research in catalytic chemistry associated with molecular energy resources; chemistry of superconducting oxides and other materials of interest with technological application; interfacial processes of importance to corrosion science, catalysis, and high-temperature superconductivity; and the geochemical processes involved in water-rock interactions occurring in active hydrothermal systems. In addition, the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in CMT provides a broad range of analytical chemistry support services to the technical programs at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL).« less

Buffer layer for thin film structures

DOEpatents

Foltyn, Stephen R.; Jia, Quanxi; Arendt, Paul N.; Wang, Haiyan

2006-10-31

A composite structure including a base substrate and a layer of a mixture of strontium titanate and strontium ruthenate is provided. A superconducting article can include a composite structure including an outermost layer of magnesium oxide, a buffer layer of strontium titanate or a mixture of strontium titanate and strontium ruthenate and a top-layer of a superconducting material such as YBCO upon the buffer layer.

Buffer layer for thin film structures

DOEpatents

Foltyn, Stephen R.; Jia, Quanxi; Arendt, Paul N.; Wang, Haiyan

2010-06-15

A composite structure including a base substrate and a layer of a mixture of strontium titanate and strontium ruthenate is provided. A superconducting article can include a composite structure including an outermost layer of magnesium oxide, a buffer layer of strontium titanate or a mixture of strontium titanate and strontium ruthenate and a top-layer of a superconducting material such as YBCO upon the buffer layer.

Magnetic-Field-Tunable Superconducting Rectifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E.

2009-01-01

Superconducting electronic components have been developed that provide current rectification that is tunable by design and with an externally applied magnetic field to the circuit component. The superconducting material used in the device is relatively free of pinning sites with its critical current determined by a geometric energy barrier to vortex entry. The ability of the vortices to move freely inside the device means this innovation does not suffer from magnetic hysteresis effects changing the state of the superconductor. The invention requires a superconductor geometry with opposite edges along the direction of current flow. In order for the critical current asymmetry effect to occur, the device must have different vortex nucleation conditions at opposite edges. Alternative embodiments producing the necessary conditions include edges being held at different temperatures, at different local magnetic fields, with different current-injection geometries, and structural differences between opposite edges causing changes in the size of the geometric energy barrier. An edge fabricated with indentations of the order of the coherence length will significantly lower the geometric energy barrier to vortex entry, meaning vortex passage across the device at lower currents causing resistive dissipation. The existing prototype is a two-terminal device consisting of a thin-film su - perconducting strip operating at a temperature below its superconducting transition temperature (Tc). Opposite ends of the strip are connected to electrical leads made of a higher Tc superconductor. The thin-film lithographic process provides an easy means to alter edge-structures, current-injection geo - metries, and magnetic-field conditions at the edges. The edge-field conditions can be altered by using local field(s) generated from dedicated higher Tc leads or even using the device s own higher Tc superconducting leads.

Error budgeting single and two qubit gates in a superconducting qubit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Z.; Chiaro, B.; Dunsworth, A.; Foxen, B.; Neill, C.; Quintana, C.; Wenner, J.; Martinis, John. M.; Google Quantum Hardware Team Team

Superconducting qubits have shown promise as a platform for both error corrected quantum information processing and demonstrations of quantum supremacy. High fidelity quantum gates are crucial to achieving both of these goals, and superconducting qubits have demonstrated two qubit gates exceeding 99% fidelity. In order to improve gate fidelity further, we must understand the remaining sources of error. In this talk, I will demonstrate techniques for quantifying the contributions of control, decoherence, and leakage to gate error, for both single and two qubit gates. I will also discuss the near term outlook for achieving quantum supremacy using a gate-based approach in superconducting qubits. This work is supported Google Inc., and by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE 1605114.

Architecture for high critical current superconducting tapes

DOEpatents

Jia, Quanxi; Foltyn, Stephen R.

2002-01-01

Improvements in critical current capacity for superconducting film structures are disclosed and include the use of, e.g., multilayer YBCO structures where individual YBCO layers are separated by a layer of an insulating material such as CeO.sub.2 and the like, a layer of a conducting material such as strontium ruthenium oxide and the like or by a second superconducting material such as SmBCO and the like.

Hermetically sealed superconducting magnet motor

DOEpatents

DeVault, Robert C.; McConnell, Benjamin W.; Phillips, Benjamin A.

1996-01-01

A hermetically sealed superconducting magnet motor includes a rotor separated from a stator by either a radial gap, an axial gap, or a combined axial and radial gap. Dual conically shaped stators are used in one embodiment to levitate a disc-shaped rotor made of superconducting material within a conduit for moving cryogenic fluid. As the rotor is caused to rotate when the field stator is energized, the fluid is pumped through the conduit.

Electron Reconfiguration and Enhanced Phonon Activation in the Superconducting State of a FeSe0.3Te0.7 Single Crystal, as Evidenced by Mössbauer Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greculeasa, Simona; Miu, Lucica; Badica, Petre; Nie, Jiacai; Tolea, Mugurel; Kuncser, Victor

2015-01-01

The Mössbauer spectra of a FeSe0.3Te0.7 single crystal grown by the Bridgman method were analysed across the superconducting transition by considering the interplay between the structure and electron configuration of the transition metal. The magnetically determined superconducting critical temperature is TC ˜ 14 K. The 57Fe Mössbauer spectra collected in the temperature range from 5 to 200 K mainly have an asymmetric doublet pattern, which was conveniently fitted by the full Hamiltonian method. No effective magnetic moment ascribed to the superconducting phase was observed down to 5 K. The unusual behaviour observed below ˜17 K for the chemical isomer shift and quadrupole splitting may be associated with an electron reconfiguration process intimately related to an unusual lattice distortion accompanying the superconducting transition. The decreasing trend of the total absorption spectral area and second-order Doppler shift during cooling the sample below the critical temperature, point to enhanced phonon activation in the superconducting state.

Influence of microstructure on superconductivity in KxFe2−ySe2 and evidence for a new parent phase K2Fe7Se8

PubMed Central

Ding, Xiaxin; Fang, Delong; Wang, Zhenyu; Yang, Huan; Liu, Jianzhong; Deng, Qiang; Ma, Guobin; Meng, Chong; Hu, Yuhui; Wen, Hai-Hu

2013-01-01

The search for new superconducting materials has been spurred on by the discovery of iron-based superconductors whose structure and composition is qualitatively different from the cuprates. The study of one such material, KxFe2−ySe2 with a critical temperature of 32 K, is made more difficult by the fact that it separates into two phases—a dominant antiferromagnetic insulating phase K2Fe4Se5, and a minority superconducting phase whose precise structure is as yet unclear. Here we perform electrical and magnetization measurements, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning tunnelling microscopy on KxFe2−ySe2 crystals prepared under different quenching processes to better understand the relationship between its microstructure and its superconducting phase. We identify a three-dimensional network of superconducting filaments within this material and present evidence to suggest that the superconducting phase consists of a single Fe vacancy for every eight Fe-sites arranged in a √8 x √10 parallelogram structure. PMID:23695691

The effect of resolidification on preform optimized infiltration growth processed (Y, Nd, Sm, Gd)BCO, multi-grain bulk superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavan Kumar Naik, S.; Seshu Bai, V.

2017-01-01

Controlling the microstructure of superconductors by incorporating the flux pinning centers and reducing the macro-defects to improve high field performance is the topic of recent research. In continuation, the preform optimized infiltration growth (POIG) processed YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) system, Y-site substituted with three mixed RE (Nd, Sm, Gd) elements is investigated. 20 wt.% of (Nd, Sm, Gd)2BaCuO5 were mixed with Y2BaCuO5 and POIG processed in reduced oxygen atmosphere to obtain YNSG superconductor. No seed is employed for crystal growth; hence the processed samples are multi-grained. Microstructural and compositional investigations on YNSG revealed the presence of different phases in the matrix as well as in precipitates which are of the order of submicron to 4 μm. A large fraction of macro-defects (∼6% of porosity) was observed in the YNSG sample. For reducing the unwanted macro-defects and refine the non-superconducting precipitates, processed YNSG sample is pressed and resolidified (by infiltrating the liquid phases once again) in an argon atmosphere and the structural, microstructural, elemental and superconducting properties are compared with YNSG and undoped samples. Due to spatial scatter in superconducting critical temperatures, caused by the distribution of different REBCO unit cells in YBCO, superconducting transition curve is sharp in YNSG, whereas the resolidified sample showed the broad transition due to solidified liquid phases.

Near net shape processing of continuous lengths of superconducting wire

DOEpatents

Danyluk, S.; McNallan, M.; Troendly, R.; Poeppel, R.; Goretta, K.; Lanagan, M.

1997-08-26

A system and method for mechanically forming a ceramic superconductor product are disclosed. A system for making the ceramic superconductor includes a metallic channel portion having a cross section for receiving a ceramic superconductor powder, a roll to mechanically reduce the channel cross section and included superconductor powder and a cap portion welded to the channel portion using a localized high energy source. The assembled bar is then mechanically reduced to form a tape or wire end product. 9 figs.

Mixed-mu superconducting bearings

DOEpatents

Hull, J.R.; Mulcahy, T.M.

1998-03-03

A mixed-mu superconducting bearing is disclosed including a ferrite structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet structure. The ferrite structure is levitated by said stationary permanent magnet structure. 9 figs.

Gambling with Superconducting Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foltyn, Marek; Zgirski, Maciej

2015-08-01

Josephson junctions and superconducting nanowires, when biased close to superconducting critical current, can switch to a nonzero voltage state by thermal or quantum fluctuations. The process is understood as an escape of a Brownian particle from a metastable state. Since this effect is fully stochastic, we propose to use it for generating random numbers. We present protocol for obtaining random numbers and test the experimentally harvested data for their fidelity. Our work is prerequisite for using the Josephson junction as a tool for stochastic (probabilistic) determination of physical parameters such as magnetic flux, temperature, and current.

Active superconducting devices formed of thin films

DOEpatents

Martens, Jon S.; Beyer, James B.; Nordman, James E.; Hohenwarter, Gert K. G.

1991-05-28

Active superconducting devices are formed of thin films of superconductor which include a main conduction channel which has an active weak link region. The weak link region is composed of an array of links of thin film superconductor spaced from one another by voids and selected in size and thickness such that magnetic flux can propagate across the weak link region when it is superconducting. Magnetic flux applied to the weak link region will propagate across the array of links causing localized loss of superconductivity in the links and changing the effective resistance across the links. The magnetic flux can be applied from a control line formed of a superconducting film deposited coplanar with the main conduction channel and weak link region on a substrate. The devices can be formed of any type to superconductor but are particularly well suited to the high temperature superconductors since the devices can be entirely formed from coplanar films with no overlying regions. The devices can be utilized for a variety of electrical components, including switching circuits, amplifiers, oscillators and modulators, and are well suited to microwave frequency applications.

Nanowire-based detector

DOEpatents

Berggren, Karl K; Hu, Xiaolong; Masciarelli, Daniele

2014-06-24

Systems, articles, and methods are provided related to nanowire-based detectors, which can be used for light detection in, for example, single-photon detectors. In one aspect, a variety of detectors are provided, for example one including an electrically superconductive nanowire or nanowires constructed and arranged to interact with photons to produce a detectable signal. In another aspect, fabrication methods are provided, including techniques to precisely reproduce patterns in subsequently formed layers of material using a relatively small number of fabrication steps. By precisely reproducing patterns in multiple material layers, one can form electrically insulating materials and electrically conductive materials in shapes such that incoming photons are redirected toward a nearby electrically superconductive materials (e.g., electrically superconductive nanowire(s)). For example, one or more resonance structures (e.g., comprising an electrically insulating material), which can trap electromagnetic radiation within its boundaries, can be positioned proximate the nanowire(s). The resonance structure can include, at its boundaries, electrically conductive material positioned proximate the electrically superconductive nanowire such that light that would otherwise be transmitted through the sensor is redirected toward the nanowire(s) and detected. In addition, electrically conductive material can be positioned proximate the electrically superconductive nanowire (e.g. at the aperture of the resonant structure), such that light is directed by scattering from this structure into the nanowire.

Connectivity, Doping, and Anisotropy in Highly Dense Magnesium Diboride (MgB2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guangze

Magnesium diboride (MgB2) is a superconducting material which can be potentially used in many applications such as magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI), wind turbine generators and high energy physics facilities. The major advantages of MgB2 over other superconductors include its relatively high critical temperature of about 39 K, its low cost of raw materials, its simple crystal structure, and its round multifilament form when in the form of superconducting wires. Over the past fourteen years, much effort has been made to develop MgB2 wires with excellent superconducting properties, particularly the critical current density J c. However, this research has been limited by technical difficulties such as high porosity and weak connectivity in MgB2, relatively small flux pinning strength, low upper critical field B c2 and relatively high anisotropy. The goal of this dissertation is to understand the relationship between superconducting properties, microstructure, and reaction mechanisms in MgB 2. In particular, the influences of connectivity, B c2, anisotropy and flux pinning were investigated in terms of the effects of these variables on the Jcs and n-values of MgB2 superconducting wires (n-value is a parameter which indicates the sharpness of resistive V-I transition). The n -values of traditional "Powder in Tube (PIT)" processed MgB2 wires were improved by optimizing precursor species after the identification of microstructural defects such as so-called "sausaging problems". Also, it was found that "high porosity and weak connectivity" was one of the most critical issues which limited the J c performance in typical MgB2. To overcome this problem, highly dense, well-connected MgB2 conductors were successfully fabricated by adopting an innovative "Advanced Internal Magnesium Infiltration (AIMI)" process. A careful study on the reaction kinetics together with the microstructural evidence demonstrated how the MgB2 layer was formed as the infiltration process proceeded. As a result, it is possible to control the MgB2 layer growth in the AIMI-processed MgB 2 wires. The best AIMI wires, with improved density and connectivity, accomplished an outstanding layer Jc, which was 1.0 x 105 A/cm2 at 4.2 K and 10 T, nearly 10 times higher than the Jcs of PIT wires. The engineering Je of AIMI wires, namely the critical current over the whole cross-sectional area in the wire, achieved 1.7 x 104 A/cm2 at 4.2 K, 10 T, 200 % higher than those of PIT wires. Finally, two promising dopants, Dy2O3 and O, were engineered to incorporate with MgB2. Dy 2O3 nanopowders, co-doped with C in AIMI wires, enhanced the Jc performance at elevated temperatures such as 20 K. Oxygen, on the other hand, doped into MgB2 thin films through a newly-developed O2 annealing process, improved Bc2 to 14 T at 21 K. Both of the doping studies were helpful to understand the superconducting nature of MgB2.

FOREWORD: Focus on Superconductivity in Semiconductors Focus on Superconductivity in Semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takano, Yoshihiko

2008-12-01

Since the discovery of superconductivity in diamond, much attention has been given to the issue of superconductivity in semiconductors. Because diamond has a large band gap of 5.5 eV, it is called a wide-gap semiconductor. Upon heavy boron doping over 3×1020 cm-3, diamond becomes metallic and demonstrates superconductivity at temperatures below 11.4 K. This discovery implies that a semiconductor can become a superconductor upon carrier doping. Recently, superconductivity was also discovered in boron-doped silicon and SiC semiconductors. The number of superconducting semiconductors has increased. In 2008 an Fe-based superconductor was discovered in a research project on carrier doping in a LaCuSeO wide-gap semiconductor. This discovery enhanced research activities in the field of superconductivity, where many scientists place particular importance on superconductivity in semiconductors. This focus issue features a variety of topics on superconductivity in semiconductors selected from the 2nd International Workshop on Superconductivity in Diamond and Related Materials (IWSDRM2008), which was held at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan in July 2008. The 1st workshop was held in 2005 and was published as a special issue in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM) in 2006 (Takano 2006 Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. 7 S1). The selection of papers describe many important experimental and theoretical studies on superconductivity in semiconductors. Topics on boron-doped diamond include isotope effects (Ekimov et al) and the detailed structure of boron sites, and the relation between superconductivity and disorder induced by boron doping. Regarding other semiconductors, the superconducting properties of silicon and SiC (Kriener et al, Muranaka et al and Yanase et al) are discussed, and In2O3 (Makise et al) is presented as a new superconducting semiconductor. Iron-based superconductors are presented as a new series of high-TC superconductors (Tamegai et al), and the mechanism of superconductivity is discussed. Last but not least, a novel highest-density phase of boron is produced and characterized (Zarechnaya et al). We hope that this focus issue will help readers to understand the frontiers of superconductivity in semiconductors and assist in the application of new devices using a combination of superconductivity and semiconductivity.

High Tc superconducting bolometric and nonbolometric infrared (IR) detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakeou, Samuel; Rajeswari, M.; Goyal, Anuja

1995-01-01

The workplan for the period August 1994 through August 1995 includes the following: (1) expand the Applied Superconductivity Laboratory to include stand-alone optical response and noise measurement setups; (2) pursue studies of the low frequency excess electrical noise in YBCO films; and (3) enhance the academic support component of the project through increased student and faculty participation.

Origin of Superconductivity and Latent Charge Density Wave in NbS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heil, Christoph; Poncé, Samuel; Lambert, Henry; Schlipf, Martin; Margine, Elena R.; Giustino, Feliciano

2017-08-01

We elucidate the origin of the phonon-mediated superconductivity in 2 H -NbS2 using the ab initio anisotropic Migdal-Eliashberg theory including Coulomb interactions. We demonstrate that superconductivity is associated with Fermi surface hot spots exhibiting an unusually strong electron-phonon interaction. The electron-lattice coupling is dominated by low-energy anharmonic phonons, which place the system on the verge of a charge density wave instability. We also provide definitive evidence for two-gap superconductivity in 2 H -NbS2 , and show that the low- and high-energy peaks observed in tunneling spectra correspond to the Γ - and K -centered Fermi surface pockets, respectively. The present findings call for further efforts to determine whether our proposed mechanism underpins superconductivity in the whole family of metallic transition metal dichalcogenides.

Suppressed Superconductivity on the Surface of Superconducting RF Quality Niobium for Particle Accelerating Cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Z. H.; Polyanskii, A. A.; Lee, P. J.; Gurevich, A.; Larbalestier, D. C.

2011-03-01

Significant performance degradation of superconducting RF (radio frequency) niobium cavities in high RF field is strongly associated with the breakdown of superconductivity on localized multi-scale surface defects lying within the 40 nm penetration depth. These defects may be on the nanometer scale, like grain boundaries and dislocations or even at the much larger scale of surface roughness and welding pits. By combining multiple superconducting characterization techniques including magneto-optical (MO) imaging and direct transport measurement with non-contact characterization of the surface topology using scanning confocal microscopy, we were able to show clear evidence of suppression of surface superconductivity at chemically treated RF-quality niobium. We found that pinning of vortices along GBs is weaker than pinning of vortices in the grains, which may indicate suppressed superfluid density on GBs. We also directly measured the local magnetic characteristics of BCP-treated Nb sample surface using a micro-Hall sensor in order to further understanding of the effect of surface topological features on the breakdown of superconducting state in RF mode.

Analysis of Mechanical Stresses/Strains in Superconducting Wire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barry, Matthew; Chen, Jingping; Zhai, Yuhu

2016-10-01

The optimization of superconducting magnet performance and development of high-field superconducting magnets will greatly impact the next generation of fusion devices. A successful magnet development, however, relies deeply on the understanding of superconducting materials. Among the numerous factors that impact a superconductor's performance, mechanical stress is the most important because of the extreme operation temperature and large electromagnetic forces. In this study, mechanical theory is used to calculate the stresses/strains in typical superconducting strands, which consist of a stabilizer, a barrier, a matrix and superconducting filaments. Both thermal loads and mechanical loads are included in the analysis to simulate operation conditions. Because this model simulates the typical architecture of major superconducting materials, such as Nb3Sn, MgB2, Bi-2212 etc., it provides a good overall picture for us to understand the behavior of these superconductors in terms of thermal and mechanical loads. This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) under the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program.

Jefferson Lab 12 GEV Cebaf Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rode, C. H.

2010-04-01

The existing continuous electron beam accelerator facility (CEBAF) at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) is a 5-pass, recirculating cw electron Linac operating at ˜6 GeV and is devoted to basic research in nuclear physics. The 12 GeV CEBAF Upgrade is a 310 M project, sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Physics, that will expand its research capabilities substantially by doubling the maximum energy and adding major new experimental apparatus. The project received construction approval in September 2008 and has started the major procurement process. The cryogenic aspects of the 12 GeV CEBAF Upgrade includes: doubling the accelerating voltages of the Linacs by adding ten new high-performance, superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cryomodules (CMs) to the existing 42 1/4 cryomodules; doubling of the 2 K cryogenics plant; and the addition of eight superconducting magnets.

Final Report: Superconducting Joints Between (RE)Ba 2Cu 3O 7-x Coated Conductors via Electric Field Assisted Processing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schwartz, Justin

Here we report the results from a project aimed at developing a fully superconducting joint between two REBCO coated conductors using electric field processing (EFP). Due to a reduction in the budget and time period of this contract, we reduced the project scope and focused first on the key scientific issues for forming a strong bond between conductors, and subsequently focused on improving through-the-joint transport. A modified timeline and task list is shown in Table 1, summarizing accomplishments to date. In the first period, we accomplished initial surface characterization as well as rounds of EFP experiments to begin to understandmore » processing parameters which produce well-bonded tapes. In the second phase, we explored the effects of two fundamental EFP parameters, voltage and pressure, and the limitations they place on the process. In the third phase, we achieved superconducting joints and established base characteristics of both the bonding process and the types of tapes best suited to this process. Finally, we investigated some of the parameters related to kinetics which appeared inhibit joint quality and performance.« less

Hermetically sealed superconducting magnet motor

DOEpatents

DeVault, R.C.; McConnell, B.W.; Phillips, B.A.

1996-07-02

A hermetically sealed superconducting magnet motor includes a rotor separated from a stator by either a radial gap, an axial gap, or a combined axial and radial gap. Dual conically shaped stators are used in one embodiment to levitate a disc-shaped rotor made of superconducting material within a conduit for moving cryogenic fluid. As the rotor is caused to rotate when the field stator is energized, the fluid is pumped through the conduit. 6 figs.

Conceptual study of superconducting urban area power systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noe, Mathias; Bach, Robert; Prusseit, Werner; Willén, Dag; Gold-acker, Wilfried; Poelchau, Juri; Linke, Christian

2010-06-01

Efficient transmission, distribution and usage of electricity are fundamental requirements for providing citizens, societies and economies with essential energy resources. It will be a major future challenge to integrate more sustainable generation resources, to meet growing electricity demand and to renew electricity networks. Research and development on superconducting equipment and components have an important role to play in addressing these challenges. Up to now, most studies on superconducting applications in power systems have been concentrated on the application of specific devices like for example cables and current limiters. In contrast to this, the main focus of our study is to show the consequence of a large scale integration of superconducting power equipment in distribution level urban power systems. Specific objectives are to summarize the state-of-the-art of superconducting power equipment including cooling systems and to compare the superconducting power system with respect to energy and economic efficiency with conventional solutions. Several scenarios were considered starting from the replacement of an existing distribution level sub-grid up to a full superconducting urban area distribution level power system. One major result is that a full superconducting urban area distribution level power system could be cost competitive with existing solutions in the future. In addition to that, superconducting power systems offer higher energy efficiency as well as a number of technical advantages like lower voltage drops and improved stability.

Local switching of two-dimensional superconductivity using the ferroelectric field effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, K. S.; Gabay, M.; Jaccard, D.; Shibuya, K.; Ohnishi, T.; Lippmaa, M.; Triscone, J.-M.

2006-05-01

Correlated oxides display a variety of extraordinary physical properties including high-temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance. In these materials, strong electronic correlations often lead to competing ground states that are sensitive to many parameters-in particular the doping level-so that complex phase diagrams are observed. A flexible way to explore the role of doping is to tune the electron or hole concentration with electric fields, as is done in standard semiconductor field effect transistors. Here we demonstrate a model oxide system based on high-quality heterostructures in which the ferroelectric field effect approach can be studied. We use a single-crystal film of the perovskite superconductor Nb-doped SrTiO3 as the superconducting channel and ferroelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 as the gate oxide. Atomic force microscopy is used to locally reverse the ferroelectric polarization, thus inducing large resistivity and carrier modulations, resulting in a clear shift in the superconducting critical temperature. Field-induced switching from the normal state to the (zero resistance) superconducting state was achieved at a well-defined temperature. This unique system could lead to a field of research in which devices are realized by locally defining in the same material superconducting and normal regions with `perfect' interfaces, the interface being purely electronic. Using this approach, one could potentially design one-dimensional superconducting wires, superconducting rings and junctions, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) or arrays of pinning centres.

Apparatus for fabricating continuous lengths of superconductor

DOEpatents

Kroeger, Donald M.; List, III, Frederick A.

2002-01-01

A process and apparatus for manufacturing a superconductor. The process is accomplished by depositing a superconductor precursor powder on a continuous length of a first substrate ribbon, overlaying a continuous length of a second substrate ribbon on said first substrate ribbon, and applying sufficient pressure to form a bound layered superconductor comprising a layer of said superconducting precursor powder between said first substrate ribbon and said second substrates ribbon. The layered superconductor is then heat treated to establish the superconducting phase of said superconductor precursor powder.

Apparatus for fabricating continuous lengths of superconductor

DOEpatents

Kroeger, Donald M.; List, III, Frederick A.

2001-01-01

A process and apparatus for manufacturing a superconductor. The process is accomplished by depositing a superconductor precursor powder on a continuous length of a first substrate ribbon, overlaying a continuous length of a second substrate ribbon on said first substrate ribbon, and applying sufficient pressure to form a bound layered superconductor comprising a layer of said superconducting precursor powder between said first substrate ribbon and said second substrates ribbon. The layered superconductor is then heat treated to establish the superconducting phase of said superconductor precursor powder.

Proceedings of the 4th International Conference and Exhibition: World Congress on Superconductivity, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishen, Kumar (Editor); Burnham, Calvin (Editor)

1995-01-01

The papers presented at the 4th International Conference Exhibition: World Congress on Superconductivity held at the Marriott Orlando World Center, Orlando, Florida, are contained in this document and encompass the research, technology, applications, funding, political, and social aspects of superconductivity. Specifically, the areas covered included: high-temperature materials; thin films; C-60 based superconductors; persistent magnetic fields and shielding; fabrication methodology; space applications; physical applications; performance characterization; device applications; weak link effects and flux motion; accelerator technology; superconductivity energy; storage; future research and development directions; medical applications; granular superconductors; wire fabrication technology; computer applications; technical and commercial challenges, and power and energy applications.

Superconducting cable connections and methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

van der Laan, Daniel Cornelis

2017-09-05

Superconducting cable connector structures include a terminal body (or other structure) onto which the tapes from the superconducting cable extend. The terminal body (or other structure) has a diameter that is sufficiently larger than the diameter of the former of the superconducting cable, so that the tapes spread out over the outer surface of the terminal body. As a result, gaps are formed between tapes on the terminal body (or other structure). Those gaps are filled with solder (or other suitable flowable conductive material), to provide a current path of relatively high conductivity in the radial direction. Other connector structuresmore » omit the terminal body.« less

Proceedings of the 4th International Conference and Exhibition: World Congress on Superconductivity, Volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishen, Kumar (Editor); Burnham, Calvin (Editor)

1995-01-01

This document contains papers presented at the 4th International Conference Exhibition: World Congress on Superconductivity held June 27-July 1, 1994 in Orlando, Florida. These documents encompass research, technology, applications, funding, political, and social aspects of superconductivity. The areas covered included: high-temperature materials; thin films; C-60 based superconductors; persistent magnetic fields and shielding; fabrication methodology; space applications; physical applications; performance characterization; device applications; weak link effects and flux motion; accelerator technology; superconductivity energy; storage; future research and development directions; medical applications; granular superconductors; wire fabrication technology; computer applications; technical and commercial challenges; and power and energy applications.

Isotope effect on superconductivity and Raman phonons of Pyrochlore Cd2Re2O7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razavi, F. S.; Hajialamdari, M.; Reedyk, M.; Kremer, R. K.

2018-06-01

Cd2Re2O7 is the only α-Pyrochlore exhibiting superconductivity with a transition temperature (Tc) of ∼ 1 K. In this study, we present the effect of oxygen isotope (18O) as well as combined 18O and cadmium isotope (116Cd) substitution on the superconductivity and Raman scattering spectrum of Cd2Re2O7. The change of Tc and the energy gap Δ(T) are reported using various techniques including point contact spectroscopy. The shift in Raman phonon frequencies upon isotope substitution will be compared with measurement of the isotope effect on the superconducting transition temperature.

Detection of surface carbon and hydrocarbons in hot spot regions of niobium superconducting rf cavities by Raman spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Cao, C.; Argonne National Lab.; Ford, D.; ...

2013-06-26

Raman microscopy/spectroscopy measurements are presented on high purity niobium (Nb) samples, including pieces from hot spot regions of a tested superconducting rf cavity that exhibit a high density of etch pits. Measured spectra are compared with density functional theory calculations of Raman-active, vibrational modes of possible surface Nb-O and Nb-H complexes. The Raman spectra inside particularly rough pits in all Nb samples show clear differences from surrounding areas, exhibiting enhanced intensity and sharp peaks. While some of the sharp peaks are consistent with calculated NbH and NbH 2 modes, there is better overall agreement with C-H modes in chain-type hydrocarbons.more » Other spectra reveal two broader peaks attributed to amorphous carbon. Niobium foils annealed to >2000°C in high vacuum develop identical Raman peaks when subjected to cold working. Regions with enhanced C and O have also been found by SEM/EDX spectroscopy in the hot spot samples and cold-worked foils, corroborating the Raman results. Such regions with high concentrations of impurities are expected to suppress the local superconductivity and this may explain the correlation between hot spots in superconducting rf (SRF) cavities and the observation of a high density of surface pits. Finally, the origin of localized high carbon and hydrocarbon regions is unclear at present but it is suggested that particular processing steps in SRF cavity fabrication may be responsible.« less

Detection of surface carbon and hydrocarbons in hot spot regions of niobium superconducting rf cavities by Raman spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, C.; Argonne National Lab.; Ford, D.

Raman microscopy/spectroscopy measurements are presented on high purity niobium (Nb) samples, including pieces from hot spot regions of a tested superconducting rf cavity that exhibit a high density of etch pits. Measured spectra are compared with density functional theory calculations of Raman-active, vibrational modes of possible surface Nb-O and Nb-H complexes. The Raman spectra inside particularly rough pits in all Nb samples show clear differences from surrounding areas, exhibiting enhanced intensity and sharp peaks. While some of the sharp peaks are consistent with calculated NbH and NbH 2 modes, there is better overall agreement with C-H modes in chain-type hydrocarbons.more » Other spectra reveal two broader peaks attributed to amorphous carbon. Niobium foils annealed to >2000°C in high vacuum develop identical Raman peaks when subjected to cold working. Regions with enhanced C and O have also been found by SEM/EDX spectroscopy in the hot spot samples and cold-worked foils, corroborating the Raman results. Such regions with high concentrations of impurities are expected to suppress the local superconductivity and this may explain the correlation between hot spots in superconducting rf (SRF) cavities and the observation of a high density of surface pits. Finally, the origin of localized high carbon and hydrocarbon regions is unclear at present but it is suggested that particular processing steps in SRF cavity fabrication may be responsible.« less

Applications of the superconducting lossless resistor in electric power systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Ping; Chen, Ji-yan; Hua, Rong; Chen, Zhongming

2003-04-01

The main features and some very useful applications of the superconducting lossless resistor (LLR) in electric power systems are introduced in this paper. According our opinion, there are two different kinds of LLR, i.e., the time-variant LLR (Tv-LLR) and the time-invariant LLR (Ti-LLR). First, Tv-LLR is well suited for developing new type of the fault-current limiter (FCL) since it has no heat energy dissipated from its superconducting element during current-limiting process. Second, it may be used to produce the high voltage circuit breaker with current limiting ability. While Ti-LLR may be used to manufacture a new type of the superconducting transformer, with compact volume, lightweight and with continuously regulated turn-ratio (so it familiarized as time-variable transformer, TVT).

Buried superconducting layers comprised of magnesium diboride nanocrystals formed by ion implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, H. Y.; Christen, H. M.; White, C. W.; Budai, J. D.; Lowndes, D. H.; Meldrum, A.

2002-06-01

Superconducting layers of MgB2 were formed on Si substrates using techniques that are widely used and accepted in the semiconductor industry. Mg ions were implanted into boron films deposited on Si or Al2O3 substrates. After a thermal processing step, buried superconducting layers comprised of MgB2 nanocrystals were obtained which exhibit the highest Tc reported so far for MgB2 on silicon (Tconsetapproximately33.6 K, DeltaTc=0.5 K, as measured by current transport). These results show that our approach is clearly applicable to the fabrication of superconducting devices that can be operated at much higher temperatures (approximately20 K) than the current Nb technology (approximately6 K) while their integration with silicon structures remains straight-forward.

On-chip integration of a superconducting microwave circulator and a Josephson parametric amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenthal, Eric I.; Chapman, Benjamin J.; Moores, Bradley A.; Kerckhoff, Joseph; Malnou, Maxime; Palken, D. A.; Mates, J. A. B.; Hilton, G. C.; Vale, L. R.; Ullom, J. N.; Lehnert, K. W.

Recent progress in microwave amplification based on parametric processes in superconducting circuits has revolutionized the measurement of feeble microwave signals. These devices, which operate near the quantum limit, are routinely used in ultralow temperature cryostats to: readout superconducting qubits, search for axionic dark matter, and characterize astrophysical sensors. However, these amplifiers often require ferrite circulators to separate incoming and outgoing traveling waves. For this reason, measurement efficiency and scalability are limited. In order to facilitate the routing of quantum signals we have created a superconducting, on-chip microwave circulator without permanent magnets. We integrate our circulator on-chip with a Josephson parametric amplifier for the purpose of near quantum-limited directional amplification. In this talk I will present a design overview and preliminary measurements.

Sensing with Superconducting Point Contacts

PubMed Central

Nurbawono, Argo; Zhang, Chun

2012-01-01

Superconducting point contacts have been used for measuring magnetic polarizations, identifying magnetic impurities, electronic structures, and even the vibrational modes of small molecules. Due to intrinsically small energy scale in the subgap structures of the supercurrent determined by the size of the superconducting energy gap, superconductors provide ultrahigh sensitivities for high resolution spectroscopies. The so-called Andreev reflection process between normal metal and superconductor carries complex and rich information which can be utilized as powerful sensor when fully exploited. In this review, we would discuss recent experimental and theoretical developments in the supercurrent transport through superconducting point contacts and their relevance to sensing applications, and we would highlight their current issues and potentials. A true utilization of the method based on Andreev reflection analysis opens up possibilities for a new class of ultrasensitive sensors. PMID:22778630

Perspectives for the high field approach in fusion research and advances within the Ignitor Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coppi, B.; Airoldi, A.; Albanese, R.; Ambrosino, G.; Belforte, G.; Boggio-Sella, E.; Cardinali, A.; Cenacchi, G.; Conti, F.; Costa, E.; D'Amico, A.; Detragiache, P.; De Tommasi, G.; DeVellis, A.; Faelli, G.; Ferraris, P.; Frattolillo, A.; Giammanco, F.; Grasso, G.; Lazzaretti, M.; Mantovani, S.; Merriman, L.; Migliori, S.; Napoli, R.; Perona, A.; Pierattini, S.; Pironti, A.; Ramogida, G.; Rubinacci, G.; Sassi, M.; Sestero, A.; Spillantini, S.; Tavani, M.; Tumino, A.; Villone, F.; Zucchi, L.

2015-05-01

The Ignitor Program maintains the objective of approaching D-T ignition conditions by incorporating systematical advances made with relevant high field magnet technology and with experiments on high density well confined plasmas in the present machine design. An additional objective is that of charting the development of the high field line of experiments that goes from the Alcator machine to the ignitor device. The rationale for this class of experiments, aimed at producing poloidal fields with the highest possible values (compatible with proven safety factors of known plasma instabilities) is given. On the basis of the favourable properties of high density plasmas produced systematically by this line of machines, the envisioned future for the line, based on novel high field superconducting magnets, includes the possibility of investigating more advanced fusion burn conditions than those of the D-T plasmas for which Ignitor is designed. Considering that a detailed machine design has been carried out (Coppi et al 2013 Nucl. Fusion 53 104013), the advances made in different areas of the physics and technology that are relevant to the Ignitor project are reported. These are included within the following sections of the present paper: main components issues, assembly and welding procedures; robotics criteria; non-linear feedback control; simulations with three-dimensional structures and disruption studies; ICRH and dedicated diagnostics systems; anomalous transport processes including self-organization for fusion burning regimes and the zero-dimensional model; tridimensional structures of the thermonuclear instability and control provisions; superconducting components of the present machine; envisioned experiments with high field superconducting magnets.

Method and apparatus for forming high-critical-temperature superconducting layers on flat and/or elongated substrates

DOEpatents

Ciszek, Theodore F.

1994-01-01

An elongated, flexible superconductive wire or strip is fabricated by pulling it through and out of a melt of metal oxide material at a rate conducive to forming a crystalline coating of superconductive metal oxide material on an elongated, flexible substrate wire or strip. A coating of crystalline superconductive material, such as Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.8, is annealed to effect conductive contact between adjacent crystalline structures in the coating material, which is then cooled to room temperature. The container for the melt can accommodate continuous passage of the substrate through the melt. Also, a second pass-through container can be used to simultaneously anneal and overcoat the superconductive coating with a hot metallic material, such as silver or silver alloy. A hollow, elongated tube casting method of forming an elongated, flexible superconductive wire includes drawing the melt by differential pressure into a heated tubular substrate.

Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Resonators

PubMed Central

Cataldo, Giuseppe; Barrentine, Emily M.; Brown, Ari D.; Moseley, Samuel H.; U-Yen, Kongpop; Wollack, Edward J.

2016-01-01

Superconducting microwave resonators are of interest for a wide range of applications, including for their use as microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) for the detection of faint astrophysical signatures, as well as for quantum computing applications and materials characterization. In this paper, procedures are presented for the fabrication and characterization of thin-film superconducting microwave resonators. The fabrication methodology allows for the realization of superconducting transmission-line resonators with features on both sides of an atomically smooth single-crystal silicon dielectric. This work describes the procedure for the installation of resonator devices into a cryogenic microwave testbed and for cool-down below the superconducting transition temperature. The set-up of the cryogenic microwave testbed allows one to do careful measurements of the complex microwave transmission of these resonator devices, enabling the extraction of the properties of the superconducting lines and dielectric substrate (e.g., internal quality factors, loss and kinetic inductance fractions), which are important for device design and performance. PMID:27284966

High-Resolution Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Spectrometers Based on Superconducting Absorbers Coupled to Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

van den Berg, M.; Chow, D.; Loshak, A.

2000-09-21

We are developing detectors based on bulk superconducting absorbers coupled to superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) for high-resolution spectroscopy of hard X-rays and soft gamma-rays. We have achieved an energy resolution of 70 eV FWHM at 60 keV using a 1 x 1 x 0.25 mm{sup 3} Sn absorber coupled to a Mo/Cu multilayer TES with a transition temperature of 100 mK. The response of the detector is compared with a simple model using only material properties data and characteristics derived from IV-measurements. We have also manufactured detectors using superconducting absorbers with a higher stopping power, such as Pb andmore » Ta. We present our first measurements of these detectors, including the thermalization characteristics of the bulk superconducting absorbers. The differences in performance between the detectors are discussed and an outline of the future direction of our detector development efforts is given.« less

Superconducting shielded core reactor with reduced AC losses

DOEpatents

Cha, Yung S.; Hull, John R.

2006-04-04

A superconducting shielded core reactor (SSCR) operates as a passive device for limiting excessive AC current in a circuit operating at a high power level under a fault condition such as shorting. The SSCR includes a ferromagnetic core which may be either closed or open (with an air gap) and extends into and through a superconducting tube or superconducting rings arranged in a stacked array. First and second series connected copper coils each disposed about a portion of the iron core are connected to the circuit to be protected and are respectively wound inside and outside of the superconducting tube or rings. A large impedance is inserted into the circuit by the core when the shielding capability of the superconducting arrangement is exceeded by the applied magnetic field generated by the two coils under a fault condition to limit the AC current in the circuit. The proposed SSCR also affords reduced AC loss compared to conventional SSCRs under continuous normal operation.

Method and apparatus for forming high-critical-temperature superconducting layers on flat and/or elongated substrates

DOEpatents

Ciszek, T.F.

1994-04-19

An elongated, flexible superconductive wire or strip is fabricated by pulling it through and out of a melt of metal oxide material at a rate conducive to forming a crystalline coating of superconductive metal oxide material on an elongated, flexible substrate wire or strip. A coating of crystalline superconductive material, such as Bi[sub 2]Sr[sub 2]CaCu[sub 2]O[sub 8], is annealed to effect conductive contact between adjacent crystalline structures in the coating material, which is then cooled to room temperature. The container for the melt can accommodate continuous passage of the substrate through the melt. Also, a second pass-through container can be used to simultaneously anneal and overcoat the superconductive coating with a hot metallic material, such as silver or silver alloy. A hollow, elongated tube casting method of forming an elongated, flexible superconductive wire includes drawing the melt by differential pressure into a heated tubular substrate. 8 figures.

High-temperature superconductivity in space-charge regions of lanthanum cuprate induced by two-dimensional doping

PubMed Central

Baiutti, F.; Logvenov, G.; Gregori, G.; Cristiani, G.; Wang, Y.; Sigle, W.; van Aken, P. A.; Maier, J.

2015-01-01

The exploitation of interface effects turned out to be a powerful tool for generating exciting material properties. Such properties include magnetism, electronic and ionic transport and even superconductivity. Here, instead of using conventional homogeneous doping to enhance the hole concentration in lanthanum cuprate and achieve superconductivity, we replace single LaO planes with SrO dopant planes using atomic-layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy (two-dimensional doping). Electron spectroscopy and microscopy, conductivity measurements and zinc tomography reveal such negatively charged interfaces to induce layer-dependent superconductivity (Tc up to 35 K) in the space-charge zone at the side of the planes facing the substrate, where the strontium (Sr) profile is abrupt. Owing to the growth conditions, the other side exhibits instead a Sr redistribution resulting in superconductivity due to conventional doping. The present study represents a successful example of two-dimensional doping of superconducting oxide systems and demonstrates its power in this field. PMID:26481902

Superconducting magnet performance for 28 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source developed at the Korea Basic Science Institute.

PubMed

Park, Jin Yong; Choi, Seyong; Lee, Byoung-Seob; Yoon, Jang-Hee; Ok, Jung-Woo; Kim, Byoung Chul; Shin, Chang Seouk; Ahn, Jung Keun; Won, Mi-Sook

2014-02-01

A superconducting magnet for use in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source was developed at the Korea Basic Science Institute. The superconducting magnet is comprised of three solenoids and a hexapole magnet. According to the design value, the solenoid magnets can generate a mirror field, resulting in axial magnetic fields of 3.6 T at the injection area and 2.2 T at the extraction region. A radial field strength of 2.1 T can also be achieved by hexapole magnet on the plasma chamber wall. NbTi superconducting wire was used in the winding process following appropriate techniques for magnet structure. The final assembly of the each magnet involved it being vertically inserted into the cryostat to cool down the temperature using liquid helium. The performance of each solenoid and hexapole magnet was separately verified experimentally. The construction of the superconducting coil, the entire magnet assembly for performance testing and experimental results are reported herein.

Plasma processing of large curved surfaces for superconducting rf cavity modification

DOE PAGES

Upadhyay, J.; Im, Do; Popović, S.; ...

2014-12-15

In this study, plasma based surface modification of niobium is a promising alternative to wet etching of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities. The development of the technology based on Cl 2/Ar plasma etching has to address several crucial parameters which influence the etching rate and surface roughness, and eventually, determine cavity performance. This includes dependence of the process on the frequency of the RF generator, gas pressure, power level, the driven (inner) electrode configuration, and the chlorine concentration in the gas mixture during plasma processing. To demonstrate surface layer removal in the asymmetric non-planar geometry, we are using a simplemore » cylindrical cavity with 8 ports symmetrically distributed over the cylinder. The ports are used for diagnosing the plasma parameters and as holders for the samples to be etched. The etching rate is highly correlated with the shape of the inner electrode, radio-frequency (RF) circuit elements, chlorine concentration in the Cl 2/Ar gas mixtures, residence time of reactive species and temperature of the cavity. Using cylindrical electrodes with variable radius, large-surface ring-shaped samples and d.c. bias implementation in the external circuit we have demonstrated substantial average etching rates and outlined the possibility to optimize plasma properties with respect to maximum surface processing effect.« less

Nanoscale superconducting memory based on the kinetic inductance of asymmetric nanowire loops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, Andrew; Averin, Dmitri V.; Bezryadin, Alexey

2017-06-01

The demand for low-dissipation nanoscale memory devices is as strong as ever. As Moore’s law is staggering, and the demand for a low-power-consuming supercomputer is high, the goal of making information processing circuits out of superconductors is one of the central goals of modern technology and physics. So far, digital superconducting circuits could not demonstrate their immense potential. One important reason for this is that a dense superconducting memory technology is not yet available. Miniaturization of traditional superconducting quantum interference devices is difficult below a few micrometers because their operation relies on the geometric inductance of the superconducting loop. Magnetic memories do allow nanometer-scale miniaturization, but they are not purely superconducting (Baek et al 2014 Nat. Commun. 5 3888). Our approach is to make nanometer scale memory cells based on the kinetic inductance (and not geometric inductance) of superconducting nanowire loops, which have already shown many fascinating properties (Aprili 2006 Nat. Nanotechnol. 1 15; Hopkins et al 2005 Science 308 1762). This allows much smaller devices and naturally eliminates magnetic-field cross-talk. We demonstrate that the vorticity, i.e., the winding number of the order parameter, of a closed superconducting loop can be used for realizing a nanoscale nonvolatile memory device. We demonstrate how to alter the vorticity in a controlled fashion by applying calibrated current pulses. A reliable read-out of the memory is also demonstrated. We present arguments that such memory can be developed to operate without energy dissipation.

Optimization of the Processing Parameters of High Temperature Superconducting Glass-Ceramics: Center Director's Discretionary Fund Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ethridge, E. C.; Kaukler, W. F.

1993-01-01

A number of promising glass forming compositions of high Tc superconducting Ba-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) materials were evaluated for their glass-ceramic crystallization ability. The BSCCO ceramics belonging to the class of superconductors in the Ba-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system were the focus of this study. By first forming the superconducting material as a glass, subsequent devitrification into the crystalline (glass-ceramic) superconductor can be performed by thermal processing of the glass preform body. Glass formability and phase formation were determined by a variety of methods in another related study. This study focused on the nucleation and crystallization of the materials. Thermal analysis during rapid cooling aids in the evaluation of nucleation and crystallization behavior. Melt viscosity is used to predict glass formation ability.

Nonlocal superconducting correlations in graphene in the quantum Hall regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beconcini, Michael; Polini, Marco; Taddei, Fabio

2018-05-01

We study Andreev processes and nonlocal transport in a three-terminal graphene-superconductor hybrid system under a quantizing perpendicular magnetic field [G.-H. Lee et al., Nat. Phys. 13, 693 (2017), 10.1038/nphys4084]. We find that the amplitude of the crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) processes crucially depends on the orientation of the lattice. By employing Landauer-Büttiker scattering theory, we find that CAR is generally very small for a zigzag edge, while for an armchair edge it can be larger than the normal transmission, thereby resulting in a negative nonlocal resistance. In the case of an armchair edge and with a wide superconducting region (as compared to the superconducting coherence length), CAR exhibits large oscillations as a function of the magnetic field due to interference effects. This results in sign changes of the nonlocal resistance.

Three-dimensional superconducting gap in FeSe from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kushnirenko, Y. S.; Fedorov, A. V.; Haubold, E.; Thirupathaiah, S.; Wolf, T.; Aswartham, S.; Morozov, I.; Kim, T. K.; Büchner, B.; Borisenko, S. V.

2018-05-01

We present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the superconducting gap in FeSe. The gap function is determined in a full Brillouin zone including all Fermi surfaces and kz dependence. We find significant anisotropy of the superconducting gap in all momentum directions. While the in-plane anisotropy can be explained by both nematicity-induced pairing anisotropy and orbital-selective pairing, the kz anisotropy requires an additional refinement of the theoretical approaches.

An EM System with Dynamic Multi-Axis Transmitter and Tensor Gradiometer Receiver

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

main difference between the spatial behavior of target anomalies measured with a magnetometer and those we measured with an EM system is in the nature...environmental and UXO applications, current efforts include the development of tensor magnetic gradiometers based on triaxial fluxgate technology by the USGS...Superconducting gradiometer/ Magnetometer Arrays and a Novel Signal Processing Technique. IEEE Trans. on Magnetics, MAG-11(2), 701-707. EM Tensor

An EM System With Dramatic Multi-Axis Transmitter and Tensor Gradiometer Receiver

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

Thus, the main difference between the spatial behavior of target anomalies measured with a magnetometer and those we measured with an EM system is in...current efforts include the development of tensor magnetic gradiometers based on triaxial fluxgate technology by the USGS (Snyder & Bracken, Development...Superconducting gradiometer/ Magnetometer Arrays and a Novel Signal Processing Technique. IEEE Trans. on Magnetics, MAG-11(2), 701-707. EM Tensor Gradiometer

Note: Progress on the use of MgB2 superconducting joint technique for the development of MgB2 magnets for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

PubMed

Kim, Y G; Song, J B; Kim, J C; Kim, J M; Yoo, B H; Yun, S B; Hwang, D Y; Lee, H G

2017-08-01

This note presents a superconducting joint technique for the development of MgB 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets. The MgB 2 superconducting joint was fabricated by a powder processing method using Mg and B powders to establish a wire-bulk-wire connection. The joint resistance measured using a field-decay method was <10 -14 Ω, demonstrating that the proposed joint technique could be employed for developing "next-generation" MgB 2 MRI magnets operating in the persistent current mode.

A low energy muon spin rotation and point contact tunneling study of niobium films prepared for superconducting cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junginger, Tobias; Calatroni, S.; Sublet, A.; Terenziani, G.; Prokscha, T.; Salman, Z.; Suter, A.; Proslier, T.; Zasadzinski, J.

2017-12-01

Point contact tunneling and low energy muon spin rotation are used to probe, on the same samples, the surface superconducting properties of micrometer thick niobium films deposited onto copper substrates using different sputtering techniques: diode, dc magnetron and HIPIMS. The combined results are compared to radio-frequency tests performances of RF cavities made with the same processes. Degraded surface superconducting properties are found to correlate to lower quality factors and stronger Q-slope. In addition, both techniques find evidence for surface paramagnetism on all samples and particularly on Nb films prepared by HIPIMS.

Fully gapped superconductivity with no sign change in the prototypical heavy-fermion CeCu2Si2.

PubMed

Yamashita, Takuya; Takenaka, Takaaki; Tokiwa, Yoshifumi; Wilcox, Joseph A; Mizukami, Yuta; Terazawa, Daiki; Kasahara, Yuichi; Kittaka, Shunichiro; Sakakibara, Toshiro; Konczykowski, Marcin; Seiro, Silvia; Jeevan, Hirale S; Geibel, Christoph; Putzke, Carsten; Onishi, Takafumi; Ikeda, Hiroaki; Carrington, Antony; Shibauchi, Takasada; Matsuda, Yuji

2017-06-01

In exotic superconductors, including high- T c copper oxides, the interactions mediating electron Cooper pairing are widely considered to have a magnetic rather than a conventional electron-phonon origin. Interest in this exotic pairing was initiated by the 1979 discovery of heavy-fermion superconductivity in CeCu 2 Si 2 , which exhibits strong antiferromagnetic fluctuations. A hallmark of unconventional pairing by anisotropic repulsive interactions is that the superconducting energy gap changes sign as a function of the electron momentum, often leading to nodes where the gap goes to zero. We report low-temperature specific heat, thermal conductivity, and magnetic penetration depth measurements in CeCu 2 Si 2 , demonstrating the absence of gap nodes at any point on the Fermi surface. Moreover, electron irradiation experiments reveal that the superconductivity survives even when the electron mean free path becomes substantially shorter than the superconducting coherence length. This indicates that superconductivity is robust against impurities, implying that there is no sign change in the gap function. These results show that, contrary to long-standing belief, heavy electrons with extremely strong Coulomb repulsions can condense into a fully gapped s-wave superconducting state, which has an on-site attractive pairing interaction.

Method and Apparatus of Implementing a Magnetic Shield Flux Sweeper

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E. (Inventor)

2018-01-01

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of protecting magnetically sensitive devices with a shield, including: a non-superconducting metal or lower transition temperature (T.sub.c) material compared to a higher transition temperature material, disposed in a magnetic field; means for creating a spatially varying order parameter's |.PSI.(r,T)|.sup.2 in a non-superconducting metal or a lower transition temperature material; wherein a spatially varying order parameter is created by a proximity effect, such that the non-superconducting metal or the lower transition temperature material becomes superconductive as a temperature is lowered, creating a flux-free Meissner state at a center thereof, in order to sweep magnetic flux lines to the periphery.

Limits on Lorentz violation in gravity from worldwide superconducting gravimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Cheng-Gang; Chen, Ya-Fen; Sun, Rong; Cao, Lu-Shuai; Zhou, Min-Kang; Hu, Zhong-Kun; Yu, Chenghui; Müller, Holger

2018-01-01

We have investigated Lorentz violation through analyzing tides-subtracted gravity data measured by superconducting gravimeters. At the level of precision of superconducting gravimeters, we have brought up and resolved an existing issue of accuracy due to unaccounted local tidal effects in previous solid-earth tidal model used. Specifically, we have taken local tides into account with a brand new first-principles tidal model with ocean tides included, as well as removed potential bias from local tides by using a worldwide array of 12 superconducting gravimeters. Compared with previous test with local gravimeters, a more accurate and competitive bound on space-space components of gravitational Lorentz violation has been achieved up to the order of 10-10.

Preparation and composition of superconducting copper oxides based on Ga-O layers

DOEpatents

Dabrowski, Bogdan; Vaughey, J. T.; Poeppelmeier, Kenneth R.

1994-01-01

A high temperature superconducting material with the general formula GaSr.sub.2 Ln.sub.1-x MxCu.sub.2 O.sub.7.+-.w wherein Ln is selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pt, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Y and M is selected from the group consisting of Ca and Sr, 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.4 and w is a small fraction of one. A method of preparing this high temperature superconducting material is provided which includes heating and cooling a mixture to produce a crystalline material which is subsequently fired, ground and annealed at high pressure and temperature in oxygen to establish superconductivity.

Effects of process variables on the properties of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) ceramics formed by investment casting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, M. W.; Taylor, T. D.; Leigh, H. D.; Wise, S. A.; Buckley, J. D.; Vasquez, P.; Buck, G. M.; Hicks, L. P.

1993-01-01

An investment casting process has been developed to produce net-shape, superconducting ceramics. In this work, a factorial experiment was performed to determine the critical process parameters for producing cast YBa2Cu3O7 ceramics with optimum properties. An analysis of variance procedure indicated that the key variables in casting superconductive ceramics are the particle size distribution and sintering temperature. Additionally, the interactions between the sintering temperature and the other process parameters (e.g., particle size distribution and the use of silver dopants) were also found to influence the density, porosity, and critical current density of the fired ceramics.

Overlap junctions for high coherence superconducting qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, X.; Long, J. L.; Ku, H. S.; Lake, R. E.; Bal, M.; Pappas, D. P.

2017-07-01

Fabrication of sub-micron Josephson junctions is demonstrated using standard processing techniques for high-coherence, superconducting qubits. These junctions are made in two separate lithography steps with normal-angle evaporation. Most significantly, this work demonstrates that it is possible to achieve high coherence with junctions formed on aluminum surfaces cleaned in situ by Ar plasma before junction oxidation. This method eliminates the angle-dependent shadow masks typically used for small junctions. Therefore, this is conducive to the implementation of typical methods for improving margins and yield using conventional CMOS processing. The current method uses electron-beam lithography and an additive process to define the top and bottom electrodes. Extension of this work to optical lithography and subtractive processes is discussed.

Heterogeneous Superconducting Low-Noise Sensing Coils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hahn, Inseob; Penanen, Konstantin I.; Ho Eom, Byeong

2008-01-01

A heterogeneous material construction has been devised for sensing coils of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers that are subject to a combination of requirements peculiar to some advanced applications, notably including low-field magnetic resonance imaging for medical diagnosis. The requirements in question are the following: The sensing coils must be large enough (in some cases having dimensions of as much as tens of centimeters) to afford adequate sensitivity; The sensing coils must be made electrically superconductive to eliminate Johnson noise (thermally induced noise proportional to electrical resistance); and Although the sensing coils must be cooled to below their superconducting- transition temperatures with sufficient cooling power to overcome moderate ambient radiative heat leakage, they must not be immersed in cryogenic liquid baths. For a given superconducting sensing coil, this combination of requirements can be satisfied by providing a sufficiently thermally conductive link between the coil and a cold source. However, the superconducting coil material is not suitable as such a link because electrically superconductive materials are typically poor thermal conductors. The heterogeneous material construction makes it possible to solve both the electrical- and thermal-conductivity problems. The basic idea is to construct the coil as a skeleton made of a highly thermally conductive material (typically, annealed copper), then coat the skeleton with an electrically superconductive alloy (typically, a lead-tin solder) [see figure]. In operation, the copper skeleton provides the required thermally conductive connection to the cold source, while the electrically superconductive coating material shields against Johnson noise that originates in the copper skeleton.

Remote actuated cryocooler for superconducting generator and method of assembling the same

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stautner, Ernst Wolfgang; Haran, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam; Fair, Ruben Jeevanasan

2017-02-14

In one embodiment, a cryocooler assembly for cooling a heat load is provided. The cryocooler assembly includes a vacuum vessel surrounding the heat load and a cryocooler at least partially inserted into the vacuum vessel, the cryocooler including a coldhead. The assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the cryocooler. The actuator is configured to translate the cryocooler coldhead into thermal engagement with the heat load and to maintain constant pressure of the coldhead against the heat load to facilitate maintaining thermal engagement with the heat load as the heat load shrinks during a cool down process.

Environmental considerations for application of high Tc superconductors in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlberg, I. A.; Kelliher, W. C.; Wise, S. A.; Hooker, M. W.; Buckley, J. D.

1993-01-01

The impact of the environmental factors on the performance of the superconductive devices during spaceflight missions is reviewed. Specific factors typical of spaceflight are addressed to evaluate superconductive devices for space-based applications including preflight storage, radiation, vibration, and thermal cycling.

Large gap magnetic suspension system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abdelsalam, Moustafa K.; Eyssa, Y. M.

1991-01-01

The design of a large gap magnetic suspension system is discussed. Some of the topics covered include: the system configuration, permanent magnet material, levitation magnet system, superconducting magnets, resistive magnets, superconducting levitation coils, resistive levitation coils, levitation magnet system, and the nitrogen cooled magnet system.

Low temperature solution synthesis of zinc antimonide, manganese antimonide, and strontium ruthenate compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noblitt, Jennifer Lenkner

2011-12-01

Increasing energy demands are fueling research in the area of renewable energy and energy storage. In particular, Li-ion batteries and superconducting wires are attractive choices for energy storage. Improving safety, simplifying manufacturing processes, and advancing technology to increase energy storage capacity is necessary to compete with current marketed energy storage devices. These advancements are accomplished through the study of new materials and new morphologies. Increasing dependence on and rising demand for portable electronic devices has continued to drive research in the area of Li-ion batteries. In order to compete with existing batteries and be applicable to future energy needs such as powering hybrid vehicles, the drawbacks of Li-ion batteries must be addressed including (i) low power density, (ii) safety, and (iii) high manufacturing costs. These drawbacks can be addressed through new materials and morphologies for the anode, cathode, and electrolyte. New intermetallic anode materials such as ZnSb, MnSb, and Mn2Sb are attractive candidates to replace graphite, the current industry standard anode material, because they are safer while maintaining comparable theoretical capacity. Electrodeposition is an inexpensive method that could be used for the synthesis of these electrode materials. Direct electrodeposition allows for excellent electrical contact to the current collector without the use of a binder. To successfully electrodeposit zinc and manganese antimonides, metal precursors with excellent solubility in water were needed. To promote solubility, particularly for the antimony precursor, coordinating ligands were added to the deposition bath solutions. This work shows that the choice of coordinating ligand and metal-ligand speciation can alter both the electrochemistry and the film composition. This work focuses on the search for appropriate coordinating ligands, solution pH, and bath temperatures so that high quality films of ZnSb, MnSb, and Mn2Sb may be electrochemically deposited on a conducting substrate. Increasing use of natural resources for energy generation has driven research in the area of energy storage using superconducting materials. To meet energy storage needs the materials must have the following features: (i) safety, (ii) superconductivity at or above liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K), (iii) low cost manufacturing processes, and (iv) robustness. The search for materials that meet all of these criteria is on-going, specifically in the area of high temperature superconductivity. The precise mechanism of superconductivity is not known. A few theories explain some of the phenomenological aspects, but not all. In order to logically select and synthesize high temperature superconductors for industrial applications, the precise mechanism must first be elucidated. Additionally, a synthetic method that yields pure, high quality crystals is required because transition temperatures have been shown to vary depending on the preparation method due to impurities. Before measuring properties of superconductors, the development of a synthesis method that yields pure, high quality crystals is required. Most superconductors are synthesized using traditional solid state methods. This synthesis route precludes formation of kinetically stable phases. Low temperature synthesis is useful for probing thermodynamic verses kinetic stability of compounds as well as producing high quality single crystals. A novel low temperature hydrothermal synthesis of Sr-Ru-O compounds has been developed. These materials are important because of their interesting properties including superconductivity and ferromagnetism. Sr2RuO4 is particularly interesting as it is superconducting and isostructural to La2CuO 4, which is only superconducting when doped. Therefore, Sr2RuO 4 is a good choice for study of the mechanism of superconductivity. Additionally, new kinetically stable phases of the Sr-Ru-O family may be formed which may also be superconducting. Sr-Ru-O compounds were previously synthesized via the float zone method. There is one report of using hydrothermal synthesis, but the temperatures used were 480--630 °C. In general, hydrothermal methods are advantageous because of the potential for moderate temperatures and pressures to be used. Additionally, the reaction temperature, precursor choice, and reaction time can all be used to tune the composition and morphology of the product. Hydrothermal methods are inexpensive and a one-step synthesis which is very convenient to scale up for industrial application. This work shows how a hydrothermal method at temperatures between 140 °C and 210 °C was developed for the synthesis of the Sr-Ru-O family of compounds.

Rotor assembly including superconducting magnetic coil

DOEpatents

Snitchler, Gregory L.; Gamble, Bruce B.; Voccio, John P.

2003-01-01

Superconducting coils and methods of manufacture include a superconductor tape wound concentrically about and disposed along an axis of the coil to define an opening having a dimension which gradually decreases, in the direction along the axis, from a first end to a second end of the coil. Each turn of the superconductor tape has a broad surface maintained substantially parallel to the axis of the coil.

Phase diagram and electronic indication of high-temperature superconductivity at 65 K in single-layer FeSe films.

PubMed

He, Shaolong; He, Junfeng; Zhang, Wenhao; Zhao, Lin; Liu, Defa; Liu, Xu; Mou, Daixiang; Ou, Yun-Bo; Wang, Qing-Yan; Li, Zhi; Wang, Lili; Peng, Yingying; Liu, Yan; Chen, Chaoyu; Yu, Li; Liu, Guodong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Chen, Xi; Ma, Xucun; Xue, Qikun; Zhou, X J

2013-07-01

The recent discovery of possible high-temperature superconductivity in single-layer FeSe films has generated significant experimental and theoretical interest. In both the cuprate and the iron-based high-temperature superconductors, superconductivity is induced by doping charge carriers into the parent compound to suppress the antiferromagnetic state. It is therefore important to establish whether the superconductivity observed in the single-layer sheets of FeSe--the essential building blocks of the Fe-based superconductors--is realized by undergoing a similar transition. Here we report the phase diagram for an FeSe monolayer grown on a SrTiO3 substrate, by tuning the charge carrier concentration over a wide range through an extensive annealing procedure. We identify two distinct phases that compete during the annealing process: the electronic structure of the phase at low doping (N phase) bears a clear resemblance to the antiferromagnetic parent compound of the Fe-based superconductors, whereas the superconducting phase (S phase) emerges with the increase in doping and the suppression of the N phase. By optimizing the carrier concentration, we observe strong indications of superconductivity with a transition temperature of 65±5 K. The wide tunability of the system across different phases makes the FeSe monolayer ideal for investigating not only the physics of superconductivity, but also for studying novel quantum phenomena more generally.

Measurement and characterization of force dynamics in high T(sub c) superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Higuchi, Toshiro; Kelley, Allan J.; Tsutsui, Yukio

1994-01-01

Magnetic bearing implementations using more exotic superconducting phenomena have been proliferating in recent years because they have important advantages over conventional implementations. For example, the stable suspension of a six degrees-of-freedom object by superconducting means can be achieved without a control system and with the use of only a single superconductor. It follows that the construction becomes much simpler with decreased need for position sensors and stabilizers. However, it is recognized that the design of superconducting systems can be difficult because important characteristics relating to the 6 degree-of-freedom dynamics of an object suspended magnetically are not readily available and the underlying principles of superconducting phenomena are not yet completely understood. To eliminate some of the guesswork in the design process, this paper proposes a system which can resolve the mechanical properties of suspension by superconductivity and provide position and orientation dependent data about the system's damping, stiffness, and frequency response characteristics. This system employs an actively-controlled magnetically-suspended fine-motion device that can also be used as a six degree-of-freedom force sensor. By attaching the force sensor to a permanent magnet that is being levitated above a superconducting magnet, mechanical characteristics of the superconductor levitation can be extracted. Such information would prove useful for checking the validity of theoretical models and may even give insights into superconducting phenomena.

Toroidal constant-tension superconducting magnetic energy storage units

DOEpatents

Herring, J. Stephen

1992-01-01

A superconducting magnetic energy storage unit is provided in which the magnet is wound in a toroidal fashion such that the magnetic field produced is contained only within the bore of the magnet, and thus producing a very low external field. The superconducting magnet includes a coolant channel disposed through the wire. The bore of the magnet comprises a storage volume in which cryogenic coolant is stored, and this volume supplies the coolant to be delivered to the coolant channel in the magnet.

Toroidal constant-tension superconducting magnetic energy storage units

DOEpatents

Herring, J.S.

1992-11-03

A superconducting magnetic energy storage unit is provided in which the magnet is wound in a toroidal fashion such that the magnetic field produced is contained only within the bore of the magnet, and thus producing a very low external field. The superconducting magnet includes a coolant channel disposed through the wire. The bore of the magnet comprises a storage volume in which cryogenic coolant is stored, and this volume supplies the coolant to be delivered to the coolant channel in the magnet. 6 figs.

Surface processing for bulk niobium superconducting radio frequency cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, M. P.; Reid, T.

2017-04-01

The majority of niobium cavities for superconducting particle accelerators continue to be fabricated from thin-walled (2-4 mm) polycrystalline niobium sheet and, as a final step, require material removal from the radio frequency (RF) surface in order to achieve performance needed for use as practical accelerator devices. More recently bulk niobium in the form of, single- or large-grain slices cut from an ingot has become a viable alternative for some cavity types. In both cases the so-called damaged layer must be chemically etched or electrochemically polished away. The methods for doing this date back at least four decades, however, vigorous empirical studies on real cavities and more fundamental studies on niobium samples at laboratories worldwide have led to seemingly modest improvements that, when taken together, constitute a substantial advance in the reproducibility for surface processing techniques and overall cavity performance. This article reviews the development of niobium cavity surface processing, and summarizes results of recent studies. We place some emphasis on practical details for real cavity processing systems which are difficult to find in the literature but are, nonetheless, crucial for achieving the good and reproducible cavity performance. New approaches for bulk niobium surface treatment which aim to reduce cost or increase performance, including alternate chemical recipes, barrel polishing and ‘nitrogen doping’ of the RF surface, continue to be pursued and are closely linked to the requirements for surface processing.

Surface processing for bulk niobium superconducting radio frequency cavities

DOE PAGES

Kelly, M. P.; Reid, T.

2017-02-21

The majority of niobium cavities for superconducting particle accelerators continue to be fabricated from thin-walled (2-4mm) polycrystalline niobium sheet and, as a final step, require material removal from the radio frequency (RF) surface in order to achieve performance needed for use as practical accelerator devices. More recently bulk niobium in the form of, single-or large-grain slices cut from an ingot has become a viable alternative for some cavity types. In both cases the so-called damaged layer must be chemically etched or electrochemically polished away. The methods for doing this date back at least four decades, however, vigorous empirical studies onmore » real cavities and more fundamental studies on niobium samples at laboratories worldwide have led to seemingly modest improvements that, when taken together, constitute a substantial advance in the reproducibility for surface processing techniques and overall cavity performance. This article reviews the development of niobium cavity surface processing, and summarizes results of recent studies. We place some emphasis on practical details for real cavity processing systems which are difficult to find in the literature but are, nonetheless, crucial for achieving the good and reproducible cavity performance. New approaches for bulk niobium surface treatment which aim to reduce cost or increase performance, including alternate chemical recipes, barrel polishing and 'nitrogen doping' of the RF surface, continue to be pursued and are closely linked to the requirements for surface processing.« less

Surface processing for bulk niobium superconducting radio frequency cavities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kelly, M. P.; Reid, T.

The majority of niobium cavities for superconducting particle accelerators continue to be fabricated from thin-walled (2-4mm) polycrystalline niobium sheet and, as a final step, require material removal from the radio frequency (RF) surface in order to achieve performance needed for use as practical accelerator devices. More recently bulk niobium in the form of, single-or large-grain slices cut from an ingot has become a viable alternative for some cavity types. In both cases the so-called damaged layer must be chemically etched or electrochemically polished away. The methods for doing this date back at least four decades, however, vigorous empirical studies onmore » real cavities and more fundamental studies on niobium samples at laboratories worldwide have led to seemingly modest improvements that, when taken together, constitute a substantial advance in the reproducibility for surface processing techniques and overall cavity performance. This article reviews the development of niobium cavity surface processing, and summarizes results of recent studies. We place some emphasis on practical details for real cavity processing systems which are difficult to find in the literature but are, nonetheless, crucial for achieving the good and reproducible cavity performance. New approaches for bulk niobium surface treatment which aim to reduce cost or increase performance, including alternate chemical recipes, barrel polishing and 'nitrogen doping' of the RF surface, continue to be pursued and are closely linked to the requirements for surface processing.« less

Magnetic and superconducting phase diagrams of single-crystal Er0.8R0.2Ni2B2C (R=Tb,Lu) and ErNi1.9Co0.1B2C: Identification of pair-breaking mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeya, H.; El Massalami, M.

2004-01-01

We investigated the magnetism, superconductivity and their interplay in single crystals Er0.8R0.2Ni2B2C (R=Tb,Lu) and ErNi1.9Co0.1B2C. In contrast to Co substitution, R substitutions induce considerable modifications in the magnetism of Er sublattice: e.g., Tb (Lu) substitution enhances (reduces) TN and critical fields. Both R substitutions introduce size effects and pinning centers; the former modifies the magnon specific heat while the latter hinders the formation of a weak ferromagnetism. The superconductivity, on the other hand, is strongly (weakly) influenced by Tb and Co (Lu) substitution. Taking LuNi2B2C as a nonmagnetic superconducting limit, we analyzed their superconductivities, as well as that of ErNi2B2C, in terms of multiple pair breaking theory on dirty superconductors. Based on this analysis, many of their superconducting features can be explained: The breakdown of de Gennes scaling is due to the presence of multiple pair breakers, the anisotropy of Hc2(T) is related to the magnetic anisotropy, the absence of a structure in Hc2(T) at TN of Lu substitution (TN

Principle and experimental investigation of current-driven negative-inductance superconducting quantum interference device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hao; Liu, Jianshe; Zhang, Yingshan; Cai, Han; Li, Gang; Liu, Qichun; Han, Siyuan; Chen, Wei

2017-03-01

A negative-inductance superconducting quantum interference device (nSQUID) is an adiabatic superconducting logic device with high energy efficiency, and therefore a promising building block for large-scale low-power superconducting computing. However, the principle of the nSQUID is not that straightforward and an nSQUID driven by voltage is vulnerable to common mode noise. We investigate a single nSQUID driven by current instead of voltage, and clarify the principle of the adiabatic transition of the current-driven nSQUID between different states. The basic logic operations of the current-driven nSQUID with proper parameters are simulated by WRspice. The corresponding circuit is fabricated with a 100 A cm-2 Nb-based lift-off process, and the experimental results at low temperature confirm the basic logic operations as a gated buffer.

Contribution of ion beam analysis methods to the development of second generation high temperature superconducting wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Usov, I. O.; Arendt, P. N.; Foltyn, S. R.; Stan, L.; DePaula, R. F.; Holesinger, T. G.

2010-06-01

One of the crucial steps in the second generation high temperature superconducting wire program was development of the buffer-layer architecture. The architecture designed at the Superconductivity Technology Center at Los Alamos National Laboratory consists of several oxide layers wherein each layer plays a specific role, namely: nucleation layer, diffusion barrier, biaxially textured template, and intermediate layer providing a suitable lattice match to the superconducting Y 1Ba 2Cu 3O 7 (YBCO) compound. This report demonstrates how a wide range of ion beam analysis techniques (SIMS, RBS, channeling, PIXE, PIGE, NRA and ERD) was employed for analysis of each buffer layer and the YBCO film. These results assisted in understanding of a variety of physical processes occurring during the buffer layer fabrication and helped to optimize the buffer-layer architecture as a whole.

Transport spectroscopy of induced superconductivity in the three-dimensional topological insulator HgTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiedenmann, Jonas; Liebhaber, Eva; Kübert, Johannes; Bocquillon, Erwann; Burset, Pablo; Ames, Christopher; Buhmann, Hartmut; Klapwijk, Teun M.; Molenkamp, Laurens W.

2017-10-01

The proximity-induced superconducting state in the three-dimensional topological insulator HgTe has been studied using electronic transport of a normal metal-superconducting point contact as a spectroscopic tool (Andreev point-contact spectroscopy). By analyzing the conductance as a function of voltage for various temperatures, magnetic fields, and gate voltages, we find evidence, in equilibrium, for an induced order parameter in HgTe of 70 µeV and a niobium order parameter of 1.1 meV. To understand the full conductance curve as a function of applied voltage we suggest a non-equilibrium-driven transformation of the quantum transport process where the relevant scattering region and equilibrium reservoirs change with voltage. This change implies that the spectroscopy probes the superconducting correlations at different positions in the sample, depending on the bias voltage.

Two-Dimensional Superconductivity Emerged at Monatomic Bi(2-) Square Net in Layered Y2O2Bi via Oxygen Incorporation.

PubMed

Sei, Ryosuke; Kitani, Suguru; Fukumura, Tomoteru; Kawaji, Hitoshi; Hasegawa, Tetsuya

2016-09-07

Discovery of layered superconductors such as cuprates and iron-based compounds has unveiled new science and compounds. In these superconductors, quasi-two-dimensional layers including transition metal cations play principal role in the superconductivity via carrier doping by means of aliovalent-ion substitution. Here, we report on a two-dimensional superconductivity at 2 K in ThCr2Si2-type layered oxide Y2O2Bi possessing conducting monatomic Bi(2-) square net, possibly associated with an exotic superconductivity. The superconductivity emerges only in excessively oxygen-incorporated Y2O2Bi with expanded inter-net distance, in stark contrast to nonsuperconducting pristine Y2O2Bi reported previously. This result suggests that the element incorporation into hidden interstitial site could be an alternative approach to conventional substitution and intercalation methods for search of novel superconductors.

Metals and Ceramics Division annual progress report, October 1, 1978-June 30, 1979

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peterson, S.

Research is reported concerning: (1) engineering materials including materials compatibility, mechanical properties, nondestructive testing, pressure vessel technology, and welding and brazing; (2) fuels and processes consisting of ceramic technology, fuel cycle technology, fuels evaluation, fuels fabrication and metals processing; and (3) materials science which includes, ceramic studies, physical metallurgy and properties, radiation effects and microstructural analysis, metastable and superconducting materials, structure and properties of surfaces, theoretical research, and x-ray research and applications. Highlights of the work of the metallographic group and the current status of the High-Temperature Materials Laboratory (HTML) and the Materials and Structures Technology Management Center (MSTMC) aremore » presented. (FS)« less

Magnesium doping of boron nitride nanotubes

DOEpatents

Legg, Robert; Jordan, Kevin

2015-06-16

A method to fabricate boron nitride nanotubes incorporating magnesium diboride in their structure. In a first embodiment, magnesium wire is introduced into a reaction feed bundle during a BNNT fabrication process. In a second embodiment, magnesium in powder form is mixed into a nitrogen gas flow during the BNNT fabrication process. MgB.sub.2 yarn may be used for superconducting applications and, in that capacity, has considerably less susceptibility to stress and has considerably better thermal conductivity than these conventional materials when compared to both conventional low and high temperature superconducting materials.

Process for the production of superconductor containing filaments

DOEpatents

Tuominen, Olli P.; Hoyt, Matthew B.; Mitchell, David F.; Morgan, Carol W.; Roberts, Clyde Gordon; Tyler, Robert A.

2002-01-01

Superconductor containing filaments having embedments of superconducting material surrounded by a rayon matrix are formed by preparing a liquid suspension which contains at least 10 weight percent superconducting material; forming a multicomponent filament having a core of the suspension and a viscose sheath which contains cellulose xanthate; and thereafter, regenerating cellulose from the cellulose xanthate to form a rayon matrix.

(DARPA) Topologically Protected Quantum Information Processing In Spin-Orbit Compled Semiconductors

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-17

expression for the disorder suppression of the superconducting quasiparticle gap in the topological superconducting states carrying MFs. Our principle...assisted electron transfer amplitude (derived from the fractionalization property of the MFs) the quasiparticle tunneling from to through the...mesoscopic rings, the energy-level of such a quasiparticle excitation spectrum in the ring is expected to develop a periodic dependence on

Superconducting dc Current Limiting Vacuum Circuit Breaker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alferov, D. F.; Akhmetgareev, M. R.; Budovskii, A. I.; Bunin, R. A.; Voloshin, I. F.; Degtyarenko, P. N.; Yevsin, D. V.; Ivanov, V. P.; Sidorov, V. A.; Fisher, L. M.; Tshai, E. V.

Acircuitofadc superconductingfault current limiter witha direct current circuit-breaker fora nominal current 300A is proposed. It includes the 2G high temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes and the high-speed dc vacuum circuit breaker.Thetestresultsof current-limitingcapacityandrecoverytimeof superconductivityafter currentfaultatvoltage upto3 kV are presented.

Effect of annealing high-dose heavy-ion irradiated high-temperature superconductor wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strickland, N. M.; Wimbush, S. C.; Kluth, P.; Mota-Santiago, P.; Ridgway, M. C.; Kennedy, J. V.; Long, N. J.

2017-10-01

Heavy-ion irradiation of high-temperature superconducting thin films has long been known to generate damage tracks of amorphized material that are of close-to-ideal dimension to effectively contribute to pinning of magnetic flux lines and thereby enhance the in-field critical current. At the same time, though, the presence of these tracks reduces the superconducting volume fraction available to transport current while the irradiation process itself generates oxygen depletion and disorder in the remaining superconducting material. We have irradiated commercially available superconducting coated conductors consisting of a thick film of (Y,Dy)Ba2Cu3O7 deposited on a buffered metal tape substrate in a continuous reel-to-reel process. Irradiation was by 185 MeV 197Au ions. A high fluence of 3 × 1011 ions/cm2 was chosen to emphasize the detrimental effects. The critical current was reduced following this irradiation, but annealing at relatively low temperatures of 200 °C and 400 °C substantially restore the critical current of the irradiated material. At high fields and high temperatures there is a net benefit of critical current compared to the untreated material.

Low temperature superconductor and aligned high temperature superconductor magnetic dipole system and method for producing high magnetic fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gupta, Ramesh; Scanlan, Ronald; Ghosh, Arup K.

A dipole-magnet system and method for producing high-magnetic-fields, including an open-region located in a radially-central-region to allow particle-beam transport and other uses, low-temperature-superconducting-coils comprised of low-temperature-superconducting-wire located in radially-outward-regions to generate high magnetic-fields, high-temperature-superconducting-coils comprised of high-temperature-superconducting-tape located in radially-inward-regions to generate even higher magnetic-fields and to reduce erroneous fields, support-structures to support the coils against large Lorentz-forces, a liquid-helium-system to cool the coils, and electrical-contacts to allow electric-current into and out of the coils. The high-temperature-superconducting-tape may be comprised of bismuth-strontium-calcium-copper-oxide or rare-earth-metal, barium-copper-oxide (ReBCO) where the rare-earth-metal may be yttrium, samarium, neodymium, or gadolinium. Advantageously, alignment of themore » large-dimension of the rectangular-cross-section or curved-cross-section of the high-temperature-superconducting-tape with the high-magnetic-field minimizes unwanted erroneous magnetic fields. Alignment may be accomplished by proper positioning, tilting the high-temperature-superconducting-coils, forming the high-temperature-superconducting-coils into a curved-cross-section, placing nonconducting wedge-shaped-material between windings, placing nonconducting curved-and-wedge-shaped-material between windings, or by a combination of these techniques.« less

Method for detection and imaging over a broad spectral range

DOEpatents

Yefremenko, Volodymyr; Gordiyenko, Eduard; Pishko, legal representative, Olga; Novosad, Valentyn; Pishko, deceased; Vitalii

2007-09-25

A method of controlling the coordinate sensitivity in a superconducting microbolometer employs localized light, heating or magnetic field effects to form normal or mixed state regions on a superconducting film and to control the spatial location. Electron beam lithography and wet chemical etching were applied as pattern transfer processes in epitaxial Y--Ba--Cu--O films. Two different sensor designs were tested: (i) a 3 millimeter long and 40 micrometer wide stripe and (ii) a 1.25 millimeters long, and 50 micron wide meandering-like structure. Scanning the laser beam along the stripe leads to physical displacement of the sensitive area, and, therefore, may be used as a basis for imaging over a broad spectral range. Forming the superconducting film as a meandering structure provides the equivalent of a two-dimensional detector array. Advantages of this approach are simplicity of detector fabrication, and simplicity of the read-out process requiring only two electrical terminals.

Soviet-West German Symposium on Heat Transfer in Cryogenic Systems, 3rd, Kharkov, Ukrainian SSR, Oct. 9-11, 1989, Proceedings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1990-04-01

The papers presented in this volume describe a rotating cryostat for the simulation of mechanical, thermal, and hydraulic processes in superconducting rotors; the problems of cooling the fully superconducting generator stator; an investigation of natural circulation by optical methods; and a method of calculating void fraction for vapor-liquid or gas-liquid flow conditions. Attention is given to an experimental study of the processes of He-3 boiling and condensation, heat transfer in He II at a slow variation of the heat load, an investigation of He II flow crisis in porous media, and cryogenic heat pipes. Other papers are on the stability of rotating superconducting windings for electric machines, the stability of high-temperature superconductors cooled by liquid nitrogen, a calculation of the transpiration cooling of a cylindrical porous wall, and pressure losses in boiling nitrogen flow through horizontal channels.

Quantum interference in heterogeneous superconducting-photonic circuits on a silicon chip.

PubMed

Schuck, C; Guo, X; Fan, L; Ma, X; Poot, M; Tang, H X

2016-01-21

Quantum information processing holds great promise for communicating and computing data efficiently. However, scaling current photonic implementation approaches to larger system size remains an outstanding challenge for realizing disruptive quantum technology. Two main ingredients of quantum information processors are quantum interference and single-photon detectors. Here we develop a hybrid superconducting-photonic circuit system to show how these elements can be combined in a scalable fashion on a silicon chip. We demonstrate the suitability of this approach for integrated quantum optics by interfering and detecting photon pairs directly on the chip with waveguide-coupled single-photon detectors. Using a directional coupler implemented with silicon nitride nanophotonic waveguides, we observe 97% interference visibility when measuring photon statistics with two monolithically integrated superconducting single-photon detectors. The photonic circuit and detector fabrication processes are compatible with standard semiconductor thin-film technology, making it possible to implement more complex and larger scale quantum photonic circuits on silicon chips.

Hardware for dynamic quantum computing.

PubMed

Ryan, Colm A; Johnson, Blake R; Ristè, Diego; Donovan, Brian; Ohki, Thomas A

2017-10-01

We describe the hardware, gateware, and software developed at Raytheon BBN Technologies for dynamic quantum information processing experiments on superconducting qubits. In dynamic experiments, real-time qubit state information is fed back or fed forward within a fraction of the qubits' coherence time to dynamically change the implemented sequence. The hardware presented here covers both control and readout of superconducting qubits. For readout, we created a custom signal processing gateware and software stack on commercial hardware to convert pulses in a heterodyne receiver into qubit state assignments with minimal latency, alongside data taking capability. For control, we developed custom hardware with gateware and software for pulse sequencing and steering information distribution that is capable of arbitrary control flow in a fraction of superconducting qubit coherence times. Both readout and control platforms make extensive use of field programmable gate arrays to enable tailored qubit control systems in a reconfigurable fabric suitable for iterative development.

Investigation of noble metal substrates and buffer layers for BiSrCaCuO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matthiesen, M. M.; Rubin, L. M.; Williams, K. E.; Rudman, D. A.

Noble metal buffer layers and substrates for Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (BSCCO) films were investigated using bulk ceramic processing and thin-film techniques. Highly oriented, superconducting BSCCO films were fabricated on polycrystalline Ag substrates and on Ag/MgO and Ag/YSZ structures. Such films could not be produced on Au or Pt substrates under any annealing conditions. In addition, superconducting BSCCO films could not be produced on Ag/Al2O3, Ag/SiO2/Si, or Ag/(Haynes 230 alloy) structures using high annealing temperatures (870 C). However, oriented although poorly connected, superconducting BSCCO films were fabricated on Ag/Al2O3 structures by using lower annealing temperatures (820 C). Once lower processing temperatures are optimized, Ag may be usable as a buffer layer for BSCCO films.

Susceptibility measurements on the superconducting properties of Nb-Ge alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rathz, T. J.

1981-01-01

A susceptibility apparatus to measure superconducting properties of samples made in the MSFC Drop Tube was used to measure the transition temperature (Tc) and susceptibilities of Nb and Nb Ge Alloys prepared in bulk spherical (2-4 mm diameter) form using a 32 m drop tube in which containerless low gravity solidification could take place. Results indicate that a drop tube processing environment was beneficial for increasing the Tc of the superconducting phase of the material over that of arc melted material. The increase in Tc is found to be related to the amount of solidification of the total sample that took place before reaching the bottom of the drop tube. In phase and quadrature phase measurements of the specimen's susceptibility indicated that some improvement in homogeneity takes place in drop tube processing. These phase measurements also indicated little or no shielding of a lower Tc phase by a higher Tc filamentary structure.

The road to superconducting spintronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eschrig, Matthias

Energy efficient computing has become a major challenge, with the increasing importance of large data centres across the world, which already today have a power consumption comparable to that of Spain, with steeply increasing trend. Superconducting computing is progressively becoming an alternative for large-scale applications, with the costs for cooling being largely outweighed by the gain in energy efficiency. The combination of superconductivity and spintronics - ``superspintronics'' - has the potential and flexibility to develop into such a green technology. This young field is based on the observation that new phenomena emerge at interfaces between superconducting and other, competing, phases. The past 15 years have seen a series of pivotal predictions and experimental discoveries relating to the interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism. The building blocks of superspintronics are equal-spin Cooper pairs, which are generated at the interface between superconducting and a ferromagnetic materials in the presence of non-collinear magnetism. Such novel, spin-polarised Cooper pairs carry spin-supercurrents in ferromagnets and thus contribute to spin-transport and spin-control. Geometric Berry phases appear during the singlet-triplet conversion process in structures with non-coplanar magnetisation, enhancing functionality of devices, and non-locality introduced by superconducting order leads to long-range effects. With the successful generation and control of equal-spin Cooper pairs the hitherto notorious incompatibility of superconductivity and ferromagnetism has been not only overcome, but turned synergistic. I will discuss these developments and their extraordinary potential. I also will present open questions posed by recent experiments and point out implications for theory. This work is supported by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC Grant No. EP/J010618/1).

CRADA Final Report, 2011S003, Faraday Technologies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Faraday Technologies

2012-12-12

This Phase I SBIR program addressed the need for an improved manufacturing process for electropolishing niobium RF superconducting cavities for the International Linear Collider (ILC). The ILC is a proposed particle accelerator that will be used to gain a deeper understanding of the forces of energy and matter by colliding beams of electrons and positrons at nearly the speed of light. The energy required for this to happen will be achieved through the use of advanced superconducting technology, specifically ~16,000 RF superconducting cavities operating at near absolute zero. The RF superconductor cavities will be fabricated from highly pure Nb, whichmore » has an extremely low surface resistance at 2 Kelvin when compared to other materials. To take full advantage of the superconducting properties of the Nb cavities, the inner surface must be a) polished to a microscale roughness < 0.1 µm with removal of at least 100 µm of material, and b) cleaned to be free of impurities that would degrade performance of the ILC. State-of-the-art polishing uses either chemical polishing or electropolishing, both of which require hydrofluoric acid to achieve breakdown of the strong passive film on the surface. In this Phase I program, Faraday worked with its collaborators at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) to demonstrate the feasibility of an electropolishing process for pure niobium, utilizing an environmentally benign alternative to chemical or electrochemical polishing electrolytes containing hydrofluoric acid. Faraday utilized a 31 wt% aqueous sulfuric acid solution (devoid of hydrofluoric acid) in conjunction with the FARADAYICSM Process, which uses pulse/pulse reverse fields for electropolishing, to demonstrate the ability to electropolish niobium to the desired surface finish. The anticipated benefits of the FARADAYICSM Electropolishing process will be a simpler, safer, and less expensive method capable of surface finishing high purity niobium cavities. Another potential benefit would be for the medical industry that uses hydrofluoric acid to electropolish niobium-alloy materials. The FARADAYICSM Electropolishing process will eliminate the environmental hazards posed by the use of hydrofluoric acid employed by chemical polishing and conventional electropolishing. Further, improved performance benefits may be possible. The overall objective of the Phase I program was to demonstrate that FARADAYIC Electropolishing of niobium cavities in electrolytes free of hydrofluoric acid can meet the RF superconducting performance criteria of those cavities. The FARADAYIC Electropolishing Process developed in the Phase I program was used to polish 50 mm Nb disks to a surface roughness (RA) of < 1 nm over a small area through process and post-processing optimization. An excellent level of surface cleanliness was achieved. While the desired 2K RF performance has not yet been achieved, Faraday believes that surface oxide state can be controlled through manipulation of the process parameters, to meet the 2K RF standard. Faraday is establishing apparatus and facilities infrastructure for single-cell SRF cavity electropolishing, through a synergistic effort with the Fermi National Accelerator Facility (Fermilab) to scale-up electropolishing of superconducting RF cavities. Faraday proposes to commercialize the subject technology via an IP based strategic relationship with a partner with established market channels within two primary commercialization avenues: 1) the superconducting particle accelerator community, 2) the medical device and implant market. Faraday will initially maintain Low Rate Initial Production capabilities for an application, but latterly seek a strategic partner who is solely dedicated to high rate production.« less

Seed crystals with improved properties for melt processing superconductors for practical applications

DOEpatents

Veal, B.W.; Paulikas, A.; Balachandran, U.; Zhong, W.

1997-03-18

A method of fabricating bulk superconducting material is disclosed including RBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} comprising heating compressed powder oxides and/or carbonates of R and Ba and Cu present in mole ratios to form RBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} in physical contact with an oxide single crystal seed to a temperature sufficient to form a liquid phase in the RBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} while maintaining the single crystal seed solid to grow the superconducting material and thereafter cooling to provide a material including RBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}}. R is a rare earth or Y or La and the single crystal seed has a lattice mismatch with RBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} of less than about 2% at the growth temperature. The starting material may be such that the final product contains a minor amount of R{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5}.

Domain-wall superconductivity in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids.

PubMed

Yang, Zhaorong; Lange, Martin; Volodin, Alexander; Szymczak, Ritta; Moshchalkov, Victor V

2004-11-01

Superconductivity and magnetism are two antagonistic cooperative phenomena, and the intriguing problem of their coexistence has been studied for several decades. Recently, artificial hybrid superconductor-ferromagnet systems have been commonly used as model systems to reveal the interplay between competing superconducting and magnetic order parameters, and to verify the existence of new physical phenomena, including the predicted domain-wall superconductivity (DWS). Here we report the experimental observation of DWS in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids using a niobium film on a BaFe(12)O(19) single crystal. We found that the critical temperature T(c) of the superconductivity nucleation in niobium increases with increasing field until it reaches the saturation field of BaFe(12)O(19). In accordance with the field-shift of the maximum value of T(c), pronounced hysteresis effects have been found in resistive transitions. We argue that the compensation of the applied field by the stray fields of the magnetic domains as well as the change in the domain structure is responsible for the appearance of the DWS and the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in the superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids.

High Tc superconducting bolometric and nonbolometric infrared (IR) detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakeou, Samuel

1995-01-01

Activities carried out during the reporting period are summarized. The workplan for the period August 1994 to August 1995 included the following: (1) expansion of the Applied Superconductivity Laboratory to include stand-alone optical response and noise measurement setups; (2) study the low frequency excess electrical noise in YBCO films; and (3) enhancement of the academic support component of the project through increased student and faculty participation. Abstracts of papers submitted for publication during this reporting period are included as attachments.

Dispersion-Engineered Traveling Wave Kinetic Inductance Parametric Amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zmuidzinas, Jonas (Inventor); Day, Peter K. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A traveling wave kinetic inductance parametric amplifier comprises a superconducting transmission line and a dispersion control element. The transmission line can include periodic variations of its dimension along its length. The superconducting material can include a high normal state resistivity material. In some instances the high normal state resistivity material includes nitrogen and a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, niobium and vanadium. The traveling wave kinetic inductance parametric amplifier is expected to exhibit a noise temperature below 100 mK/GHz.

Wisconsin SRF Electron Gun Commissioning

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bisognano, Joseph J.; Bissen, M.; Bosch, R.

The University of Wisconsin has completed fabrication and commissioning of a low frequency (199.6 MHz) superconducting electron gun based on a quarter wave resonator (QWR) cavity. Its concept was optimized to be the source for a CW free electron laser facility. The gun design includes active tuning and a high temperature superconducting solenoid. We will report on the status of the Wisconsin SRF electron gun program, including commissioning experience and first beam measurements.

New technologies for the detection of millimeter and submillimeter waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, P. L.; Clarke, J.; Gildemeister, J. M.; Lanting, T.; Lee, A. T.

2001-01-01

Voltage-biased superconducting bolometers have many operational advantages over conventional bolometer technology including sensitivity, linearity, speed, and immunity from environmental disturbance. A review is given of the Berkeley program for developing this new technology. Developments include fully lithographed individual bolometers in the spiderweb configuration, arrays of 1024 close-packed absorber-coupled bolometers, antenna-coupled bolometers, and a frequency-domain SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) readout multiplexer.

Design of shared instruments to utilize simulated gravities generated by a large-gradient, high-field superconducting magnet.

PubMed

Wang, Y; Yin, D C; Liu, Y M; Shi, J Z; Lu, H M; Shi, Z H; Qian, A R; Shang, P

2011-03-01

A high-field superconducting magnet can provide both high-magnetic fields and large-field gradients, which can be used as a special environment for research or practical applications in materials processing, life science studies, physical and chemical reactions, etc. To make full use of a superconducting magnet, shared instruments (the operating platform, sample holders, temperature controller, and observation system) must be prepared as prerequisites. This paper introduces the design of a set of sample holders and a temperature controller in detail with an emphasis on validating the performance of the force and temperature sensors in the high-magnetic field.

Design of shared instruments to utilize simulated gravities generated by a large-gradient, high-field superconducting magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y.; Yin, D. C.; Liu, Y. M.; Shi, J. Z.; Lu, H. M.; Shi, Z. H.; Qian, A. R.; Shang, P.

2011-03-01

A high-field superconducting magnet can provide both high-magnetic fields and large-field gradients, which can be used as a special environment for research or practical applications in materials processing, life science studies, physical and chemical reactions, etc. To make full use of a superconducting magnet, shared instruments (the operating platform, sample holders, temperature controller, and observation system) must be prepared as prerequisites. This paper introduces the design of a set of sample holders and a temperature controller in detail with an emphasis on validating the performance of the force and temperature sensors in the high-magnetic field.

Use of high temperature superconductors in magnetoplasmadynamic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reed, C. B.; Sovey, J. S.

1988-01-01

The use of Tesla-class high-temperature superconducting magnets may have an extremely large impact on critical development issues (erosion, heat transfer, and performance) related to magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters and also may provide significant benefits in reducing the mass of magnetics used in the power processing system. These potential performance improvements, coupled with additional benefits of high-temperature superconductivity, provide a very strong motivation to develop high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) applied-field MPD thruster propulsion systems. The application of HTS to MPD thruster propulsion systems may produce an enabling technology for these electric propulsion systems. This paper summarizes the impact that HTS may have upon MPD propulsion systems.

Possibility of Exciton Mediated Superconductivity in Nano-Sized Sn/Si Core-Shell Clusters: A Process Technology towards Heterogeneous Material in Nano-Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurokawa, Yuichiro; Hihara, Takehiko; Ichinose, Ikuo; Sumiyama, Kenji

2012-07-01

We have produced Sn/Si core-shell cluster assemblies by a plasma-gas-condensation cluster beam deposition apparatus. For the sample with Si content = 12 at. %, the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity exhibits a metallic behavior above 10 K and the onset of superconducting transition below 6.1 K. With decreasing temperature, the thermomagnetic curve for the sample with Si content = 8 at. % begins to decrease steadily toward negative value below 7.7 K, indicating the Meissner effect. An increase in the transition temperature, TC is attributable to exciton-type superconductivity.

Reflective HTS switch

DOEpatents

Martens, Jon S.; Hietala, Vincent M.; Hohenwarter, Gert K. G.

1994-01-01

A HTS switch includes a HTS conductor for providing a superconducting path for an electrical signal and an serpentine wire actuator for controllably heating a portion of the conductor sufficiently to cause that portion to have normal, and not superconducting, resistivity. Mass of the portion is reduced to decrease switching time.

High temperature superconducting fault current limiter

DOEpatents

Hull, J.R.

1997-02-04

A fault current limiter for an electrical circuit is disclosed. The fault current limiter includes a high temperature superconductor in the electrical circuit. The high temperature superconductor is cooled below its critical temperature to maintain the superconducting electrical properties during operation as the fault current limiter. 15 figs.

Valley- and spin-switch effects in molybdenum disulfide superconducting spin valve

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, Leyla; Asgari, Reza

2014-10-01

We propose a hole-doped molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) superconducting spin valve (F/S/F) hybrid structure in which the Andreev reflection process is suppressed for all incoming waves with a determined range of the chemical potential in ferromagnetic (F) region and the cross-conductance in the right F region depends crucially on the configuration of magnetizations in the two F regions. Using the scattering formalism, we find that the transport is mediated purely by elastic electron cotunneling (CT) process in a parallel configuration and changes to the pure crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) process in the low-energy regime, without fixing of a unique parameter, by reversing the direction of magnetization in the right F region. This suggests both valley- and spin-switch effects between the perfect elastic CT and perfect CAR processes and makes the nonlocal charge current to be fully valley- and spin-polarized inside the right F region where the type of the polarizations can be changed by reversing the magnetization direction in the right F region. We further demonstrate that the presence of the strong spin-orbit interaction λ and an additional topological term (β ) in the Hamiltonian of MoS2 result in an enhancement of the charge conductance of the CT and CAR processes and make them to be present for long lengths of the superconducting region. Besides, we find that the thermal conductance of the structure with a small length of the highly doped superconducting region exhibits linear dependence on the temperature at low temperatures, whereas it enhances exponentially at higher temperatures. In particular, we demonstrate that the thermal conductance versus the strength of the exchange field (h ) in F region displays a maximum value at h <λ , which moves towards larger exchange fields by increasing the temperature.

Superconductivity in electron-doped arsenene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Xin; Gao, Miao; Yan, Xun-Wang; Lu, Zhong-Yi; Xiang, Tao

2018-04-01

Based on the first-principles density functional theory electronic structure calculation, we investigate the possible phonon-mediated superconductivity in arsenene, a two-dimensional buckled arsenic atomic sheet, under electron doping. We find that the strong superconducting pairing interaction results mainly from the $p_z$-like electrons of arsenic atoms and the $A_1$ phonon mode around the $K$ point, and the superconducting transition temperature can be as high as 30.8 K in the arsenene with 0.2 doped electrons per unit cell and 12\\% applied biaxial tensile strain. This transition temperature is about ten times higher than that in the bulk arsenic under high pressure. It is also the highest transition temperature that is predicted for electron-doped two-dimensional elemental superconductors, including graphene, silicene, phosphorene, and borophene.

Preparation and composition of superconducting copper oxides based on Ga-O layers

DOEpatents

Dabrowski, B.; Vaughey, J.T.; Poeppelmeier, K.R.

1994-12-20

A high temperature superconducting material with the general formula GaSr[sub 2]Ln[sub 1[minus]x]M[sub x]Cu[sub 2]O[sub 7[+-]w] wherein Ln is selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pt, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Y and M is selected from the group consisting of C and Sr, 0.2[<=]x[<=]0.4 and w is a small fraction of one. A method of preparing this high temperature superconducting material is provided which includes heating and cooling a mixture to produce a crystalline material which is subsequently fired, ground and annealed at high pressure and temperature in oxygen to establish superconductivity. 14 figures.

Imaging phase slip dynamics in micron-size superconducting rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polshyn, Hryhoriy; Naibert, Tyler R.; Budakian, Raffi

2018-05-01

We present a scanning probe technique for measuring the dynamics of individual fluxoid transitions in multiply connected superconducting structures. In these measurements, a small magnetic particle attached to the tip of a silicon cantilever is scanned over a micron-size superconducting ring fabricated from a thin aluminum film. We find that near the superconducting transition temperature of the aluminum, the dissipation and frequency of the cantilever changes significantly at particular locations where the tip-induced magnetic flux penetrating the ring causes the two lowest-energy fluxoid states to become nearly degenerate. In this regime, we show that changes in the cantilever frequency and dissipation are well-described by a stochastic resonance (SR) process, wherein small oscillations of the cantilever in the presence of thermally activated phase slips (TAPS) in the ring give rise to a dynamical force that modifies the mechanical properties of the cantilever. Using the SR model, we calculate the average fluctuation rate of the TAPS as a function of temperature over a 32-dB range in frequency, and we compare it to the Langer-Ambegaokar-McCumber-Halperin theory for TAPS in one-dimensional superconducting structures.

Superconducting-electromagnetic hybrid bearing using YBCO bulk blocks for passive axial levitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolsky, R.; de Andrade, R., Jr.; Ripper, A.; David, D. F. B.; Santisteban, J. A.; Stephan, R. M.; Gawalek, W.; Habisreuther, T.; Strasser, T.

2000-06-01

A superconducting/electromagnetic hybrid bearing has been designed using active radial electromagnetic positioning and a superconducting passive axial levitator. This bearing has been tested for an induction machine with a vertical shaft. The prototype was conceived as a four-pole, two-phase induction machine using specially designed stator windings for delivering torque and radial positioning simultaneously. The radial bearing uses four eddy-current sensors, displaced 90° from each other, for measuring the shaft position and a PID control system for feeding back the currents. The stator windings have been adapted from the ones of a standard induction motor. The superconducting axial bearing has been assembled with commercial NdFeB permanent magnets and a set of seven top-seeded-melt-textured YBCO large-grain cylindrical blocks. The bearing set-up was previously simulated by a finite element method for different permanent magnet-superconductor block configurations. The stiffness of the superconducting axial bearing has been investigated by measuring by a dynamic method the vertical and transversal elastic constants for different field cooling processes. The resulting elastic constants show a linear dependence on the air gap, i.e. the clearance between the permanent magnet assembly and the set of superconducting large-grain blocks, which is dependent on cooling distance.

Fully gapped superconductivity with no sign change in the prototypical heavy-fermion CeCu2Si2

PubMed Central

Yamashita, Takuya; Takenaka, Takaaki; Tokiwa, Yoshifumi; Wilcox, Joseph A.; Mizukami, Yuta; Terazawa, Daiki; Kasahara, Yuichi; Kittaka, Shunichiro; Sakakibara, Toshiro; Konczykowski, Marcin; Seiro, Silvia; Jeevan, Hirale S.; Geibel, Christoph; Putzke, Carsten; Onishi, Takafumi; Ikeda, Hiroaki; Carrington, Antony; Shibauchi, Takasada; Matsuda, Yuji

2017-01-01

In exotic superconductors, including high-Tc copper oxides, the interactions mediating electron Cooper pairing are widely considered to have a magnetic rather than a conventional electron-phonon origin. Interest in this exotic pairing was initiated by the 1979 discovery of heavy-fermion superconductivity in CeCu2Si2, which exhibits strong antiferromagnetic fluctuations. A hallmark of unconventional pairing by anisotropic repulsive interactions is that the superconducting energy gap changes sign as a function of the electron momentum, often leading to nodes where the gap goes to zero. We report low-temperature specific heat, thermal conductivity, and magnetic penetration depth measurements in CeCu2Si2, demonstrating the absence of gap nodes at any point on the Fermi surface. Moreover, electron irradiation experiments reveal that the superconductivity survives even when the electron mean free path becomes substantially shorter than the superconducting coherence length. This indicates that superconductivity is robust against impurities, implying that there is no sign change in the gap function. These results show that, contrary to long-standing belief, heavy electrons with extremely strong Coulomb repulsions can condense into a fully gapped s-wave superconducting state, which has an on-site attractive pairing interaction. PMID:28691082

Macroscopic character of composite high-temperature superconducting wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kivelson, S. A.; Spivak, B.

2015-11-01

The "d -wave" symmetry of the superconducting order in the cuprate high temperature superconductors is a well established fact [J. Tsuei and J. R. Kirtley, Rev. Mod. Phys. 72, 969 (2000), 10.1103/RevModPhys.72.969 and D. J. Vanharlingen, Rev. Mod. Phys. 67, 515 (1995), 10.1103/RevModPhys.67.515], and one which identifies them as "unconventional." However, in macroscopic contexts—including many potential applications (i.e., superconducting "wires")—the material is a composite of randomly oriented superconducting grains in a metallic matrix, in which Josephson coupling between grains mediates the onset of long-range phase coherence. [See, e.g., D. C. Larbalestier et al., Nat. Mater. 13, 375 (2014), 10.1038/nmat3887, A. P. Malozemoff, MRS Bull. 36, 601 (2011), 10.1557/mrs.2011.160, and K. Heine et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 55, 2441 (1989), 10.1063/1.102295] Here we analyze the physics at length scales that are large compared to the size of such grains, and in particular the macroscopic character of the long-range order that emerges. While X Y -superconducting glass order and macroscopic d -wave superconductivity may be possible, we show that under many circumstances—especially when the d -wave superconducting grains are embedded in a metallic matrix—the most likely order has global s -wave symmetry.

A Dry-Etch Process for Low Temperature Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors for Far Infrared Bolometer Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Christine A.; Chervenak, James A.; Hsieh, Wen-Ting; McClanahan, Richard A.; Miller, Timothy M.; Mitchell, Robert; Moseley, S. Harvey; Staguhn, Johannes; Stevenson, Thomas R.

2003-01-01

The next generation of ultra-low power bolometer arrays, with applications in far infrared imaging, spectroscopy and polarimetry, utilizes a superconducting bilayer as the sensing element to enable SQUID multiplexed readout. Superconducting transition edge sensors (TES s) are being produced with dual metal systems of superconductinghormal bilayers. The transition temperature (Tc) is tuned by altering the relative thickness of the superconductor with respect to the normal layer. We are currently investigating MoAu and MoCu bilayers. We have developed a dry-etching process for MoAu TES s with integrated molybdenum leads, and are working on adapting the process to MoCu. Dry etching has the advantage over wet etching in the MoAu system in that one can achieve a high degree of selectivity, greater than 10, using argon ME, or argon ion milling, for patterning gold on molybdenum. Molybdenum leads are subsequently patterned using fluorine plasma.. The dry-etch technique results in a smooth, featureless TES with sharp sidewalls, no undercutting of the Mo beneath the normal metal, and Mo leads with high critical current. The effects of individual processing parameters on the characteristics of the transition will be reported.

Current-phase relations in low carrier density graphene Josephson junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kratz, Philip; Amet, Francois; Watson, Christopher; Moler, Kathryn; Ke, Chung; Borzenets, Ivan; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Deacon, Russell; Yamamoto, Michihisa; Bomze, Yuriy; Tarucha, Seigo; Finkelstein, Gleb

Ideal Dirac semimetals have the unique property of being gate tunable to arbitrarily low electron and hole carrier concentrations near the Dirac point, without suffering from conduction channel pinch-off or Fermi level pinning to band edges and deep-level charge traps, which are common in typical semiconductors. SNS junctions, where N is a Dirac semimetal, can provide a versatile platform for studying few-mode superconducting weak links, with potential device applications for superconducting logic and qubits. We will use an inductive readout technique, scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry, to measure the current-phase relations of high-mobility graphene SNS junctions as a function of temperature and carrier density, complementing magnetic Fraunhofer diffraction analysis from transport measurements which previously have assumed sinusoidal current-phase relations for junction Andreev modes. Deviations from sinusoidal behavior convey information about resonant scattering processes, dissipation, and ballistic modes in few-mode superconducting weak links.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, Jin Yong; Pusan National University, Busan; Choi, Seyong

A superconducting magnet for use in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source was developed at the Korea Basic Science Institute. The superconducting magnet is comprised of three solenoids and a hexapole magnet. According to the design value, the solenoid magnets can generate a mirror field, resulting in axial magnetic fields of 3.6 T at the injection area and 2.2 T at the extraction region. A radial field strength of 2.1 T can also be achieved by hexapole magnet on the plasma chamber wall. NbTi superconducting wire was used in the winding process following appropriate techniques for magnet structure. The finalmore » assembly of the each magnet involved it being vertically inserted into the cryostat to cool down the temperature using liquid helium. The performance of each solenoid and hexapole magnet was separately verified experimentally. The construction of the superconducting coil, the entire magnet assembly for performance testing and experimental results are reported herein.« less

Focus on superconducting properties of iron chalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takano, Yoshihiko

2012-10-01

Since the discovery of iron-based superconductors, much attention has been given to the exploration of new superconducting compounds. Numerous superconducting iron compounds have been found and categorized into five groups: LnFeAsO (Ln = lanthanide), BaFe2As2, KFeAs, FeSe and FeAs with perovskite blocking layers. Among them, FeSe has the simplest crystal structure. Since the crystal structure is composed of only superconducting Fe layers, the FeSe family must be the best material to investigate the mechanism of iron-based superconductivity. FeSe shows very strong pressure effects. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of FeSe is approximately 8 K at ambient pressure. However Tc dramatically increases up to 37 K under applied pressure of 4-6 GPa. This is the third highest Tc value among binary superconductors, surpassed only by CsC60 under pressure (Tc = 38 K) and MgB2 (Tc = 39 K). On the other hand, despite FeTe having a crystal structure analogous to that of FeSe, FeTe shows antiferromagnetic properties without superconductivity. Doping of small ions, either Se or S, however, can induce superconductivity in FeTe1-xSex or FeTe1-xSx . The superconductivity is very weak for small x values, and annealing under certain conditions is required to obtain strong superconductivity, for instance annealing in oxygen or alcoholic beverages such as red wine. The following selection of papers describe many important experimental and theoretical studies on iron chalcogenide superconductors including preparation of single crystals, bulk samples and thin films; NMR measurements; photoemission spectroscopy; high-pressure studies; annealing effects and research on new BiS2-based superconductors. I hope this focus issue will help researchers understand the frontiers of iron chalcogenide superconductors and assist in the discovery of new phenomena related to iron-based superconductivity.

Applied metrology in the production of superconducting model magnets for particle accelerators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ferradas Troitino, Jose; Bestmann, Patrick; Bourcey, Nicolas

2017-12-22

The production of superconducting magnets for particle accelerators involves high precision assemblies and tight tolerances, in order to achieve the requirements for their appropriate performance. It is therefore essential to have a strict control and traceability over the geometry of each component of the system, and also to be able to compensate possible inherent deviations coming from the production process.

Processing of Mixed Oxide Superconductors

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-07-01

rapid changes world wide a major research centre on high Tc superconductors was awarded to Cambridge which involved moving the work and people to a...reports and paper is in the appendices. Separation Ceramic superconductors tend to be mixtures of phases, especially when first discovered. It would...properties of the superconducting state will in principle allow superconducting material to be levitated from the non superconductor and several designs

Reflective HTS switch

DOEpatents

Martens, J.S.; Hietala, V.M.; Hohenwarter, G.K.G.

1994-09-27

A HTS (High Temperature Superconductor) switch includes a HTS conductor for providing a superconducting path for an electrical signal and an serpentine wire actuator for controllably heating a portion of the conductor sufficiently to cause that portion to have normal, and not superconducting, resistivity. Mass of the portion is reduced to decrease switching time. 6 figs.

The role of superconductivity in the Space Program: An assessment of present capabilities and future potential

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, D. B. (Editor)

1978-01-01

Technical subject areas discussed include: (1) high field magnets; (2) magnetometers; (3) digital electronics; (4) high frequency detectors; (5) instruments related to gravitational studies; and (6) ultra high Q cavities. Applications of superconductivity which are of potential interest to NASA were identified.

High temperature superconducting fault current limiter

DOEpatents

Hull, John R.

1997-01-01

A fault current limiter (10) for an electrical circuit (14). The fault current limiter (10) includes a high temperature superconductor (12) in the electrical circuit (14). The high temperature superconductor (12) is cooled below its critical temperature to maintain the superconducting electrical properties during operation as the fault current limiter (10).

Four-junction superconducting circuit

PubMed Central

Qiu, Yueyin; Xiong, Wei; He, Xiao-Ling; Li, Tie-Fu; You, J. Q.

2016-01-01

We develop a theory for the quantum circuit consisting of a superconducting loop interrupted by four Josephson junctions and pierced by a magnetic flux (either static or time-dependent). In addition to the similarity with the typical three-junction flux qubit in the double-well regime, we demonstrate the difference of the four-junction circuit from its three-junction analogue, including its advantages over the latter. Moreover, the four-junction circuit in the single-well regime is also investigated. Our theory provides a tool to explore the physical properties of this four-junction superconducting circuit. PMID:27356619

Superconducting coil system and methods of assembling the same

DOEpatents

Rajput-Ghoshal, Renuka; Rochford, James H.; Ghoshal, Probir K.

2016-01-19

A superconducting magnet apparatus is provided. The superconducting magnet apparatus includes a power source configured to generate a current; a first switch coupled in parallel to the power source; a second switch coupled in series to the power source; a coil coupled in parallel to the first switch and the second switch; and a passive quench protection device coupled to the coil and configured to by-pass the current around the coil and to decouple the coil from the power source when the coil experiences a quench.

Superconducting Detectors for Superlight Dark Matter.

PubMed

Hochberg, Yonit; Zhao, Yue; Zurek, Kathryn M

2016-01-08

We propose and study a new class of superconducting detectors that are sensitive to O(meV) electron recoils from dark matter-electron scattering. Such devices could detect dark matter as light as the warm dark-matter limit, m(X)≳1  keV. We compute the rate of dark-matter scattering off of free electrons in a (superconducting) metal, including the relevant Pauli blocking factors. We demonstrate that classes of dark matter consistent with terrestrial and cosmological or astrophysical constraints could be detected by such detectors with a moderate size exposure.

Superconducting Detectors for Superlight Dark Matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hochberg, Yonit; Zhao, Yue; Zurek, Kathryn M.

2016-01-01

We propose and study a new class of superconducting detectors that are sensitive to O (meV ) electron recoils from dark matter-electron scattering. Such devices could detect dark matter as light as the warm dark-matter limit, mX≳1 keV . We compute the rate of dark-matter scattering off of free electrons in a (superconducting) metal, including the relevant Pauli blocking factors. We demonstrate that classes of dark matter consistent with terrestrial and cosmological or astrophysical constraints could be detected by such detectors with a moderate size exposure.

A novel pre-sintering technique for the growth of Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting single grains from raw metal oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiawei; Shi, Yun-Hua; Dennis, Anthony R.; Namburi, Devendra Kumar; Durrell, John H.; Yang, Wanmin; Cardwell, David A.

2017-09-01

Most established top seeded melt growth (TSMG) processes of bulk, single grain Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) superconductors are performed using a mixture of pre-reacted precursor powders. Here we report the successful growth of large, single grain YBCO samples by TSMG with good superconducting properties from a simple precursor composition consisting of a sintered mixture of the raw oxides. The elimination of the requirement to synthesize precursor powders in a separate process prior to melt processing has the potential to reduce significantly the cost of bulk superconductors, which is essential for their commercial exploitation. The growth morphology, microstructure, trapped magnetic field and critical current density, J c, at different positions within the sample and maximum levitation force of the YBCO single grains fabricated by this process are reported. Measurements of the superconducting properties show that the trapped filed can reach 0.45 T and that a zero field J c of 2.5 × 104 A cm-2 can be achieved in these samples. These values are comparable to those observed in samples fabricated using pre-reacted, high purity commercial oxide precursor powders. The experimental results are discussed and the possibility of further improving the melt process using raw oxides is outlined.

Terahertz Mixing Characteristics of NbN Superconducting Tunnel Junctions and Related Astronomical Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, J.

2010-01-01

High-sensitivity superconducting SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) mixers are playing an increasingly important role in the terahertz (THz) astronomical observation, which is an emerging research frontier in modern astrophysics. Superconducting SIS mixers with niobium (Nb) tunnel junctions have reached a sensitivity close to the quantum limit, but have a frequency limit about 0.7 THz (i.e., gap frequency of Nb tunnel junctions). Beyond this frequency Nb superconducting films will absorb energetic photons (i.e., energy loss) to break Cooper pairs, thereby resulting in significant degradation of the mixer performance. Therefore, it is of particular interest to develop THz superconducting SIS mixers incorporating tunnel junctions with a larger energy gap. Niobium-nitride (NbN) superconducting tunnel junctions have been long known for their large energy gap, almost double that of Nb ones. With the introduction of epitaxially grown NbN films, the fabrication technology of NbN superconducting tunnel junctions has been considerably improved in the recent years. Nevertheless, their performances are still not as good as Nb ones, and furthermore they are not yet demonstrated in real astronomical applications. Given the facts mentioned above, in this paper we systematically study the quantum mixing behaviors of NbN superconducting tunnel junctions in the THz regime and demonstrate an astronomical testing observation with a 0.5 THz superconducting SIS mixer developed with NbN tunnel junctions. The main results of this study include: (1) successful design and fabrication of a 0.4˜0.6 THz waveguide mixing circuit with the high-dielectric-constant MgO substrate; (2) successful fabrication of NbN superconducting tunnel junctions with the gap voltage reaching 5.6 mV and the quality factor as high as 15; (3) demonstration of a 0.5 THz waveguide NbN superconducting SIS mixer with a measured receiver noise temperature (no correction) as low as five times the quantum limit (5hω/kB), which is the best among NbN superconducting SIS mixers developed in this frequency band; (4) demonstration of high sensitivity for NbN superconducting SIS mixers operated at temperatures as high as 10 K, and demonstration of much less interference resulting from the Josephson effect; (5) demonstration of the first astronomical observation ever done with an NbN superconducting SIS mixer. This study has provided further understanding of the quantum mixing behaviors of NbN superconducting SIS mixers. It has been demonstrated that NbN superconducting SIS mixers can reach nearly quantum-limited sensitivity and have good stability. Furthermore, NbN superconducting SIS mixers have less stringent requirement for cooling and magnetic field compared with Nb ones. Hence they can be used in astronomical applications, especially for space-borne projects and complex systems such as multi-beam receivers.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. (Latest citations from the NTIS Bibliographic database). Published Search

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1993-10-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity wave experiments, geomagnetism, galvanometers, voltmeters, bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices). (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Superconductivity in Bi/Ni bilayer system: Clear role of superconducting phases found at Bi/Ni interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, L. Y.; Xing, Y. T.; Merino, I. L. C.; Micklitz, H.; Franceschini, D. F.; Baggio-Saitovitch, E.; Bell, D. C.; Solórzano, I. G.

2018-01-01

Bi/Ni bilayers with varying Bi and Ni layer thicknesses have been prepared by (a) pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) at 300 K and (b) thermal evaporation at 4.2 K. A two-step superconducting transition appears on the electrical transport measurements in the samples prepared by PLD. High-resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy, supported by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) analysis, reveal that two superconducting intermetallic alloys, namely NiBi and NiBi3, are formed by interdiffusion, if the bilayers are prepared at 300 K. The Tc of the two phases behaves very differently in an external magnetic field and the upper critical magnetic fields at zero temperature [Bc 2(0 ) ] were estimated as 1.1 and 7.4 T, respectively. The lower value corresponds to the Bc 2(0) of NiBi3 phase and the higher one is supposed to be of NiBi. These alloys are responsible for the superconductivity and the two-step transition appearing in the Bi/Ni bilayer system. Surprisingly, the Bi-rich phase (NiBi3) is formed near the Ni layer, while the Ni-rich phase (NiBi) is formed far from the Ni layer. The EDXS analysis at nanometer scale clearly shows an unusual increase of Ni concentration near the interface of Bi/substrate. The limited thickness of Bi layer in the interdiffusion process results in an unexpected distribution of Ni concentration. Samples prepared at 4.2 K after annealing at 300 K do not show any superconductivity, which indicates that a nonepitaxial Bi/Ni interface does not induce superconductivity in the case interdiffusion does not occur. These results offer a deeper understanding of the superconductivity in the Bi/Ni bilayer system.

Processing-property relations in YBa2Cu3O(6+x) superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safari, A.; Wachtman, J. B., Jr.; Parkhe, V.; Caracciolo, R.; Jeter, D.

Processing of YBa2Cu3O(6+x) superconducting samples by employing different precursor powder preparation techniques such as ball milling, attrition milling, and narrow particle size distribution powder preparation through coprecipitation by spraying will be discussed. CuO coated with oxalates shows the lowest resistance above Tc up to room temperature. The extent of corrosion by water has been studied by employing magnetic susceptibility, XPS, and X-ray diffraction. Superconducting samples are affected to a considerable extent when treated in water at 60 C and the severity of the attack increases with time.

Superconducting properties of Pb-Sn-In alloys directionally solidified aboard Skylab

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, W. T., Jr.; Reger, J. L.

1975-01-01

Superconducting alloys of Pb-Sn-In were directionally solidified in the absence of gravity-induced convection and segregation by processing in a near weightless condition aboard Skylab. Lead-rich and tin-rich lamellar structures were obtained with both high and low G/R (temperature gradient/solidification rate) samples processed at 0-g and at 1-g in a ground-based laboratory. Thinner, higher density lamellae were found with the 0-g specimens. Magnetization curves at 4.2 K showed hysteresis effects with large areas under the curves indicating magnetic flux pinning by the normal state tin-rich phase.

Growth and Structure of High-Temperature Superconducting Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Achutharaman, Vedapuram Sankar

High temperature superconducting thin films with atomic scale perfection are required for technological applications and scientific studies on the mechanism of superconductivity. Ozone assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been shown to produce in-situ superconducting thin films. To obtain a well-controlled and reproducible process, some components such as the substrate heater and the substrate holder have to be designed to be compatible with high oxygen partial pressures. Also, to ensure precise stoichiometry and precipitate-free films, evaporation sources and temperature controllers have to be designed for better temperature stability. The investigation of the MBE process and the thin films grown by MBE are required to obtain a better understanding of the growth parameters such as the composition of the film, substrate surface structure, substrate temperature and ozone partial pressure. This can be obtained by dynamically monitoring the growth process by in-situ characterization techniques such as reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Intensity oscillations of the specular RHEED beam have been observed during the growth of RBa_2Cu_3 O_7 (R = Y,Dy) films on SrTiO _3. A model for the origin of these RHEED intensity oscillations will be proposed from extensive RHEED intensity studies. A mechanism for growth of these oxides by physical vapor deposition techniques such as MBE and pulsed laser deposition will also be developed. To verify both the models, the growth of the superconductors will be simulated by the Monte Carlo method and compared with experimental RHEED observations.

Two-dimensional lattice gauge theories with superconducting quantum circuits

PubMed Central

Marcos, D.; Widmer, P.; Rico, E.; Hafezi, M.; Rabl, P.; Wiese, U.-J.; Zoller, P.

2014-01-01

A quantum simulator of U(1) lattice gauge theories can be implemented with superconducting circuits. This allows the investigation of confined and deconfined phases in quantum link models, and of valence bond solid and spin liquid phases in quantum dimer models. Fractionalized confining strings and the real-time dynamics of quantum phase transitions are accessible as well. Here we show how state-of-the-art superconducting technology allows us to simulate these phenomena in relatively small circuit lattices. By exploiting the strong non-linear couplings between quantized excitations emerging when superconducting qubits are coupled, we show how to engineer gauge invariant Hamiltonians, including ring-exchange and four-body Ising interactions. We demonstrate that, despite decoherence and disorder effects, minimal circuit instances allow us to investigate properties such as the dynamics of electric flux strings, signaling confinement in gauge invariant field theories. The experimental realization of these models in larger superconducting circuits could address open questions beyond current computational capability. PMID:25512676

Strongly correlated superconductivity and quantum criticality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremblay, A.-M. S.

Doped Mott insulators and doped charge-transfer insulators describe classes of materials that can exhibit unconventional superconducting ground states. Examples include the cuprates and the layered organic superconductors of the BEDT family. I present results obtained from plaquette cellular dynamical mean-field theory. Continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo evaluation of the hybridization expansion allows one to study the models in the large interaction limit where quasiparticles can disappear. The normal state which is unstable to the superconducting state exhibits a first-order transition between a pseudogap and a correlated metal phase. That transition is the finite-doping extension of the metal-insulator transition obtained at half-filling. This transition serves as an organizing principle for the normal and superconducting states of both cuprates and doped organic superconductors. In the less strongly correlated limit, these methods also describe the more conventional case where the superconducting dome surrounds an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. Sponsored by NSERC RGPIN-2014-04584, CIFAR, Research Chair in the Theory of Quantum Materials.

Performance of Superconducting Magnet Prototypes for LCLS-II Linear Accelerator

DOE PAGES

Kashikhin, Vladimir; Andreev, Nikolai; DiMarco, Joseph; ...

2017-01-05

The new LCLS-II Linear Superconducting Accelerator at SLAC needs superconducting magnet packages installed inside SCRF Cryomodules to focus and steer an electron beam. Two magnet prototypes were built and successfully tested at Fermilab. Magnets have an iron dominated configuration, quadrupole and dipole NbTi superconducting coils, and splittable in the vertical plane configuration. Magnets inside the Cryomodule are conductively cooled through pure Al heat sinks. Both magnets performance was verified by magnetic measurements at room temperature, and during cold tests in liquid helium. Test results including magnetic measurements are discussed. Special attention was given to the magnet performance at low currentsmore » where the iron yoke and the superconductor hysteresis effects have large influence. Both magnet prototypes were accepted for the installation in FNAL and JLAB prototype Cryomodules.« less

BaBar superconducting coil: design, construction and test

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bell, R A; Berndt, M; Burgess, W

2001-01-26

The BABAR Detector, located in the PEP-II B-Factory at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, includes a large 1.5 Tesla superconducting solenoid, 2.8 m bore and length 3.7 m. The two layer solenoid is wound with an aluminum stabilized conductor which is graded axially to produce a {+-} 3% field uniformity in the tracking region. This paper summarizes the 3 year design, fabrication and testing program of the superconducting solenoid. The work was carried out by an international collaboration between INFN, LLNL and SLAC. The coil was constructed by Ansaldo Energia. Critical current measurements of the superconducting strand, cable and conductor,more » cool-down, operation with the thermo-siphon cooling, fast and slow discharges, and magnetic forces are discussed in detail.« less

Chiral d -wave superconductivity in a triangular surface lattice mediated by long-range interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xiaodong; Ayral, Thomas; Zhong, Zhicheng; Parcollet, Olivier; Manske, Dirk; Hansmann, Philipp

2018-04-01

Adatom systems on the Si(111) surface have recently attracted an increasing attention as strongly correlated systems with a rich phase diagram. We study these materials by a single band model on the triangular lattice, including 1 /r long-range interaction. Employing the recently proposed TRILEX method, we find an unconventional superconducting phase of chiral d -wave symmetry in hole-doped systems. Contrary to usual scenarios where charge and spin fluctuations are seen to compete, here the superconductivity is driven simultaneously by both charge and spin fluctuations and crucially relies on the presence of the long-range tail of the interaction. We provide an analysis of the relevant collective bosonic modes and predict how a cumulative charge and spin paring mechanism leads to superconductivity in doped silicon adatom materials.

Phase Separation of Superconducting Phases in the Penson-Kolb-Hubbard Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jerzy Kapcia, Konrad; Czart, Wojciech Robert; Ptok, Andrzej

2016-04-01

In this paper, we determine the phase diagrams (for T = 0 as well as T > 0) of the Penson-Kolb-Hubbard model for two dimensional square lattice within Hartree-Fock mean-field theory focusing on an investigation of superconducting phases and on a possibility of the occurrence of the phase separation. We obtain that the phase separation, which is a state of coexistence of two different superconducting phases (with s- and η-wave symmetries), occurs in definite ranges of the electron concentration. In addition, increasing temperature can change the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter (from η-wave into s-wave). The system considered exhibits also an interesting multicritical behaviour including bicritical points. The relevance of the results to experiments for real materials is also discussed.

PREFACE: Special section featuring selected papers from the 3rd International Workshop on Numerical Modelling of High Temperature Superconductors Special section featuring selected papers from the 3rd International Workshop on Numerical Modelling of High Temperature Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granados, Xavier; Sánchez, Àlvar; López-López, Josep

2012-10-01

The development of superconducting applications and superconducting engineering requires the support of consistent tools which can provide models for obtaining a good understanding of the behaviour of the systems and predict novel features. These models aim to compute the behaviour of the superconducting systems, design superconducting devices and systems, and understand and test the behavior of the superconducting parts. 50 years ago, in 1962, Charles Bean provided the superconducting community with a model efficient enough to allow the computation of the response of a superconductor to external magnetic fields and currents flowing through in an understandable way: the so called critical-state model. Since then, in addition to the pioneering critical-state approach, other tools have been devised for designing operative superconducting systems, allowing integration of the superconducting design in nearly standard electromagnetic computer-aided design systems by modelling the superconducting parts with consideration of time-dependent processes. In April 2012, Barcelona hosted the 3rd International Workshop on Numerical Modelling of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS), the third in a series of workshops started in Lausanne in 2010 and followed by Cambridge in 2011. The workshop reflected the state-of-the-art and the new initiatives of HTS modelling, considering mathematical, physical and technological aspects within a wide and interdisciplinary scope. Superconductor Science and Technology is now publishing a selection of papers from the workshop which have been selected for their high quality. The selection comprises seven papers covering mathematical, physical and technological topics which contribute to an improvement in the development of procedures, understanding of phenomena and development of applications. We hope that they provide a perspective on the relevance and growth that the modelling of HTS superconductors has achieved in the past 25 years.

Concepts of flywheels for energy storage using autostable high-T(sub c) superconducting magnetic bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bornemann, Hans J.; Zabka, R.; Boegler, P.; Urban, C.; Rietschel, H.

1994-01-01

A flywheel for energy storage using autostable high-T(sub c) superconducting magnetic bearings has been built. The rotating disk has a total weight of 2.8 kg. The maximum speed is 9240 rpm. A process that allows accelerated, reliable and reproducible production of melt-textured superconducting material used for the bearings has been developed. In order to define optimum configurations for radial and axial bearings, interaction forces in three dimensions and vertical and horizontal stiffness have been measured between superconductors and permanent magnets in different geometries and various shapes. Static as well as dynamic measurements have been performed. Results are being reported and compared to theoretical models.

Precipitation of hydrides in high purity niobium after different treatments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barkov, F.; Romanenko, A.; Trenikhina, Y.

Precipitation of lossy non-superconducting niobium hydrides represents a known problem for high purity niobium in superconducting applications. Using cryogenic optical and laser confocal scanning microscopy we have directly observed surface precipitation and evolution of niobium hydrides in samples after different treatments used for superconducting RF cavities for particle acceleration. Precipitation is shown to occur throughout the sample volume, and the growth of hydrides is well described by the fast diffusion-controlled process in which almost all hydrogen is precipitated atmore » $T=140$~K within $$\\sim30$$~min. 120$$^{\\circ}$$C baking and mechanical deformation are found to affect hydride precipitation through their influence on the number of nucleation and trapping centers.« less

Thermal Modeling and Cryogenic Design of a Helical Superconducting Undulator Cryostat

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shiroyanagi, Y.; Fuerst, J.; Hasse, Q.

A conceptual design for a helical superconducting undulator (HSCU) for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has been completed. The device differs sufficiently from the existing APS planar superconducting undulator (SCU) design to warrant development of a new cryostat based on value engineering and lessons learned from the existing planar SCU. Changes include optimization of the existing cryocooler-based refrigeration system and thermal shield as well as cost reduction through the use of standard vacuum hardware. The end result is a design that provides significantly larger 4.2 K refrigeration margin in a smaller package for greater installationmore » flexibility in the APS storage ring. This paper presents ANSYS-based thermal analysis of the cryostat, including estimated static and dynamic« less

System and Method for Fabricating Super Conducting Circuitry on Both Sides of an Ultra-Thin Layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Ari D. (Inventor); Mikula, Vilem (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A method of fabricating circuitry in a wafer includes depositing a superconducting metal on a silicon on insulator wafer having a handle wafer, coating the wafer with a sacrificial layer and bonding the wafer to a thermally oxide silicon wafer with a first epoxy. The method includes flipping the wafer, thinning the flipped wafer by removing a handle wafer, etching a buried oxide layer, depositing a superconducting layer, bonding the wafer to a thermally oxidized silicon wafer having a handle wafer using an epoxy, flipping the wafer again, thinning the flipped wafer, etching a buried oxide layer from the wafer and etching the sacrificial layer from the wafer. The result is a wafer having superconductive circuitry on both sides of an ultra-thin silicon layer.

Handbook on Materials for Superconducting Machinery, Includes Data Sheets for First and Second Supplements, November 1975 and January 1977

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-01-01

i9H|^mmMi^Mnp« CO CM CO o CICHB-04 HANDBOOK ON MATERIALS FOR SUPERCONDUCTING MACHINERY Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical, and Magnetic...Properties of Structural Materials Including Data Sheets for the First and Second Supplements :«■ I o Includes Data Sheets for First and Second...pi.uyjii iiJHUH.|iy 1 1.111..ij.j < miw..i .m ■ ■ iiiiMiiiTiiirinrii’iT’iftit?["-HiH._ o SECOND SUPPLEMEraT HANDBOOK ON MATERIALS FOR

Hybrid matrix amplifier

DOEpatents

Martens, J.S.; Hietala, V.M.; Plut, T.A.

1995-01-03

The present invention comprises a novel matrix amplifier. The matrix amplifier includes an active superconducting power divider (ASPD) having N output ports; N distributed amplifiers each operatively connected to one of the N output ports of the ASPD; and a power combiner having N input ports each operatively connected to one of the N distributed amplifiers. The distributed amplifier can included M stages of amplification by cascading superconducting active devices. The power combiner can include N active elements. The resulting (N[times]M) matrix amplifier can produce signals of high output power, large bandwidth, and low noise. 6 figures.

Hybrid matrix amplifier

DOEpatents

Martens, Jon S.; Hietala, Vincent M.; Plut, Thomas A.

1995-01-01

The present invention comprises a novel matrix amplifier. The matrix amplifier includes an active superconducting power divider (ASPD) having N output ports; N distributed amplifiers each operatively connected to one of the N output ports of the ASPD; and a power combiner having N input ports each operatively connected to one of the N distributed amplifiers. The distributed amplifier can included M stages of amplification by cascading superconducting active devices. The power combiner can include N active elements. The resulting (N.times.M) matrix amplifier can produce signals of high output power, large bandwidth, and low noise.

Present Status of the KSTAR Superconducting Magnet System Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Keeman; H, K. Park; K, R. Park; B, S. Lim; S, I. Lee; M, K. Kim; Y, Chu; W, H. Chung; S, H. Baek; J Y, Choi; H, Yonekawa; A, Chertovskikh; Y, B. Chang; J, S. Kim; C, S. Kim; D, J. Kim; N, H. Song; K, P. Kim; Y, J. Song; I, S. Woo; W, S. Han; D, K. Lee; Y, K. Oh; K, W. Cho; J, S. Park; G, S. Lee; H, J. Lee; T, K. Ko; S, J. Lee

2004-10-01

The mission of Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) project is to develop an advanced steady-state superconducting tokamak for establishing a scientific and technological basis for an attractive fusion reactor. Because one of the KSTAR mission is to achieve a steady-state operation, the use of superconducting coils is an obvious choice for the magnet system. The KSTAR superconducting magnet system consists of 16 Toroidal Field (TF) coils and 14 Poloidal Field (PF) coils. Internally-cooled Cable-In-Conduit Conductors (CICC) are put into use in both the TF and PF coil systems. The TF coil system provides a field of 3.5 T at the plasma center and the PF coil system is able to provide a flux swing of 17 V-sec. The major achievement in KSTAR magnet-system development includes the development of CICC, the development of a full-size TF model coil, the development of a coil system for background magnetic-field generation, the construction of a large-scale superconducting magnet and CICC test facility. TF and PF coils are in the stage of fabrication to pave the way for the scheduled completion of KSTAR by the end of 2006.

Studies of hydride formation and superconductivity in hydrides of alloys Th-M /M = La, Y, Ce, Zr and Bi/

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oesterreicher, H.; Clinton, J.; Misroch, M.

1977-01-01

In order to gain a better insight into both the unusual composition of ThH15 and its superconductivity, an experimental study was conducted to assess the influence of partial replacement of Th in Th4H15 by elements which allow for a systematic alteration of spatial and electronic effects. For this purpose, substituent elements with the same number of valence electrons (4) but of smaller size (Zr) as well as elements with a smaller number of valence electrons (3) and either larger (La) or smaller size (Y) were selected. A few data with Ce and Bi as substituent atoms are also included. The matrix alloys for hydriding were obtained by induction melting under Ar in water-cooled Cu boats. Superconducting transition temperatures are found to decrease on substitution for Th in Th4H15. Hydrides derived from LaH3 by substitution for La by Th do not become superconducting. It is suggested that superconductivity in Th4H15 is connected with a deviation from the exact stoichiometry of Th4H15. A model of unsatisfied valencies may be of more general validity in predicting superconductivity.

A modular and cost-effective superconducting generator design for offshore wind turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keysan, Ozan; Mueller, Markus

2015-03-01

Superconducting generators have the potential to reduce the tower head mass for large (∼10 MW) offshore wind turbines. However, a high temperature superconductor generator should be as reliable as conventional generators for successful entry into the market. Most of the proposed designs use the superconducting synchronous generator concept, which has a higher cost than conventional generators and suffers from reliability issues. In this paper, a novel claw pole type of superconducting machine is presented. The design has a stationary superconducting field winding, which simplifies the design and increases the reliability. The machine can be operated in independent modules; thus even if one of the sections fails, the rest can operate until the next planned maintenance. Another advantage of the design is the very low superconducting wire requirement; a 10 MW, 10 rpm design is presented which uses 13 km of MgB2 wire at 30 K. The outer diameter of the machine is 6.63 m and it weighs 184 tonnes including the structural mass. The design is thought to be a good candidate for entering the renewable energy market, with its low cost and robust structure.

High-temperature superconductivity in one-unit-cell FeSe films.

PubMed

Wang, Ziqiao; Liu, Chaofei; Liu, Yi; Wang, Jian

2017-04-20

Since the dramatic enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature (T c ) was reported in a one-unit-cell FeSe film grown on a SrTiO 3 substrate (1-UC FeSe/STO) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), related research on this system has become a new frontier in condensed matter physics. In this paper, we present a brief review on this rapidly developing field, mainly focusing on the superconducting properties of 1-UC FeSe/STO. Experimental evidence for high-temperature superconductivity in 1-UC FeSe/STO, including direct evidence revealed by transport and diamagnetic measurements, as well as other evidence from scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), are overviewed. The potential mechanisms of the enhanced superconductivity are also discussed. There are accumulating arguments to suggest that the strengthened Cooper pairing in 1-UC FeSe/STO originates from the interface effects, specifically the charge transfer and coupling to phonon modes in the TiO 2 plane. The study of superconductivity in 1-UC FeSe/STO not only sheds new light on the mechanism of high-temperature superconductors with layered structures, but also provides an insight into the exploration of new superconductors by interface engineering.

Calorimetric Measurements of Magnetic-Field-Induced Inhomogeneous Superconductivity Above the Paramagnetic Limit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Agosta, Charles C.; Fortune, Nathanael A.; Hannahs, Scott T.

We report the first magnetocaloric and calorimetric observations of a magnetic-field-induced phase transition within a superconducting state to the long-sought exotic Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) superconducting state, first predicted over 50 years ago. Through the combination of bulk thermodynamic calorimetric and magnetocaloric measurements in the organic superconductor. kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2) Cu(NCS)(2) as a function of temperature, magnetic field strength, and magnetic field orientation, we establish for the first time that this field-induced first-order phase transition at the paramagnetic limit Hp is a transition to a higher-entropy superconducting phase, uniquely characteristic of the FFLO state. We also establish that this high-field superconducting state displays themore » bulk paramagnetic ordering of spin domains required of the FFLO state. These results rule out the alternate possibility of spin-density wave ordering in the high-field superconducting phase. The phase diagram determined from our measurements-including the observation of a phase transition into the FFLO phase at Hp-is in good agreement with recent NMR results and our own earlier tunnel-diode magnetic penetration depth experiments but is in disagreement with the only previous calorimetric report.« less

Calorimetric Measurements of Magnetic-Field-Induced Inhomogeneous Superconductivity Above the Paramagnetic Limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agosta, Charles C.; Fortune, Nathanael A.; Hannahs, Scott T.; Gu, Shuyao; Liang, Lucy; Park, Ju-Hyun; Schleuter, John A.

2017-06-01

We report the first magnetocaloric and calorimetric observations of a magnetic-field-induced phase transition within a superconducting state to the long-sought exotic Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) superconducting state, first predicted over 50 years ago. Through the combination of bulk thermodynamic calorimetric and magnetocaloric measurements in the organic superconductor κ -(BEDT -TTF )2Cu (NCS )2 as a function of temperature, magnetic field strength, and magnetic field orientation, we establish for the first time that this field-induced first-order phase transition at the paramagnetic limit Hp is a transition to a higher-entropy superconducting phase, uniquely characteristic of the FFLO state. We also establish that this high-field superconducting state displays the bulk paramagnetic ordering of spin domains required of the FFLO state. These results rule out the alternate possibility of spin-density wave ordering in the high-field superconducting phase. The phase diagram determined from our measurements—including the observation of a phase transition into the FFLO phase at Hp—is in good agreement with recent NMR results and our own earlier tunnel-diode magnetic penetration depth experiments but is in disagreement with the only previous calorimetric report.

Quench simulations for superconducting elements in the LHC accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sonnemann, F.; Schmidt, R.

2000-08-01

The design of the protection system for the superconducting elements in an accelerator such as the large Hadron collider (LHC), now under construction at CERN, requires a detailed understanding of the thermo-hydraulic and electrodynamic processes during a quench. A numerical program (SPQR - simulation program for quench research) has been developed to evaluate temperature and voltage distributions during a quench as a function of space and time. The quench process is simulated by approximating the heat balance equation with the finite difference method in presence of variable cooling and powering conditions. The simulation predicts quench propagation along a superconducting cable, forced quenching with heaters, impact of eddy currents induced by a magnetic field change, and heat transfer through an insulation layer into helium, an adjacent conductor or other material. The simulation studies allowed a better understanding of experimental quench data and were used for determining the adequate dimensioning and protection of the highly stabilised superconducting cables for connecting magnets (busbars), optimising the quench heater strip layout for the main magnets, and studying quench back by induced eddy currents in the superconductor. After the introduction of the theoretical approach, some applications of the simulation model for the LHC dipole and corrector magnets are presented and the outcome of the studies is compared with experimental data.

Superconducting quantum circuits theory and application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Xiuhao

Superconducting quantum circuit models are widely used to understand superconducting devices. This thesis consists of four studies wherein the superconducting quantum circuit is used to illustrate challenges related to quantum information encoding and processing, quantum simulation, quantum signal detection and amplification. The existence of scalar Aharanov-Bohm phase has been a controversial topic for decades. Scalar AB phase, defined as time integral of electric potential, gives rises to an extra phase factor in wavefunction. We proposed a superconducting quantum Faraday cage to detect temporal interference effect as a consequence of scalar AB phase. Using the superconducting quantum circuit model, the physical system is solved and resulting AB effect is predicted. Further discussion in this chapter shows that treating the experimental apparatus quantum mechanically, spatial scalar AB effect, proposed by Aharanov-Bohm, can't be observed. Either a decoherent interference apparatus is used to observe spatial scalar AB effect, or a quantum Faraday cage is used to observe temporal scalar AB effect. The second study involves protecting a quantum system from losing coherence, which is crucial to any practical quantum computation scheme. We present a theory to encode any qubit, especially superconducting qubits, into a universal quantum degeneracy point (UQDP) where low frequency noise is suppressed significantly. Numerical simulations for superconducting charge qubit using experimental parameters show that its coherence time is prolong by two orders of magnitude using our universal degeneracy point approach. With this improvement, a set of universal quantum gates can be performed at high fidelity without losing too much quantum coherence. Starting in 2004, the use of circuit QED has enabled the manipulation of superconducting qubits with photons. We applied quantum optical approach to model coupled resonators and obtained a four-wave mixing toolbox to operate photons states. The model and toolbox are engineered with a superconducting quantum circuit where two superconducting resonators are coupled via the UQDP circuit. Using fourth order perturbation theory one can realize a complete set of quantum operations between these two photon modes. This helps open a new field to treat photon modes as qubits. Additional, a three-wave mixing scheme using phase qubits permits one to engineer the coupling Hamiltonian using a phase qubit as a tunable coupler. Along with Feynman's idea using quantum to simulate quantum, superconducting quantum simulators have been studied intensively recently. Taking the advantage of mesoscopic size of superconducting circuit and local tunability, we came out the idea to simulate quantum phase transition due to disorder. Our first paper was to propose a superconducting quantum simulator of Bose-Hubbard model to do site-wise manipulation and observe Mott-insulator to superfluid phase transition. The side-band cooling of an array of superconducting resonators is solved after the paper was published. In light of the developed technology in manipulating quantum information with superconducting circuit, one can couple other quantum oscillator system to superconducting resonators in order manipulation of its quantum states or parametric amplification of weak quantum signal. A theory that works for different coupling schemes has been studied in chapter 5. This will be a platform for further research.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of annealing process on Sr1-xLaxCuO2 electron-doped cuprate thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galdi, A.; Orgiani, P.; Sacco, C.; Gobaut, B.; Torelli, P.; Aruta, C.; Brookes, N. B.; Minola, M.; Harter, J. W.; Shen, K. M.; Schlom, D. G.; Maritato, L.

2018-03-01

The superconducting properties of Sr1-xLaxCuO2 thin films are strongly affected by sample preparation procedures, including the annealing step, which are not always well controlled. We have studied the evolution of Cu L2,3 and O K edge x-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of Sr1-xLaxCuO2 thin films as a function of reducing annealing, both qualitatively and quantitatively. By using linearly polarized radiation, we are able to identify the signatures of the presence of apical oxygen in the as-grown sample and its gradual removal as a function of duration of 350 °C Ar annealing performed on the same sample. Even though the as-grown sample appears to be hole doped, we cannot identify the signature of the Zhang-Rice singlet in the O K XAS, and it is extremely unlikely that the interstitial excess oxygen can give rise to a superconducting or even a metallic ground state. XAS and x-ray linear dichroism analyses are, therefore, shown to be valuable tools to improving the control over the annealing process of electron doped superconductors.

Hidden Order as a Source of Interface Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moor, Andreas; Volkov, Anatoly; Efetov, Konstantin

2015-03-01

We propose a new mechanism of the interfacial superconductivity observed in many heterostructures composed of different materials including high-temperature superconductors. Our proposal is based on the use of the Ginzburg-Landau equations applicable to a wide class of systems. The system under consideration is assumed to have, alongside the superconducting order parameter, also another competing order that might be a charge- or spin-density wave. At certain temperatures or doping level the superconducting state is not realized (thus, ``hidden''), while the amplitude of another order parameter corresponds to a minimum of the free energy. We also assume that at an interface or at a defect, the non-superconducting order parameter is suppressed (strongly or weakly), e.g., due to an enhanced impurity scattering. The local superconductivity is shown to emerge at the interface, and the spatial dependence of the corresponding order parameter is described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The quantized values of the temperature and doping levels, at which Δ (x) arises, are determined by the ``energy'' levels of the linearized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, i.e., of the Schrodinger equation. Interestingly, the local superconductivity arises even at a small suppression of the rival order. We appreciate the support from DFG via the Projekt EF 11/8-1; K. B. E. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation in the framework of Increase Competitiveness Program of NUST ``MISiS.''

EDITORIAL: The electromagnetic properties of iron-based superconductors The electromagnetic properties of iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prozorov, Ruslan; Gurevich, Alex; Luke, Graeme

2010-05-01

Iron-based superconductors, discovered just a few years ago, are members of a diverse family of pnictides and chalcogenides which may potentially contain hundreds of superconducting compounds. The unconventional, multiband superconductivity in these materials most likely emerges from the quintessential magnetic Fe ions. Along with many similarities to the high-Tc cuprates, the proximity of antiferromagnetism to superconductivity in these semi-metallic materials has attracted much attention. The massive effort aimed at understanding superconductivity in the high-Tc cuprates has stimulated the development of numerous state-of-the-art experimental techniques, improved crystal growth methods and a variety of new theoretical insights. These tools and models were already available and readily applied to the new iron-based superconductors for which lots of high quality new results are being reported literally every day. The current special section represents only a snapshot of these extensive studies performed in the second half of 2009, less than two years after the discovery of 26 K superconductivity in the LaFeAsO compound. The range of various experiments is impressive and this issue is mostly focused on the electromagnetic properties of these iron-based materials. The electromagnetic response is sensitive to the microscopic electronic behavior and therefore can be used to probe the mechanism of superconductivity. On the other hand, it is the electromagnetic response that determines many possible applications of these superconductors, particularly given their extremely high upper critical fields. At this point it is already quite clear that the iron-based superconductors cannot unambiguously fit into any known type of superconductor class and have been placed in one of their own. The metallic ground state of the parent compounds is different from the insulating state of the cuprates and generally exhibits a lower electromagnetic anisotropy. However, similar to the cuprates, a superconducting 'dome' is formed upon doping the parent compounds, which exhibits antiferromagnetic and structural transitions at temperatures well above the superconducting critical temperature. This special section touches on several key aspects of these new iron-based superconductors. These topics include materials synthesis and basic characterization, the role of impurities and pairing symmetry, and mapping of the superconducting phase diagram as a function of chemical doping and pressure. Studies of transport, magnetic and optical properties account for a substantial portion of this special section. Particular attention is devoted to the role of magnetic excitations and the issue of the possible coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity. Attempts to understand the nature of the superconducting pairing are discussed from several angles, including tunneling spectroscopy and the London penetration depth. The vortex state is probed by magnetization, transport and neutron scattering, while the irreversible state is probed by studies of magnetic and transport critical current density.

Rugged superconducting detector for monitoring infrared energy sources in harsh environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laviano, F.; Gerbaldo, R.; Ghigo, G.; Gozzelino, L.; Minetti, B.; Rovelli, A.; Mezzetti, E.

2010-12-01

Broadband electromagnetic characterization of hot plasmas, such as in nuclear fusion reactors and related experiments, requires detecting systems that must withstand high flux of particles and electromagnetic radiations. We propose a rugged layout of a high temperature superconducting detector aimed at 3 THz collective Thomson scattering (CTS) spectroscopy in hot fusion plasma. The YBa2Cu3O7 - x superconducting film is patterned by standard photolithography and the sensing area of the device is created by means of high-energy heavy ion irradiation, in order to modify the crystal structure both of the superconducting film and of the substrate. This method diminishes process costs and resulting device fragility due to membrane or air-bridge structures that are commonly needed for MIR and FIR radiation detection. Moreover the sensing area of the device is wired by the same superconducting material and thus excellent mechanical strength is exhibited by the whole device, due to the oxide substrate. Continuous wave operation of prototype devices is demonstrated at liquid nitrogen temperature, for selected infrared spectra of broadband thermal energy sources. Several solutions, which exploit the advantages coming from the robustness of this layout in terms of intrinsic radiation hardness of the superconducting material and of the needed optical components, are analysed with reference to applications of infrared electromagnetic detectors in a tokamak machine environment.

Development of high Tc (greater than 100 K) Bi, Tl and Y-based materials as superconducting circuit elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haertling, Gene; Grabert, Gregory; Gilmour, Phillip

1994-01-01

Experimental work on this project over the last four years has resulted in establishing processing and characterization techniques for producing both the Bi-based and Tl-based superconductors in their high temperature (2223) forms. In the bulk, dry pressed form, maximum critical temperatures (Tc) of 108.2 K and 117.8 K, respectively, were measured. Results have further shown that the Bi and Tl-based superconducting materials in bulk form are noticeably different from the Y-based 123 material in that superconductivity is considerably harder to achieve, maintain, and reproduce. This is due primarily to the difficulty in obtaining the higher Tc phase in pure form since it commonly co-exists with other undesirable, lower Tc phases. In particular, it has been found that long processing times for calcining and firing (20 - 200 hrs.) and close control of temperatures which are very near the melting point are required in order to obtain higher proportions of the desirable, high Tc (2223) phase. Thus far, the BSCCO bulk materials has been prepared in uniaxially pressed, hot pressed, and tapecast form. The uniaxially pressed material has been synthesized by the mixed oxide, coprecipitation, and melt quenching processes. The tapecast and hot pressed materials have been prepared via the mixed oxide process. In addition, thick films of BSCCO (2223 phase) have been prepared by screen printing on to yttria and magnesia stabilized zirconia with only moderate success; i.e., superconductivity was achieved in these thick films, but the highest Tc obtained in these films was 89.0 K. The Tc's of the bulk hot pressed, tapecast, and screen printed thick film materials were found to be 108.2, 102.4, and 89.0 K, respectively.

Tuning Superconductivity in FeSe Thin Films via Magnesium Doping.

PubMed

Qiu, Wenbin; Ma, Zongqing; Liu, Yongchang; Shahriar Al Hossain, Mohammed; Wang, Xiaolin; Cai, Chuanbing; Dou, Shi Xue

2016-03-01

In contrast to its bulk crystal, the FeSe thin film or layer exhibits better superconductivity performance, which recently attracted much interest in its fundamental research as well as in potential applications around the world. In the present work, tuning superconductivity in FeSe thin films was achieved by magnesium-doping technique. Tc is significantly enhanced from 10.7 K in pure FeSe films to 13.4 K in optimized Mg-doped ones, which is approximately 1.5 times higher than that of bulk crystals. This is the first time achieving the enhancement of superconducting transition temperature in FeSe thin films with practical thickness (120 nm) via a simple Mg-doping process. Moreover, these Mg-doped FeSe films are quite stable in atmosphere with Hc2 up to 32.7 T and Tc(zero) up to 12 K, respectively, implying their outstanding potential for practical applications in high magnetic fields. It was found that Mg enters the matrix of FeSe lattice, and does not react with FeSe forming any other secondary phase. Actually, Mg first occupies Fe-vacancies, and then substitutes for some Fe in the FeSe crystal lattices when Fe-vacancies are fully filled. Simultaneously, external Mg-doping introduces sufficient electron doping and induces the variation of electron carrier concentration according to Hall coefficient measurements. This is responsible for the evolution of superconducting performance in FeSe thin films. Our results provide a new strategy to improve the superconductivity of 11 type Fe-based superconductors and will help us to understand the intrinsic mechanism of this unconventional superconducting system.

Quantum interference in heterogeneous superconducting-photonic circuits on a silicon chip

PubMed Central

Schuck, C.; Guo, X.; Fan, L.; Ma, X.; Poot, M.; Tang, H. X.

2016-01-01

Quantum information processing holds great promise for communicating and computing data efficiently. However, scaling current photonic implementation approaches to larger system size remains an outstanding challenge for realizing disruptive quantum technology. Two main ingredients of quantum information processors are quantum interference and single-photon detectors. Here we develop a hybrid superconducting-photonic circuit system to show how these elements can be combined in a scalable fashion on a silicon chip. We demonstrate the suitability of this approach for integrated quantum optics by interfering and detecting photon pairs directly on the chip with waveguide-coupled single-photon detectors. Using a directional coupler implemented with silicon nitride nanophotonic waveguides, we observe 97% interference visibility when measuring photon statistics with two monolithically integrated superconducting single-photon detectors. The photonic circuit and detector fabrication processes are compatible with standard semiconductor thin-film technology, making it possible to implement more complex and larger scale quantum photonic circuits on silicon chips. PMID:26792424

Trapped magnetic field of a mini-bulk magnet using YBaCuO at 77 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Hiroyuki; Kamijo, Hiroki

2001-09-01

Melt-processed rare earth (RE)123 superconductors have a high Jc at 77 K and high magnetic field. Solidification processes for producing (L)RE123 superconductors and pinning centers in the (L)RE123 matrix are effective for obtaining high Jc, leading to high-field application as a superconducting quasi-permanent bulk magnet with the liquid nitrogen refrigeration. One of the promising applications is a superconducting magnet for the magnetically levitated train. We fabricated a mini-superconducting bulk magnet of 200×100 mm2, consisting of 18 bulks, which are a square 33 mm on a side and 10 mm in thickness, and magnetized the mini-magnet by field cooling. The mini-magnet showed the trapped magnetic field of larger than 0.1 T on the surface of the outer vessel of the magnet. The present preliminary study discusses trapped magnetic field properties of the mini-bulk magnet using YBaCuO superconductors at 77 K.

Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology. Part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1996-01-01

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review recent developments in sensors, controls, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices, the Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology was held at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza in Tallahassee, Florida on 13-15 Dec. 1995. The symposium included 19 sessions in which a total of 55 papers were presented. The technical sessions covered the areas of bearings, superconductivity, vibration isolation, maglev, controls, space applications, general applications, bearing/actuator design, modeling, precision applications, electromagnetic launch and hypersonic maglev, applications of superconductivity, and sensors.

Advanced Beamline Design for Fermilab's Advanced Superconducting Test Accelerator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prokop, Christopher

2014-01-01

The Advanced Superconducting Test Accelerator (ASTA) at Fermilab is a new electron accelerator currently in the commissioning stage. In addition to testing superconducting accelerating cavities for future accelerators, it is foreseen to support a variety of Advanced Accelerator R&D (AARD) experiments. Producing the required electron bunches with the expected flexibility is challenging. The goal of this dissertation is to explore via numerical simulations new accelerator beamlines that can enable the advanced manipulation of electron bunches. The work especially includes the design of a low-energy bunch compressor and a study of transverse-to-longitudinal phase space exchangers.

Superconducting properties of lithographic lead break junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, David; Scheer, Elke

2018-01-01

We have fabricated mechanically controlled break junction samples made of lead (Pb) by means of state-of-the-art nanofabrication methods: electron beam lithography and physical vapour deposition. The electrical and magnetic properties were characterized in a {}3{He} cryostat and showed a hard superconducting gap. Temperature and magnetic field dependence of tunnel contacts were compared and quantitatively described by including either thermal broadening of the density of states or pair breaking in the framework of a Skalski model, respectively. We show point contact spectra of few-atom contacts and present tunneling spectra exhibiting a superconducting double-gap structure.

Design, production and first commissioning results of the electrical feedboxes of the LHC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perin, A.; Atieh, S.; Benda, V.

2007-12-01

A total of 44 CERN designed cryogenic electrical feedboxes are needed to power the LHC superconducting magnets. The feedboxes include more than 1000 superconducting circuits fed by high temperature superconductor and conventional current leads ranging from 120 A to 13 kA. In addition to providing the electrical current to the superconducting circuits, they also ensure specific mechanical and cryogenic functions for the LHC. The paper focuses on the main design aspects and related production operations and gives an overview of specific technologies employed. Results of the commissioning of the feedboxes of the first LHC sectors are presented.

Hole superconductivity in a generalized two-band model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hong, X.Q.; Hirsch, J.E.

1992-06-01

We study superconductivity in a two-band model that generalizes the model introduced by Suhl, Matthias, and Walker: All possible interaction terms coupling both bands are included. The pairing interaction is assumed to originate in the momentum dependence of the intraband interactions that arises in the model of hole superconductivity. The model generically displays a single critical temperature and two gaps, with the larger gap associated with the band with strongest holelike character to the carriers. The dependence of the critical temperature and of the magnitudes of the gaps on the various parameters in the Hamiltonian is studied.

Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1996-01-01

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review recent developments in sensors, controls, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices, the Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology was held at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza in Tallahassee, Florida on 13-15 Dec. 1995. The symposium included 19 sessions in which a total of 55 papers were presented. The technical sessions covered the areas of bearings, superconductivity, vibration isolation, maglev, controls, space applications, general applications, bearing/actuator design, modeling, precision applications, electromagnetic launch and hypersonic maglev, applications of superconductivity, and sensors.

Design and comparative analysis of 10 MW class superconducting wind power generators according to different types of superconducting wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Hae-Jin; Kim, Gyeong-Hun; Kim, Kwangmin; Park, Minwon; Yu, In-Keun; Kim, Jong-Yul

2013-11-01

Wind turbine concepts can be classified into the geared type and the gearless type. The gearless type wind turbine is more attractive due to advantages of simplified drive train and increased energy yield, and higher reliability because the gearbox is omitted. In addition, this type resolves the weight issue of the wind turbine with the light weight of gearbox. However, because of the low speed operation, this type has disadvantage such as the large diameter and heavy weight of generator. Super-Conducting (SC) wind power generator can reduce the weight and volume of a wind power system. Properties of superconducting wire are very different from each company. This paper considers the design and comparative analysis of 10 MW class SC wind power generators according to different types of SC wires. Super-Conducting Synchronous Generators (SCSGs) using YBCO and Bi-2223 wires are optimized by an optimal method. The magnetic characteristics of the SCSGs are investigated using the finite elements method program. The optimized specifications of the SCSGs are discussed in detail, and the optimization processes can be used effectively to develop large scale wind power generation systems.

Fe-vacancy and superconductivity in FeSe-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C. H.; Chen, T. K.; Chang, C. C.; Lee, Y. C.; Wang, M. J.; Huang, K. C.; Wu, P. M.; Wu, M. K.

2018-06-01

This review summarizes recent advancements in FeSe and related systems. The FeSe and related superconductors are currently receiving considerable attention for the high Tcs observed and for many similar features to the high Tc cuprate superconductors. These similarities suggest that understanding the FeSe based compounds could potentially help our understanding of the cuprates. We shall first review the common features observed in the FeSe-based system. It was found that with a careful control of material synthesizing processes, numerous rich phases have been observed in the FeSe-based system. Detailed studies show that the Fe-vacancy ordered phases found in the FeSe based compounds, which are non-superconducting Mott insulators, are the parent compounds of the superconductors. Superconductivity emerges from the parent phases by disordering the Fe vacancy order, often by a simple annealing treatment. Recent high temperature X-ray diffraction experiments show that the degree of structural distortion associated with the disorder of Fe-vacancy is closely related to volume fraction of the superconductivity observed. These results suggest the strong lattice to spin coupling are important for the occurrence of superconductivity in FeSe based superconductors.

Qubit lattice coherence induced by electromagnetic pulses in superconducting metamaterials.

PubMed

Ivić, Z; Lazarides, N; Tsironis, G P

2016-07-12

Quantum bits (qubits) are at the heart of quantum information processing schemes. Currently, solid-state qubits, and in particular the superconducting ones, seem to satisfy the requirements for being the building blocks of viable quantum computers, since they exhibit relatively long coherence times, extremely low dissipation, and scalability. The possibility of achieving quantum coherence in macroscopic circuits comprising Josephson junctions, envisioned by Legett in the 1980's, was demonstrated for the first time in a charge qubit; since then, the exploitation of macroscopic quantum effects in low-capacitance Josephson junction circuits allowed for the realization of several kinds of superconducting qubits. Furthermore, coupling between qubits has been successfully achieved that was followed by the construction of multiple-qubit logic gates and the implementation of several algorithms. Here it is demonstrated that induced qubit lattice coherence as well as two remarkable quantum coherent optical phenomena, i.e., self-induced transparency and Dicke-type superradiance, may occur during light-pulse propagation in quantum metamaterials comprising superconducting charge qubits. The generated qubit lattice pulse forms a compound "quantum breather" that propagates in synchrony with the electromagnetic pulse. The experimental confirmation of such effects in superconducting quantum metamaterials may open a new pathway to potentially powerful quantum computing.

Top gating control of superconductivity at the LaAlO3 /SrTiO3 interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jouan, Alexis; Hurand, Simon; Feuillet-Palma, Cheryl; Singh, Gyanendra; Lesueur, Jerome; Bergeal, Nicolas; Lesne, Edouard; Reyren, Nicolas

2015-03-01

Transition metal oxides display a great variety of quantum electronic behaviors. Epitaxial interfaces involving such materials give a unique opportunity to engineer artificial materials where new electronic orders take place. It has been shown that a superconducting two-dimensional electron gas could form at the interface of two insulators such as LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 [1], or LaTiO3 and SrTiO3 [2]. An important feature of these interfaces lies in the possibility to control their electronic properties, including superconductivity and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) with field effect [3-5]. However, experiments have been performed almost exclusively with a metallic gate on the back of the sample. In this presentation, we will report on the realization of a top-gated LaAlO3/SrTiO3 device whose physical properties, including superconductivity and SOC, can be tuned over a wide range of electrostatic doping. In particular, we will present a phase diagram of the interface and compare the effect of the top-gate and back-gate. Finally, we will discuss the field-effect modulation of the Rashba spin-splitting energy extracted from the analysis of magneto-transport measurements. Our result paves the way for the realization of mesoscopic devices where both superconductivity and SOC can be tuned locally.

Phase Sensitive Measurements of Ferromagnetic Josephson Junctions for Cryogenic Memory Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niedzielski, Bethany Maria

A Josephson junction is made up of two superconducting layers separated by a barrier. The original Josephson junctions, studied in the early 1960's, contained an insulating barrier. Soon thereafter, junctions with normal-metal barriers were also studied. Ferromagnetic materials were not even theoretically considered as a barrier layer until around 1980, due to the competing order between ferromagnetic and superconducting systems. However, many exciting physical phenomena arise in hybrid superconductor/ferromagnetic devices, including devices where the ground state phase difference between the two superconductors is shifted by pi. Since their experimental debut in 2001, so-called pi junctions have been demonstrated by many groups, including my own, in systems with a single ferromagnetic layer. In this type of system, the phase of the junction can be set to either 0 or pi depending on the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer. Of interest, however, is the ability to control the phase of a single junction between the 0 and pi states. This was theoretically shown to be possible in a system containing two ferromagnetic layers (spin-valve junctions). If the materials and their thicknesses are properly chosen to manipulate the electron pair correlation function, then the phase state of a spin-valve Josephson junction should be capable of switching between the 0 and ? phase states when the magnetization directions of the two ferromagnetic layers are oriented in the antiparallel and parallel configurations, respectively. Such a phase-controllable junction would have immediate applications in cryogenic memory, which is a necessary component to an ultra-low power superconducting computer. A fully superconducting computer is estimated to be orders of magnitude more energy-efficient than current semiconductor-based supercomputers. The goal of this work was to experimentally verify this prediction for a phase-controllable ferromagnetic Josephson junction. To address this complicated system, first, studies of junctions with only a single ferromagnetic junction were required to determine the 0-pi transition thickness of that material, the decay of the critical current through the junction with thickness, and the switching field of the material. The materials studied included NiFeMo, NiFe, Ni, and NiFeCo. Additionally, roughness studies of several different superconducting base electrodes and normal metal buffer and spacer layers were performed to determine the optimum junction layers. The ferromagnetic layers used were on the order of 1-2 nm thick, so a smooth growth template is imperative to maintain continuous films with in-plane magnetizations. Lastly, single junction spin-valve samples were studied. We are not equipped to measure the phase of a single junction, but series of samples where one ferromagnetic layer is systematically varied in thickness can inform the proper thicknesses needed for 0-pi switching based on relative critical current values between the parallel and antiparallel magnetic configurations. Utilizing this background information, two spin-valve samples were incorporated in a superconducting loop so that the relative phase of the two junctions could be investigated. Through this process, the first phase-controllable ferromagnetic Josephson junctions were experimentally demonstrated using phase-sensitive measurement techniques. This provided the proof of concept for the Josephson Magnetic Random Access Memory (JMRAM), a superconducting memory system in development at Northrop Grumman, with whom we collaborate on this work. Phase-controllable systems were successfully demonstrated using two different magnetic material stacks and verified with several analysis techniques.

Simple All-Microwave Entangling Gate for Fixed-Frequency Superconducting Qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chow, Jerry M.; Córcoles, A. D.; Gambetta, Jay M.; Rigetti, Chad; Johnson, B. R.; Smolin, John A.; Rozen, J. R.; Keefe, George A.; Rothwell, Mary B.; Ketchen, Mark B.; Steffen, M.

2011-08-01

We demonstrate an all-microwave two-qubit gate on superconducting qubits which are fixed in frequency at optimal bias points. The gate requires no additional subcircuitry and is tunable via the amplitude of microwave irradiation on one qubit at the transition frequency of the other. We use the gate to generate entangled states with a maximal extracted concurrence of 0.88, and quantum process tomography reveals a gate fidelity of 81%.

High Temperature Semiconductor Process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

A sputtering deposition system capable of depositing large areas of high temperature superconducting materials was developed by CVC Products, Inc. with the support of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) program. The system was devleoped for NASA to produce high quality films of high temperature superconducting material for microwave communication system components. The system is also being used to deposit ferroelectric material for capacitors and the development of new electro-optical materials.2002103899

Technology 2000, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Technology 2000 was the first major industrial conference and exposition spotlighting NASA technology and technology transfer. It's purpose was, and continues to be, to increase awareness of existing NASA-developed technologies that are available for immediate use in the development of new products and processes, and to lay the groundwork for the effective utilization of emerging technologies. Included are sessions on: computer technology and software engineering; human factors engineering and life sciences; materials science; sensors and measurement technology; artificial intelligence; environmental technology; optics and communications; and superconductivity.

Army Science Conference Proceedings (16th) Held in Fort Monroe, Virginia on 25-27 October 1988. Addenda

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-10-27

spectrum for the superconducting state is made complex by the appearence of the Holstein absorption process[5-81. The coupling between electrons and...Nudelman, (New York: Plenum Press, 1970), p. 223. 5. T. Holstein , Phys. Rev. 96, 535 (1954). 6. R. R. Joyce and P. L. Richards, Phys. Rev. Lett. 24...Transgenic animals include cows , which can produce the drug Factor IX for hemophilia in their milk, and chickens which can be made resistant to infection by

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC): The Energy Frontier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brianti, Giorgio; Jenni, Peter

The following sections are included: * Introduction * Superconducting Magnets: Powerful, Precise, Plentiful * LHC Cryogenics: Quantum Fluids at Work * Current Leads: High Temperature Superconductors to the Fore * A Pumping Vacuum Chamber: Ultimate Simplicity * Vertex Detectors at LHC: In Search of Beauty * Large Silicon Trackers: Fast, Precise, Efficient * Two Approaches to High Resolution Electromagnetic Calorimetry * Multigap Resistive Plate Chamber: Chronometry of Particles * The LHCb RICH: The Lord of the Cherenkov Rings * Signal Processing: Taming the LHC Data Avalanche * Giant Magnets for Giant Detectors

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. (Latest citations from the Compendex database). Published Search

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-02-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

AB-204B and A-106 helicopters and a bit about superconducting R and D in Italy. [Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martin, F.P.

1969-08-01

This report describes the AB-204B ASW helicopter now in service with the Italian navy and the Agusta developed A-106 light helicopter. A short report on high energy physics research devices and superconducting magnet construction at the Italian Nuclear Energy Laboratories is also included.

The strength of electron electron correlation in Cs3C60

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldassarre, L.; Perucchi, A.; Mitrano, M.; Nicoletti, D.; Marini, C.; Pontiroli, D.; Mazzani, M.; Aramini, M.; Riccó, M.; Giovannetti, G.; Capone, M.; Lupi, S.

2015-10-01

Cs3C60 is an antiferromagnetic insulator that under pressure (P) becomes metallic and superconducting below Tc = 38 K. The superconducting dome present in the T - P phase diagram close to a magnetic state reminds what found in superconducting cuprates and pnictides, strongly suggesting that superconductivity is not of the conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) type We investigate the insulator to metal transition induced by pressure in Cs3C60 by means of infrared spectroscopy supplemented by Dynamical Mean-Field Theory calculations. The insulating compound is driven towards a metallic-like behaviour, while strong correlations survive in the investigated pressure range. The metallization process is accompanied by an enhancement of the Jahn-Teller effect. This shows that electronic correlations are crucial in determining the insulating behaviour at ambient pressure and the bad metallic nature for increasing pressure. On the other hand, the relevance of the Jahn-Teller coupling in the metallic state confirms that phonon coupling survives in the presence of strong correlations.

Spectroscopic signatures of different symmetries of the superconducting order parameter in metal-decorated graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saari, Timo; Nieminen, Jouko; Bansil, Arun

2017-06-01

Motivated by the recent experiments indicating superconductivity in metal-decorated graphene sheets, we investigate their quasi-particle structure within the framework of an effective tight-binding Hamiltonian augmented by appropriate BCS-like pairing terms for p-type order parameter. The normal state band structure of graphene is modified not only through interaction with adsorbed metal atoms, but also due to the folding of bands at Brillouin zone boundaries resulting from a \\sqrt{3}× \\sqrt{3}R{{30}\\circ} reconstruction. Several different types of pairing symmetries are analyzed utilizing Nambu-Gorkov Green’s function techniques to show that p+\\text{i}p -symmetric nearest-neighbor pairing yields the most enhanced superconducting gap. The character of the order parameter depends on the nature of the atomic orbitals involved in the pairing process and exhibits interesting angular and radial asymmetries. Finally, we suggest a method to distinguish between singlet and triplet type superconductivity in the presence of magnetic substitutional impurities using scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

Unsteady heat dissipation in accelerator superconducting coils insulated with porous ceramic insulation in normal and supercritical helium conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pietrowicz, S.; Four, A.; Baudouy, B.

To investigate the unsteady heat dissipation in accelerator superconducting coils insulated with porous ceramic insulation, two experimental mock-ups reproducing the thermal and the mechanical conditions of a superconducting coils were produced. The mock-ups with compressive load of 10 MPa and 20 MPa were tested at normal (T = 4.23 K and p = 1 bar) and supercritical helium conditions (T = 4.23 K and p = 2.0 to 3.75 bar) during unsteady heat dissipation. The paper presents the experimental results of temperature rise in both superconducting coils as a function of time for a wide range of a localized heatmore » load varying from 0.1 kJ/m{sup 3} up to 12.8 MJ m{sup −3} per pulse. A numerical model of the transient process in these coils has been developed and the computations are compared with the experimental results.« less

RF Conditioning and Testing of Fundamental Power Couplers for SNS Superconducting Cavity Production

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

M. Stirbet; G.K. Davis; M. A. Drury

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) makes use of 33 medium beta (0.61) and 48 high beta (0.81) superconducting cavities. Each cavity is equipped with a fundamental power coupler, which should withstand the full klystron power of 550 kW in full reflection for the duration of an RF pulse of 1.3 msec at 60 Hz repetition rate. Before assembly to a superconducting cavity, the vacuum components of the coupler are submitted to acceptance procedures consisting of preliminary quality assessments, cleaning and clean room assembly, vacuum leak checks and baking under vacuum, followed by conditioning and RF high power testing. Similar acceptancemore » procedures (except clean room assembly and baking) were applied for the airside components of the coupler. All 81 fundamental power couplers for SNS superconducting cavity production have been RF power tested at JLAB Newport News and, beginning in April 2004 at SNS Oak Ridge. This paper gives details of coupler processing and RF high power-assessed performances.« less

Fabrication of Circuit QED Quantum Processors, Part 1: Extensible Footprint for a Superconducting Surface Code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruno, A.; Michalak, D. J.; Poletto, S.; Clarke, J. S.; Dicarlo, L.

Large-scale quantum computation hinges on the ability to preserve and process quantum information with higher fidelity by increasing redundancy in a quantum error correction code. We present the realization of a scalable footprint for superconducting surface code based on planar circuit QED. We developed a tileable unit cell for surface code with all I/O routed vertically by means of superconducting through-silicon vias (TSVs). We address some of the challenges encountered during the fabrication and assembly of these chips, such as the quality of etch of the TSV, the uniformity of the ALD TiN coating conformal to the TSV, and the reliability of superconducting indium contact between the chips and PCB. We compare measured performance to a detailed list of specifications required for the realization of quantum fault tolerance. Our demonstration using centimeter-scale chips can accommodate the 50 qubits needed to target the experimental demonstration of small-distance logical qubits. Research funded by Intel Corporation and IARPA.

Muon-spin-rotation study of the superconducting properties of Mo3Sb7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, V. H.; Hillier, A. D.; Adroja, D. T.; Bukowski, Z.

2008-11-01

We present the microscopic properties of superconducting state in Mo3Sb7 (Tc=2.2K) using muon-spin rotation measurements. The zero-field-cooled and field-cooled (FC) data with an applied transverse field of 40 mT reveal an irreversibility in the muon relaxation rates and precessional frequencies below 2 K. We have also found an anomaly around 0.5 K, which may be related to a process of the vortex melting or some change in vortex-lattice symmetry. The temperature dependence of FC muon relaxation rate can be analyzed using a phenomenological double-gap s -wave model. The observation of a nonlinear field dependence of the muon relaxation rate is consistent with the occurrence of two superconducting gaps. Moreover, the magnetic penetration depth λ , coherence length ξ , superconducting carrier density ns , and effective-mass enhancement m∗ have been found to be λ≈665nm , ξ≈12.5nm , ns≈1.2×1027carriers/m3 , and m∗≈18.7me , respectively.

Neutron detection using the superconducting Nb-based current-biased kinetic inductance detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shishido, Hiroaki; Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki; Miki, Yuya; Miyajima, Shigeyuki; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Hidaka, Mutsuo; Oku, Takayuki; Arai, Masatoshi; Fujimaki, Akira; Ishida, Takekazu

2017-09-01

We demonstrate neutron detection using a solid-state 3He-free superconducting current-biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID), which consists of a superconducting Nb meander line and 10B neutron absorption layer. The CB-KID is based on the transient process of kinetic inductance of Cooper pairs induced by the nuclear reaction between 10B and neutrons. Therefore, the CB-KID can be operated in a wide superconducting region in the bias current-temperature diagram, as demonstrated in this paper. The transient change of the kinetic inductance induces the electromagnetic wave pulse under a DC bias current. The signal propagates along the meander line toward both sides with opposite polarity, where the signal polarity is dominated by the bias current direction. The full width at half maximum of the signals remains on the order of a few tens of ns, which confirms the high-speed operation of our detectors. We determine the neutron incident position within 1.3 mm accuracy in one dimension using the multichannel CB-KIDs.

Casting of superconducting composite materials (M-4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Togano, Kazumasa

1993-01-01

An aluminum-lead-bismuth alloy is a flexible alloy and is promising for easily workable embedded-type, filament-dispersed superconducting wire material. It is difficult to produce homogeneous ingots of this material because it is easily separated into elements when melted on Earth due to the large specific gravity differences. In this experiment, a homogeneous alloy will first be produced in molten state in microgravity. It will then be returned to Earth and processed into a wire or tape form. It will then be dispersed as the second phase in micro texture form into the primary phase of aluminum. Superconducting wire material with high-critical-magnetic-field characteristics will be produced. The texture of the material will be observed, and its performance will be evaluated. In addition to the above alloy, a four-element alloy will be produced from silver, a rare Earth element, barium, and copper. The alloys will be oxidized and drawn into wire after being returned to Earth. The materials are expected to be forerunners in obtaining superconducting wire materials from oxide superconductors.

Advances in cryogenic engineering. Vols. 35A & 35B - Proceedings of the 1989 Cryogenic Engineering Conference, University of California, Los Angeles, July 24-28, 1989

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fast, R. W.

The book presents a review of literature on superfluid helium, together with papers under the topics on heat and mass transfer in He II; applications of He II for cooling superconducting devices in space; heat transfer to liquid helium and liquid nitrogen; multilayer insulation; applications of superconductivity, including topics on magnets and other devices, magnet stability and coil protection, and cryogenic techniques; and refrigeration for electronics. Other topics discussed include refrigeration of superconducting systems; the expanders, cold compressors, and pumps for liquid helium; dilution refrigerators; magnetic refrigerators; pulse tube refrigerators; cryocoolers for space applications; properties of cryogenic fluids; cryogenic instrumentation; hyperconducting devices (cryogenic magnets); cryogenic applications in space science and technology and in transportation; and miscellaneous cryogenic techniques and applications.

Chemical Technology Division annual technical report, 1990

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1991-05-01

Highlights of the Chemical Technology (CMT) Division's activities during 1990 are presented. In this period, CMT conducted research and development in the following areas: (1) electrochemical technology, including advanced batteries and fuel cells; (2) technology for coal- fired magnetohydrodynamics and fluidized-bed combustion; (3) methods for recovery of energy from municipal waste and techniques for treatment of hazardous organic waste; (4) the reaction of nuclear waste glass and spent fuel under conditions expected for a high-level waste repository; (5) processes for separating and recovering transuranic elements from nuclear waste streams, concentrating plutonium solids in pyrochemical residues by aqueous biphase extraction, andmore » treating natural and process waters contaminated by volatile organic compounds; (6) recovery processes for discharged fuel and the uranium blanket in the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR); (7) processes for removal of actinides in spent fuel from commercial water-cooled nuclear reactors and burnup in IFRs; and (8) physical chemistry of selected materials in environments simulating those of fission and fusion energy systems. The Division also has a program in basic chemistry research in the areas of fluid catalysis for converting small molecules to desired products; materials chemistry for superconducting oxides and associated and ordered solutions at high temperatures; interfacial processes of importance to corrosion science, high-temperature superconductivity, and catalysis; and the geochemical processes responsible for trace-element migration within the earth's crust. The Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in CMT provides a broad range of analytical chemistry support services to the scientific and engineering programs at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). 66 refs., 69 figs., 6 tabs.« less

Numerical modelling of iron-pnictide bulk superconductor magnetization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ainslie, Mark D.; Yamamoto, Akiyasu; Fujishiro, Hiroyuki; Weiss, Jeremy D.; Hellstrom, Eric E.

2017-10-01

Iron-based superconductors exhibit a number of properties attractive for applications, including low anisotropy, high upper critical magnetic fields (H c2) in excess of 90 T and intrinsic critical current densities above 1 MA cm-2 (0 T, 4.2 K). It was shown recently that bulk iron-pnictide superconducting magnets capable of trapping over 1 T (5 K) and 0.5 T (20 K) can be fabricated with fine-grain polycrystalline Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 (Ba122). These Ba122 magnets were processed by a scalable, versatile and low-cost method using common industrial ceramic processing techniques. In this paper, a standard numerical modelling technique, based on a 2D axisymmetric finite-element model implementing the H -formulation, is used to investigate the magnetisation properties of such iron-pnictide bulk superconductors. Using the measured J c(B, T) characteristics of a small specimen taken from a bulk Ba122 sample, experimentally measured trapped fields are reproduced well for a single bulk, as well as a stack of bulks. Additionally, the influence of the geometric dimensions (thickness and diameter) on the trapped field is analysed, with a view of fabricating larger samples to increase the magnetic field available from such trapped field magnets. It is shown that, with current state-of-the-art superconducting properties, surface trapped fields >2 T could readily be achieved at 5 K (and >1 T at 20 K) with a sample of diameter 50 mm. Finally, an aspect ratio of between 1 and 1.5 for R/H (radius/thickness) would be an appropriate compromise between the accessible, surface trapped field and volume of superconducting material for bulk Ba122 magnets.

Gate tunable parallel double quantum dots in InAs double-nanowire devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baba, S.; Matsuo, S.; Kamata, H.; Deacon, R. S.; Oiwa, A.; Li, K.; Jeppesen, S.; Samuelson, L.; Xu, H. Q.; Tarucha, S.

2017-12-01

We report fabrication and characterization of InAs nanowire devices with two closely placed parallel nanowires. The fabrication process we develop includes selective deposition of the nanowires with micron scale alignment onto predefined finger bottom gates using a polymer transfer technique. By tuning the double nanowire with the finger bottom gates, we observed the formation of parallel double quantum dots with one quantum dot in each nanowire bound by the normal metal contact edges. We report the gate tunability of the charge states in individual dots as well as the inter-dot electrostatic coupling. In addition, we fabricate a device with separate normal metal contacts and a common superconducting contact to the two parallel wires and confirm the dot formation in each wire from comparison of the transport properties and a superconducting proximity gap feature for the respective wires. With the fabrication techniques established in this study, devices can be realized for more advanced experiments on Cooper-pair splitting, generation of Parafermions, and so on.

High Luminosity LHC: challenges and plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arduini, G.; Barranco, J.; Bertarelli, A.; Biancacci, N.; Bruce, R.; Brüning, O.; Buffat, X.; Cai, Y.; Carver, L. R.; Fartoukh, S.; Giovannozzi, M.; Iadarola, G.; Li, K.; Lechner, A.; Medina Medrano, L.; Métral, E.; Nosochkov, Y.; Papaphilippou, Y.; Pellegrini, D.; Pieloni, T.; Qiang, J.; Redaelli, S.; Romano, A.; Rossi, L.; Rumolo, G.; Salvant, B.; Schenk, M.; Tambasco, C.; Tomás, R.; Valishev, S.; Van der Veken, F. F.

2016-12-01

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is one of the largest scientific instruments ever built. Since opening up a new energy frontier for exploration in 2010, it has gathered a global user community working in fundamental particle physics and the physics of hadronic matter at extreme temperature and density. To sustain and extend its discovery potential, the LHC will undergo a major upgrade in the 2020s. This will increase its rate of collisions by a factor of five beyond the original design value and the integrated luminosity by a factor ten. The new configuration, known as High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), will rely on a number of key innovations that push accelerator technology beyond its present limits. Among these are cutting-edge 11-12 T superconducting magnets, including Nb3Sn-based magnets never used in accelerators before, compact superconducting cavities for longitudinal beam rotation, new technology and physical processes for beam collimation. The dynamics of the HL-LHC beams will be also particularly challenging and this aspect is the main focus of this paper.

Coherence properties of the 0-π qubit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Groszkowski, Peter; Di Paolo, A.; Grimsmo, A. L.; Blais, A.; Schuster, D. I.; Houck, A. A.; Koch, Jens

2018-04-01

Superconducting circuits rank among some of the most interesting architectures for the implementation of quantum information processing devices. The recently proposed 0-π qubit (Brooks et al 2013 Phys. Rev. A 87 52306) promises increased protection from spontaneous relaxation and dephasing. In this paper we present a detailed theoretical study of the coherence properties of the 0-π device, investigate relevant decoherence channels, and show estimates for achievable coherence times in multiple parameter regimes. In our analysis, we include disorder in circuit parameters, which results in the coupling of the qubit to a low-energy, spurious harmonic mode. We analyze the effects of such coupling on decoherence, in particular dephasing due to photon shot noise, and outline how such a noise channel can be mitigated by appropriate parameter choices. In the end we find that the 0-π qubit performs well and may become an attractive candidate for the implementation of the next-generation superconducting devices for uses in quantum computing and information.

Influence of lateral displacement on the levitation performance of a magnetized bulk high-Tc superconductor magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, W.; Wang, J. S.; Ma, G. T.; Zheng, J.; Tuo, X. G.; Li, L. L.; Ye, C. Q.; Liao, X. L.; Wang, S. Y.

2012-03-01

Compared with the permanent magnet, the magnetized bulk high-Tc superconductor magnet (MBSCM) can trap higher magnetic field due to its strong flux pinning ability, so it is a good candidate to improve the levitation performance of high-Tc superconductive (HTS) maglev system. The trapped magnetic flux of a MBSCM is sustained by the inductive superconducting current produced by the magnetizing process and is susceptible to the current intensity as well as configuration. In the HTS maglev system, the lateral displacement is an important process to change the superconducting current within a MBSCM and then affects its levitation performance, which is essential for the traffic ability in curve-way, the loading capacity of lateral impact and so on. The research about influence of lateral displacement on the levitation performance of MBSCM is necessary when MBSCM is applied on the HTS maglev vehicle. The experimental investigations about the influence of lateral displacement on the levitation performance of a MBSCM with different trapped fluxes and applied fields are processed in this article. The analyses and conclusions of this article are useful for the practical application of MBSCM in HTS maglev system.

Effect of oxygen partial pressure on superconducting properties of Bi-2212/Ag tapes prepared by doctor-blade method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Inoue, N.; Okada, M.; Higashiyama, K.

1997-06-01

The authors have investigated the relationship between oxygen partial pressure (P{sub O{sub 2}}) during the partial-melting process and superconducting properties for doctor-blade processed Bi-2212/Ag tapes. Tapes were heat-treated at various P{sub O{sub 2}} value of 0.01-1.00 atm. The DTA results for the doctor-blade tapes showed the melting point of the oxide rose with increasing P{sub O{sub 2}}. Correspondingly, the optimum heat-treatment temperature also increased with increasing P{sub O{sub 2}}. The tapes at P{sub O{sub 2}}=1.00 atm had the highest J{sub c} values of over 10{sup 5} A/cm{sup 2} at conditions of 4.2K, 10T, and their a.c. susceptibility showed a sharpmore » transition indicating improved intergrain coupling. Examination of cross sections for tapes melted above 0.20atm PO{sub 2} showed the good crystal alignment. From these results, it was concluded that processing at high PO{sub 2} was an effective method to obtain good superconducting properties for doctor-blade tapes.« less

Synthesis and characterization of YBaCu2O5-δ compound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehsandoust, A.; Sandoghchi, M.; Mokhtari, P.; Akhavan, M.

2018-05-01

YBaCu2O5 compound as one of the possible microstructures of Y3Ba5Cu8O19 has been synthesized. The X-ray diffraction analysis of this compound indicates that its formation is accompanied with the formation of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. The observed superconductivity around ∼92 K supports this. So, it seems that YBa2Cu3O7-δ is responsible for the observed superconductivity in YBaCu2O5, and this phase is not an independent superconducting phase. Consequently, the overall effect of the YBaCu2O5 formation during the Y3Ba5Cu8O19 fabrication process could be a reduction in Tc.

Tunneling study of cavity grade Nb : possible magnetic scattering at the surface.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prolier, T.; Zasadzinski, J. F.; Cooley, L.

Tunneling spectroscopy was performed on Nb pieces prepared by the same processes used to etch and clean superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities. Air exposed, electropolished Nb exhibited a surface superconducting gap {Delta} = 1.55 meV, which is characteristic of a clean, bulk Nb. However, the tunneling density of states (DOS) was significantly broadened. The Nb pieces, which were treated with the same mild baking used to improve the Q slope in SRF cavities, reveal a sharper DOS. Good fits to the DOS were obtained by using the Shiba theory, suggesting that magnetic scattering of quasiparticles is the origin of themore » gapless surface superconductivity and a heretofore unrecognized contributor to the Q-slope problem of Nb SRF cavities.« less

Development of high Tc (greater than 100 K) Bi, Tl and Y-based materials as superconducting circuit elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haertling, Gene; Grabert, Gregory; Gilmour, Phillip

1993-01-01

Results on this project over the past three years have shown that the Bi and Tl-based superconducting materials in bulk form are noticeably different from the Y-based 123 material in that superconductivity is considerably harder to achieve, maintain and reproduce. This is due primarily to the difficulty in obtaining the higher Tc phase in pure form since it commonly co-exists with other undesirable, lower Tc phases. In particular, it has been found that long processing times for calcining and firing (20 - 200 hrs.) and close control of temperatures which are very near the melting point are required in order to obtain higher proportions of the desirable, high Tc (2223) phase.

Recent progress towards developing a high field, high-T(sub c) superconducting magnet for magnetic suspension and balance systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Derochemont, L. Pierre; Oakes, Carlton E.; Squillante, Michael R.; Duan, Hong-Min; Hermann, Allen M.; Andrews, Robert J.; Poeppel, Roger B.; Maroni, Victor A.; Carlberg, Ingrid A.; Kelliher, Warren C.

1992-01-01

This paper reviews superconducting magnets and high T(sub c) superconducting oxide ceramic materials technology to identify areas of fundamental impasse to the fabrication of components and devices that tap what are believed to be the true potential of these new materials. High T(sub c) ceramics pose problems in fundamentally different areas which need to be solved unlike low T(sub c) materials. The authors map out an experimental plan designed to research process technologies which, if suitably implemented, should allow these deficiencies to be solved. Finally, assessments are made of where and on what regimes magnetic system designers should focus their attention to advance the practical development of systems based on these new materials.

Fabrication and Performance of Large Format Transition Edge Sensor Microcalorimeter Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, James A.; Adams, James S.; Bandler, Simon R.; Busch, Sara E.; Eckart, M. E.; Ewin, A. E.; Finkbeiner, F. M.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Kelley, R. L.; Porst, Jan-Patrick;

Superconductivity induced by flexural modes in non-σh-symmetric Dirac-like two-dimensional materials: A theoretical study for silicene and germanene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fischetti, Massimo V.; Polley, Arup

2018-04-01

In two-dimensional crystals that lack symmetry under reflections on the horizontal plane of the lattice (non-σh-symmetric), electrons can couple to flexural modes (ZA phonons) at first order. We show that in materials of this type that also exhibit a Dirac-like electron dispersion, the strong coupling can result in electron pairing mediated by these phonons, as long as the flexural modes are not damped or suppressed by additional interactions with a supporting substrate or gate insulator. We consider several models: The weak-coupling limit, which is applicable only in the case of gapped and parabolic materials, like stanene and HfSe2, thanks to the weak coupling; the full gap-equation, solved using the constant-gap approximation and considering statically screened interactions; its extensions to energy-dependent gap and to dynamic screening. We argue that in the case of silicene and germanene superconductivity mediated by this process can exhibit a critical temperature of a few degrees K, or even a few tens of degrees K when accounting for the effect of a high-dielectric-constant environment. We conclude that the electron/flexural-modes coupling should be included in studies of possible superconductivity in non-σh-symmetric two-dimensional crystals, even if alternative forms of coupling are considered.

Switching dynamics of the spin density wave in superconducting CeCoIn 5

DOE PAGES

Kim, Duk Y.; Lin, Shi-Zeng; Bauer, Eric D.; ...

2017-06-21

The ordering wave vector Q of a spin density wave (SDW), stabilized within the superconducting state of CeCoIn 5 in a high magnetic field, has been shown to be hypersensitive to the direction of the field. Q can be switched from a nodal direction of the d-wave superconducting order parameter to a perpendicular node by rotating the in-plane magnetic field through the antinodal direction within a fraction of a degree. In this paper, we address the dynamics of the switching of Q. We use a free-energy functional based on the magnetization density, which describes the condensation of magnetic fluctuations ofmore » nodal quasiparticles, and show that the switching process includes closing of the SDW gap at one Q and then reopening the SDW gap at another Q perpendicular to the first one. The magnetic field couples to Q through the spin-orbit interaction. Our calculations show that the width of the hysteretic region of switching depends linearly on the deviation of magnetic field from the critical field associated with the SDW transition, consistent with our thermal conductivity measurements. Finally, the agreement between theory and experiment supports our scenario of the hypersensitivity of the Q phase on the direction of magnetic field, as well as the magnon condensation as the origin of the SDW phase in CeCoIn 5.« less

The NASA-Lewis program on fusion energy for space power and propulsion, 1958-1978

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schulze, Norman R.; Roth, J. Reece

1990-01-01

An historical synopsis is provided of the NASA-Lewis research program on fusion energy for space power and propulsion systems. It was initiated to explore the potential applications of fusion energy to space power and propulsion systems. Some fusion related accomplishments and program areas covered include: basic research on the Electric Field Bumpy Torus (EFBT) magnetoelectric fusion containment concept, including identification of its radial transport mechanism and confinement time scaling; operation of the Pilot Rig mirror machine, the first superconducting magnet facility to be used in plasma physics or fusion research; operation of the Superconducting Bumpy Torus magnet facility, first used to generate a toroidal magnetic field; steady state production of neutrons from DD reactions; studies of the direct conversion of plasma enthalpy to thrust by a direct fusion rocket via propellant addition and magnetic nozzles; power and propulsion system studies, including D(3)He power balance, neutron shielding, and refrigeration requirements; and development of large volume, high field superconducting and cryogenic magnet technology.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goldman, Allen M.

The goal of this program was to study new physical phenomena that might be relevant to the performance of conductive devices and circuits of the smallest realizable feature sizes possible using physical rather than biological techniques. Although the initial scientific work supported involved the use of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to ascertain the statistics of the energy level distribution of randomly sized and randomly shaped quantum dots, or nano-crystals, the main focus was on the investigation of selected properties, including superconductivity, of conducting and superconducting nanowires prepared using electron-beam-lithography. We discovered a magnetic-field-restoration of superconductivity in out-of-equilibrium nanowires drivenmore » resistive by current. This phenomenon was explained by the existence of a state in which dissipation coexisted with nonvanishing superconducting order. We also produced ultra-small superconducting loops to study a predicted anomalous fluxoid quantization, but instead, found a magnetic-field-dependent, high-resistance state, rather than superconductivity. Finally, we developed a simple and controllable nanowire in an induced charged layer near the surface of a masked single-crystal insulator, SrTiO 3. The layer was induced using an electric double layer transistor employing an ionic liquid (IL). The transport properties of the induced nanowire resembled those of collective electronic transport through an array of quantum dots.« less

A novel rotating experimental platform in a superconducting magnet.

PubMed

Chen, Da; Cao, Hui-Ling; Ye, Ya-Jing; Dong, Chen; Liu, Yong-Ming; Shang, Peng; Yin, Da-Chuan

2016-08-01

This paper introduces a novel platform designed to be used in a strong static magnetic field (in a superconducting magnet). The platform is a sample holder that rotates in the strong magnetic field. Any samples placed in the platform will rotate due to the rotation of the sample holder. With this platform, a number of experiments such as material processing, culture of biological systems, chemical reactions, or other processes can be carried out. In this report, we present some preliminary experiments (protein crystallization, cell culture, and seed germination) conducted using this platform. The experimental results showed that the platform can affect the processes, indicating that it provides a novel environment that has not been investigated before and that the effects of such an environment on many different physical, chemical, or biological processes can be potentially useful for applications in many fields.

Experimental Quantum Randomness Processing Using Superconducting Qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Xiao; Liu, Ke; Xu, Yuan; Wang, Weiting; Ma, Yuwei; Zhang, Fang; Yan, Zhaopeng; Vijay, R.; Sun, Luyan; Ma, Xiongfeng

2016-07-01

Coherently manipulating multipartite quantum correlations leads to remarkable advantages in quantum information processing. A fundamental question is whether such quantum advantages persist only by exploiting multipartite correlations, such as entanglement. Recently, Dale, Jennings, and Rudolph negated the question by showing that a randomness processing, quantum Bernoulli factory, using quantum coherence, is strictly more powerful than the one with classical mechanics. In this Letter, focusing on the same scenario, we propose a theoretical protocol that is classically impossible but can be implemented solely using quantum coherence without entanglement. We demonstrate the protocol by exploiting the high-fidelity quantum state preparation and measurement with a superconducting qubit in the circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture and a nearly quantum-limited parametric amplifier. Our experiment shows the advantage of using quantum coherence of a single qubit for information processing even when multipartite correlation is not present.

Wrapping process for fabrication of A-15 superconducting composite wires

DOEpatents

Suenaga, M.; Klamut, C.J.; Luhman, T.S.

1980-08-15

A method for fabricating superconducting wires wherein a billet of copper containing filaments of niobium or vanadium is rolled to form a strip which is wrapped about a tin-alloy core to form a composite. The alloy is a tin-copper alloy for niobium filaments and a gallium-copper alloy for vanadium filaments. The composite is then drawn down to a desired wire size and heat treated. During the heat treatment process, the tin in the bronze reacts with the niobium to form the superconductor niobium tin. In the case where vanadium is used, the gallium in the gallium bronze reacts with the vanadium to form the superconductor vanadium gallium. This new process eliminates the costly annealing steps, external tin plating and drilling of bronze ingots required in a number of prior art processes.

Cooling of Compact Stars with Nucleon Superfluidity and Quark Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noda, Tsuneo; Hashimoto, Masa-aki; Yasutake, Nobutoshi; Maruyama, Toshiki; Tatsumi, Toshitaka

We show a cooling scenario of compact stars to satisfy recent observations of compact stars. The central density of compact stars can exceed the nuclear density, and it is considered that many hadronic phases appear at such a density. It is discussed that neutron superfluidity (1S0 for lower density, and 3P2 for higher density) and proton superfluidity/superconductivity (1S0) appears in all compact stars. And some "Exotic" states are considered to appear in compact stars, such as meson condensation, hyperon mixing, deconfinement of quarks and quark colour superconductivity. These exotic states appear at the density region above the threshold densities of each state. We demonstrate the thermal evolution of isolated compact stars, adopting the effects of nucleon superfluidity and quark colour superconductivity. We assume large gap energy (Δ > 10 MeV) for colour superconducting quark phase, and include the effects of nucleon superfluidity with parametrised models. We simulate the cooling history of compact stars, and shows that the heavier star does not always cool faster than lighter one, which is determined by the parameters of neutron 3P2 superfluidity.

Nature of the superconductor-insulator transition in disordered superconductors.

PubMed

Dubi, Yonatan; Meir, Yigal; Avishai, Yshai

2007-10-18

The interplay of superconductivity and disorder has intrigued scientists for several decades. Disorder is expected to enhance the electrical resistance of a system, whereas superconductivity is associated with a zero-resistance state. Although superconductivity has been predicted to persist even in the presence of disorder, experiments performed on thin films have demonstrated a transition from a superconducting to an insulating state with increasing disorder or magnetic field. The nature of this transition is still under debate, and the subject has become even more relevant with the realization that high-transition-temperature (high-T(c)) superconductors are intrinsically disordered. Here we present numerical simulations of the superconductor-insulator transition in two-dimensional disordered superconductors, starting from a microscopic description that includes thermal phase fluctuations. We demonstrate explicitly that disorder leads to the formation of islands where the superconducting order is high. For weak disorder, or high electron density, increasing the magnetic field results in the eventual vanishing of the amplitude of the superconducting order parameter, thereby forming an insulating state. On the other hand, at lower electron densities or higher disorder, increasing the magnetic field suppresses the correlations between the phases of the superconducting order parameter in different islands, giving rise to a different type of superconductor-insulator transition. One of the important predictions of this work is that in the regime of high disorder, there are still superconducting islands in the sample, even on the insulating side of the transition. This result, which is consistent with experiments, explains the recently observed huge magneto-resistance peak in disordered thin films and may be relevant to the observation of 'the pseudogap phenomenon' in underdoped high-T(c) superconductors.

Simple all-microwave entangling gate for fixed-frequency superconducting qubits.

PubMed

Chow, Jerry M; Córcoles, A D; Gambetta, Jay M; Rigetti, Chad; Johnson, B R; Smolin, John A; Rozen, J R; Keefe, George A; Rothwell, Mary B; Ketchen, Mark B; Steffen, M

2011-08-19

We demonstrate an all-microwave two-qubit gate on superconducting qubits which are fixed in frequency at optimal bias points. The gate requires no additional subcircuitry and is tunable via the amplitude of microwave irradiation on one qubit at the transition frequency of the other. We use the gate to generate entangled states with a maximal extracted concurrence of 0.88, and quantum process tomography reveals a gate fidelity of 81%. © 2011 American Physical Society

Analogue Hawking radiation in a dc-SQUID array transmission line.

PubMed

Nation, P D; Blencowe, M P; Rimberg, A J; Buks, E

2009-08-21

We propose the use of a superconducting transmission line formed from an array of direct-current superconducting quantum interference devices for investigating analogue Hawking radiation. Biasing the array with a space-time varying flux modifies the propagation velocity of the transmission line, leading to an effective metric with a horizon. Being a fundamentally quantum mechanical device, this setup allows for investigations of quantum effects such as backreaction and analogue space-time fluctuations on the Hawking process.

Nanowire structures and electrical devices

DOEpatents

Bezryadin, Alexey; Remeika, Mikas

2010-07-06

The present invention provides structures and devices comprising conductive segments and conductance constricting segments of a nanowire, such as metallic, superconducting or semiconducting nanowire. The present invention provides structures and devices comprising conductive nanowire segments and conductance constricting nanowire segments having accurately selected phases including crystalline and amorphous states, compositions, morphologies and physical dimensions, including selected cross sectional dimensions, shapes and lengths along the length of a nanowire. Further, the present invention provides methods of processing nanowires capable of patterning a nanowire to form a plurality of conductance constricting segments having selected positions along the length of a nanowire, including conductance constricting segments having reduced cross sectional dimensions and conductance constricting segments comprising one or more insulating materials such as metal oxides.

Magnetic imaging of antiferromagnetic and superconducting phases in R bxF e2 -yS e2 crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazi, J.; Mousavi, T.; Dudin, P.; van der Laan, G.; Maccherozzi, F.; Krzton-Maziopa, A.; Pomjakushina, E.; Conder, K.; Speller, S. C.

2018-02-01

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) cuprate materials, with the ability to carry large electrical currents with no resistance at easily reachable temperatures, have stimulated enormous scientific and industrial interest since their discovery in the 1980's. However, technological applications of these promising compounds have been limited by their chemical and microstructural complexity and the challenging processing strategies required for the exploitation of their extraordinary properties. The lack of theoretical understanding of the mechanism for superconductivity in these HTS materials has also hindered the search for new superconducting systems with enhanced performance. The unexpected discovery in 2008 of HTS iron-based compounds has provided an entirely new family of materials for studying the crucial interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in unconventional superconductors. Alkali-metal-doped iron selenide (AxF e2 -yS e2 , A =alkali metal ) compounds are of particular interest owing to the coexistence of superconductivity at relatively high temperatures with antiferromagnetism. Intrinsic phase separation on the mesoscopic scale is also known to occur in what were intended to be single crystals of these compounds, making it difficult to interpret bulk property measurements. Here, we use a combination of two advanced microscopy techniques to provide direct evidence of the magnetic properties of the individual phases. First, x-ray linear dichroism studies in a photoelectron emission microscope, and supporting multiplet calculations, indicate that the matrix (majority) phase is antiferromagnetic whereas the minority phase is nonmagnetic at room temperature. Second, cryogenic magnetic force microscopy demonstrates unambiguously that superconductivity occurs only in the minority phase. The correlation of these findings with previous microstructural studies and bulk measurements paves the way for understanding the intriguing electronic and magnetic properties of these compounds.

Niobium superconducting rf cavity fabrication by electrohydraulic forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cantergiani, E.; Atieh, S.; Léaux, F.; Perez Fontenla, A. T.; Prunet, S.; Dufay-Chanat, L.; Koettig, T.; Bertinelli, F.; Capatina, O.; Favre, G.; Gerigk, F.; Jeanson, A. C.; Fuzeau, J.; Avrillaud, G.; Alleman, D.; Bonafe, J.; Marty, P.

2016-11-01

Superconducting rf (SRF) cavities are traditionally fabricated from superconducting material sheets or made of copper coated with superconducting material, followed by trim machining and electron-beam welding. An alternative technique to traditional shaping methods, such as deep-drawing and spinning, is electrohydraulic forming (EHF). In EHF, half-cells are obtained through ultrahigh-speed deformation of blank sheets, using shockwaves induced in water by a pulsed electrical discharge. With respect to traditional methods, such a highly dynamic process can yield interesting results in terms of effectiveness, repeatability, final shape precision, higher formability, and reduced springback. In this paper, the first results of EHF on high purity niobium are presented and discussed. The simulations performed in order to master the multiphysics phenomena of EHF and to adjust its process parameters are presented. The microstructures of niobium half-cells produced by EHF and by spinning have been compared in terms of damage created in the material during the forming operation. The damage was assessed through hardness measurements, residual resistivity ratio (RRR) measurements, and electron backscattered diffraction analyses. It was found that EHF does not worsen the damage of the material during forming and instead, some areas of the half-cell have shown lower damage compared to spinning. Moreover, EHF is particularly advantageous to reduce the forming time, preserve roughness, and to meet the final required shape accuracy.

Structural Channels and Atomic-Cluster Insertion in CsxBi4Te6 (1 ≤ x ≤ 1.25) As Observed by Aberration-Corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy.

PubMed

Zhang, Ruixin; Yang, Huaixin; Guo, Cong; Tian, Huanfang; Shi, Honglong; Chen, Genfu; Li, Jianqi

2016-12-19

Microstructural analyses based on aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) observations demonstrate that low-dimensional Cs x Bi 4 Te 6 materials, known to be a novel thermoelectric and superconducting system, contain notable structural channels that go directly along the b axis, which can be partially filled by atom clusters depending on the thermal treatment process. We successfully prepared two series of Cs x Bi 4 Te 6 single-crystalline samples using two different sintering processes. The Cs x Bi 4 Te 6 samples prepared using an air-quenching method show superconductivity at approximately 4 K, while the Cs x Bi 4 Te 6 with the same nominal compositions prepared by slowly cooling are nonsuperconductors. Moreover, atomic structural investigations of typical samples reveal that the structural channels are often empty in superconducting materials; thus, we can represent the superconducting phase as Cs 1-y Bi 4 Te 6 with considering the point defects in the Cs layers. In addition, the channels in the nonsuperconducting crystals are commonly partially occupied by triplet Bi clusters. Moreover, the average structures for these two phases are also different in their monoclinic angles (β), which are estimated to be 102.3° for superconductors and 100.5° for nonsuperconductors.

Superconductivity and non-Fermi liquid behavior near a nematic quantum critical point.

PubMed

Lederer, Samuel; Schattner, Yoni; Berg, Erez; Kivelson, Steven A

2017-05-09

Using determinantal quantum Monte Carlo, we compute the properties of a lattice model with spin [Formula: see text] itinerant electrons tuned through a quantum phase transition to an Ising nematic phase. The nematic fluctuations induce superconductivity with a broad dome in the superconducting [Formula: see text] enclosing the nematic quantum critical point. For temperatures above [Formula: see text], we see strikingly non-Fermi liquid behavior, including a "nodal-antinodal dichotomy" reminiscent of that seen in several transition metal oxides. In addition, the critical fluctuations have a strong effect on the low-frequency optical conductivity, resulting in behavior consistent with "bad metal" phenomenology.

Superconductor cable

DOEpatents

Allais, Arnaud [Hannover, DE; Schmidt, Frank [Langenhagen, DE

2009-12-15

A superconductor cable includes a superconductive cable core (1) and a cryostat (2) enclosing the same. The cable core (1) has a superconductive conductor (3), an insulation (4) surrounding the same and a shielding (5) surrounding the insulation (4). A layer (3b) of a dielectric or semiconducting material is applied to a central element (3a) formed from a normally conducting material as a strand or tube and a layer (3c) of at least one wire or strip of superconductive material is placed helically on top. The central element (3a) and the layer (3c) are connected to each other in an electrically conducting manner at the ends of the cable core (1).

Superconductor fiber elongation with a heated injected gas

DOEpatents

Zeigler, D.D.; Conrad, B.L.; Gleixner, R.A.

1998-06-02

An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers of superconducting material includes a crucible for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible and falls in a stream through a bottom hole in the crucible. The stream falls through a protecting collar which maintains the stream at high temperatures. The stream is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers. The fibers are collected by directing them against a collection filter. 10 figs.

Protection of Hardware: Powering Systems (Power Converter, Normal Conducting, and Superconducting Magnets)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pfeffer, H.; Flora, B.; Wolff, D.

2016-01-01

Along with the protection of magnets and power converters, we have added a section on personnel protection because this is our highest priority in the design and operation of power systems. Thus, our topics are the protection of people, power converters, and magnet loads (protected from the powering equipment), including normal conducting magnets and superconducting magnets.

Characteristic parameters of superconductor-coolant interaction including high Tc current density limits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frederking, T. H. K.

1989-01-01

In the area of basic mechanisms of helium heat transfer and related influence on super-conducting magnet stability, thermal boundary conditions are important constraints. Characteristic lengths are considered along with other parameters of the superconducting composite-coolant system. Based on helium temperature range developments, limiting critical current densities are assessed at low fields for high transition temperature superconductors.

Thermo-magnetic instabilities in Nb 3Sn superconducting accelerator magnets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bordini, Bernardo

2006-09-01

The advance of High Energy Physics research using circulating accelerators strongly depends on increasing the magnetic bending field which accelerator magnets provide. To achieve high fields, the most powerful present-day accelerator magnets employ NbTi superconducting technology; however, with the start up of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2007, NbTi magnets will have reached the maximum field allowed by the intrinsic properties of this superconductor. A further increase of the field strength necessarily requires a change in superconductor material; the best candidate is Nb 3Sn. Several laboratories in the US and Europe are currently working on developing Nb 3Sn accelerator magnets,more » and although these magnets have great potential, it is suspected that their performance may be fundamentally limited by conductor thermo-magnetic instabilities: an idea first proposed by the Fermilab High Field Magnet group early in 2003. This thesis presents a study of thermo-magnetic instability in high field Nb 3Sn accelerator magnets. In this chapter the following topics are described: the role of superconducting magnets in High Energy Physics; the main characteristics of superconductors for accelerator magnets; typical measurements of current capability in superconducting strands; the properties of Nb 3Sn; a description of the manufacturing process of Nb 3Sn strands; superconducting cables; a typical layout of superconducting accelerator magnets; the current state of the art of Nb 3Sn accelerator magnets; the High Field Magnet program at Fermilab; and the scope of the thesis.« less

Dielectric properties of (SWCNTs)x GdBa2CuO7-δ superconductor nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anas, M.; Ebrahim, S.; Eldeen, I. G.; Awad, R.; Abou-Aly, A. I.

2017-11-01

Gd-123 superconducting phase was prepared by solid-state reaction technique. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were added in Gd-123 superconducting matrix with different concentrations during the final sintering process to obtain (SWCNTs)x GdBa2Cu3O7-δ (x = 0.0-0.1 wt.%) nanoparticles-superconductor composite. The influence of SWCNTs addition on the phase formation, structural, morphological, superconducting and dielectric properties of Gd-123 phase was investigated. It was found that SWCNTs addition enhance the phase formation and does not change the crystal structure of the host Gd-123 superconducting phase. The superconducting properties of Gd-123 samples were improved after the addition of SWCNTs up to x = 0.06 wt.% due to the enhancement in intergrain connectivity by healing up of micro-cracks and reduction of defects, while these properties were retarded with further increase in x. The dielectric response of (SWCNTs)x Gd-123 superconducting phase with x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06 and 0.1 wt.% was measured from 100 KHz to 5 MHz at 77 K. The results reveal that for both real (𝜀‧) and imaginary (𝜀″) parts of dielectric constant, the frequency of dispersion increased by increasing SWCNTs amount up to 0.06 wt.%, then this frequency shifted to lower values for x > 0.06 wt.%. The results were discussed according to the presence and interference of both interfacial and dipolar polarizations.

Imaging atomic-scale effects of high-energy ion irradiation on superconductivity and vortex pinning in Fe(Se,Te)

PubMed Central

Massee, Freek; Sprau, Peter Oliver; Wang, Yong-Lei; Davis, J. C. Séamus; Ghigo, Gianluca; Gu, Genda D.; Kwok, Wai-Kwong

2015-01-01

Maximizing the sustainable supercurrent density, JC, is crucial to high-current applications of superconductivity. To achieve this, preventing dissipative motion of quantized vortices is key. Irradiation of superconductors with high-energy heavy ions can be used to create nanoscale defects that act as deep pinning potentials for vortices. This approach holds unique promise for high-current applications of iron-based superconductors because JC amplification persists to much higher radiation doses than in cuprate superconductors without significantly altering the superconducting critical temperature. However, for these compounds, virtually nothing is known about the atomic-scale interplay of the crystal damage from the high-energy ions, the superconducting order parameter, and the vortex pinning processes. We visualize the atomic-scale effects of irradiating FeSexTe1−x with 249-MeV Au ions and find two distinct effects: compact nanometer-sized regions of crystal disruption or “columnar defects,” plus a higher density of single atomic site “point” defects probably from secondary scattering. We directly show that the superconducting order is virtually annihilated within the former and suppressed by the latter. Simultaneous atomically resolved images of the columnar crystal defects, the superconductivity, and the vortex configurations then reveal how a mixed pinning landscape is created, with the strongest vortex pinning occurring at metallic core columnar defects and secondary pinning at clusters of point-like defects, followed by collective pinning at higher fields. PMID:26601180

Imaging atomic-scale effects of high-energy ion irradiation on superconductivity and vortex pinning in Fe(Se,Te).

PubMed

Massee, Freek; Sprau, Peter Oliver; Wang, Yong-Lei; Davis, J C Séamus; Ghigo, Gianluca; Gu, Genda D; Kwok, Wai-Kwong

2015-05-01

Maximizing the sustainable supercurrent density, J C, is crucial to high-current applications of superconductivity. To achieve this, preventing dissipative motion of quantized vortices is key. Irradiation of superconductors with high-energy heavy ions can be used to create nanoscale defects that act as deep pinning potentials for vortices. This approach holds unique promise for high-current applications of iron-based superconductors because J C amplification persists to much higher radiation doses than in cuprate superconductors without significantly altering the superconducting critical temperature. However, for these compounds, virtually nothing is known about the atomic-scale interplay of the crystal damage from the high-energy ions, the superconducting order parameter, and the vortex pinning processes. We visualize the atomic-scale effects of irradiating FeSe x Te1-x with 249-MeV Au ions and find two distinct effects: compact nanometer-sized regions of crystal disruption or "columnar defects," plus a higher density of single atomic site "point" defects probably from secondary scattering. We directly show that the superconducting order is virtually annihilated within the former and suppressed by the latter. Simultaneous atomically resolved images of the columnar crystal defects, the superconductivity, and the vortex configurations then reveal how a mixed pinning landscape is created, with the strongest vortex pinning occurring at metallic core columnar defects and secondary pinning at clusters of point-like defects, followed by collective pinning at higher fields.

Superconducting Properties in Arrays of Nanostructured β-Gallium

DOE PAGES

Moura, K. O.; Pirate, K. R.; Beron, F.; ...

2017-11-10

Samples of nanostructured β-Ga wires were synthesized by a novel method of metallic-flux nanonucleation. Several superconducting properties were observed, revealing the stabilization of a weak-coupling type-II-like superconductor (T c≈ 6.2 K) with a Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ GL = 1.18. This contrasts the type-I superconductivity observed for the majority of Ga phases, including small spheres of β-Ga with diameters near 15 μm. Remarkably, our magnetization curves reveal a crossover field H D, where we propose that the Abrikosov vortices are exactly touching their neighbors inside the Ga nanowires. A phenomenological model is proposed to explain this result by assuming that onlymore » a single row of vortices is allowed inside a nanowire under perpendicular applied field, with an appreciable depletion of Cooper pair density at the nanowire edges. Lastly, these results are expected to shed light on the growing area of superconductivity in nanostructured materials.« less

Hybrid quantum systems: Outsourcing superconducting qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cleland, Andrew

Superconducting qubits offer excellent prospects for manipulating quantum information, with good qubit lifetimes, high fidelity single- and two-qubit gates, and straightforward scalability (admittedly with multi-dimensional interconnect challenges). One interesting route for experimental development is the exploration of hybrid systems, i.e. coupling superconducting qubits to other systems. I will report on our group's efforts to develop approaches that will allow interfacing superconducting qubits in a quantum-coherent fashion to spin defects in solids, to optomechanical devices, and to resonant nanomechanical structures. The longer term goals of these efforts include transferring quantum states between different qubit systems; generating and receiving ``flying'' acoustic phonon-based as well as optical photon-based qubits; and ultimately developing systems that can be used for quantum memory, quantum computation and quantum communication, the last in both the microwave and fiber telecommunications bands. Work is supported by Grants from AFOSR, ARO, DOE and NSF.

Dislocation Substructures on the Functional Properties of Niobium for SRF Cavities, focusing on microstructural,microchemical, and electromagnetic characteristic for Florida State University.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dhakal, Pashupati

2016-04-01

Funding is being requested pursuant to a proposal that was submitted and reviewed through the Portfolio Analysis and Management System (PAMS). PAMS Proposal ID: 222686. Superconducting cavities are the integral part of many energy-efficient particle accelerators around the world. The current material of choice for superconducting cavities is niobium, which is the material with the highest transition temperature among pure metals. The performance of SRF cavities are influenced by the fabrication and processing steps. We plan to study the microstructural, microchemical and electromagnetic properties of Nb that are processed similar to the cavity processing steps to identify and mitigate themore » limiting factors to improve the performance of SRF cavities.« less

Artificial neural networks for AC losses prediction in superconducting round filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leclerc, J.; Makong Hell, L.; Lorin, C.; Masson, P. J.

2016-06-01

An extensive and fast method to estimate superconducting AC losses within a superconducting round filament carrying an AC current and subjected to an elliptical magnetic field (both rotating and oscillating) is presented. Elliptical fields are present in rotating machine stators and being able to accurately predict AC losses in fully superconducting machines is paramount to generating realistic machine designs. The proposed method relies on an analytical scaling law (ASL) combined with two artificial neural network (ANN) estimators taking 9 input parameters representing the superconductor, external field and transport current characteristics. The ANNs are trained with data generated by finite element (FE) computations with a commercial software (FlexPDE) based on the widely accepted H-formulation. After completion, the model is validated through comparison with additional randomly chosen data points and compared for simple field configurations to other predictive models. The loss estimation discrepancy is about 3% on average compared to the FEA analysis. The main advantages of the model compared to FE simulations is the fast computation time (few milliseconds) which allows it to be used in iterated design processes of fully superconducting machines. In addition, the proposed model provides a higher level of fidelity than the scaling laws existing in literature usually only considering pure AC field.

Qubit lattice coherence induced by electromagnetic pulses in superconducting metamaterials

PubMed Central

Ivić, Z.; Lazarides, N.; Tsironis, G. P.

2016-01-01

Quantum bits (qubits) are at the heart of quantum information processing schemes. Currently, solid-state qubits, and in particular the superconducting ones, seem to satisfy the requirements for being the building blocks of viable quantum computers, since they exhibit relatively long coherence times, extremely low dissipation, and scalability. The possibility of achieving quantum coherence in macroscopic circuits comprising Josephson junctions, envisioned by Legett in the 1980’s, was demonstrated for the first time in a charge qubit; since then, the exploitation of macroscopic quantum effects in low-capacitance Josephson junction circuits allowed for the realization of several kinds of superconducting qubits. Furthermore, coupling between qubits has been successfully achieved that was followed by the construction of multiple-qubit logic gates and the implementation of several algorithms. Here it is demonstrated that induced qubit lattice coherence as well as two remarkable quantum coherent optical phenomena, i.e., self-induced transparency and Dicke-type superradiance, may occur during light-pulse propagation in quantum metamaterials comprising superconducting charge qubits. The generated qubit lattice pulse forms a compound ”quantum breather” that propagates in synchrony with the electromagnetic pulse. The experimental confirmation of such effects in superconducting quantum metamaterials may open a new pathway to potentially powerful quantum computing. PMID:27403780

Qubit lattice coherence induced by electromagnetic pulses in superconducting metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivić, Z.; Lazarides, N.; Tsironis, G. P.

2016-07-01

Quantum bits (qubits) are at the heart of quantum information processing schemes. Currently, solid-state qubits, and in particular the superconducting ones, seem to satisfy the requirements for being the building blocks of viable quantum computers, since they exhibit relatively long coherence times, extremely low dissipation, and scalability. The possibility of achieving quantum coherence in macroscopic circuits comprising Josephson junctions, envisioned by Legett in the 1980’s, was demonstrated for the first time in a charge qubit; since then, the exploitation of macroscopic quantum effects in low-capacitance Josephson junction circuits allowed for the realization of several kinds of superconducting qubits. Furthermore, coupling between qubits has been successfully achieved that was followed by the construction of multiple-qubit logic gates and the implementation of several algorithms. Here it is demonstrated that induced qubit lattice coherence as well as two remarkable quantum coherent optical phenomena, i.e., self-induced transparency and Dicke-type superradiance, may occur during light-pulse propagation in quantum metamaterials comprising superconducting charge qubits. The generated qubit lattice pulse forms a compound ”quantum breather” that propagates in synchrony with the electromagnetic pulse. The experimental confirmation of such effects in superconducting quantum metamaterials may open a new pathway to potentially powerful quantum computing.

Sputtered superconducting films of Bi sub 2 Sr sub 2 CaCu sub 2 O sub x made by low-temperature, in-situ growth

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kampwirth, R.T.; Gray, K.E.; Andersen, P.H.

1989-01-01

Composite target rf magnetron sputtering has previously been successfully employed to make superconducting films of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}x} in-situ at substrate temperatures T{sub s} < 700{degree}C. We report the successful growth of superconducting films of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub x} on single crystal MgO substrates by a low-temperature process using dc magnetron sputtering from a Bi-enriched composite target. Using a substrate temperature T{sub s} {approx} 645{degree}C, metallic films with a superconducting onset of 90--100K and an extrapolated T{sub c0} = 56K have been obtained. X-ray diffraction shows the films to be c-axis oriented. Electron microscopy reveals that the filmsmore » are not significantly smoother than films which were post-annealed at 865{degree}C, and that some segregation into nonsuperconducting phases had occurred. The exact mechanism by which crystallization and superconductivity occurs at such low temperatures is not yet known, but it can be speculated that the surface atoms are less constrained and thus have a smaller energy barrier to overcome in forming a crystal structure. 9 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less

Advances in cryogenic engineering. Volume 33 - Proceedings of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference, Saint Charles, IL, June 14-18, 1987

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fast, R. W. (Editor)

1988-01-01

Papers are presented on superconductivity applications including magnets, electronics, rectifiers, magnet stability, coil protection, and cryogenic techniques. Also considered are insulation, heat transfer to liquid helium and nitrogen, heat and mass transfer in He II, superfluid pumps, and refrigeration for superconducting systems. Other topics include cold compressors, refrigeration and liquefaction, magnetic refrigeration, and refrigeration for space applications. Papers are also presented on cryogenic applications, commercial cryogenic plants, the properties of cryogenic fluids, and cryogenic instrumentation and data acquisition.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. July 1982-February 1989 (Citations from the EI Engineering Meetings data base). Report for July 1982-February 1989

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1989-04-01

This bibliography contains citations from conference proceedings concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity-wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (Contains 115 citations fully indexed and including a title list.)

Making Superconducting Welds between Superconducting Wires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Penanen, Konstantin I.; Eom, Byeong Ho

2008-01-01

A technique for making superconducting joints between wires made of dissimilar superconducting metals has been devised. The technique is especially suitable for fabrication of superconducting circuits needed to support persistent electric currents in electromagnets in diverse cryogenic applications. Examples of such electromagnets include those in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and in superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). Sometimes, it is desirable to fabricate different parts of a persistent-current-supporting superconducting loop from different metals. For example, a sensory coil in a SQUID might be made of Pb, a Pb/Sn alloy, or a Cu wire plated with Pb/Sn, while the connections to the sensory coil might be made via Nb or Nb/Ti wires. Conventional wire-bonding techniques, including resistance spot welding and pressed contact, are not workable because of large differences between the hardnesses and melting temperatures of the different metals. The present technique is not subject to this limitation. The present technique involves the use (1) of a cheap, miniature, easy-to-operate, capacitor-discharging welding apparatus that has an Nb or Nb/Ti tip and operates with a continuous local flow of gaseous helium and (2) preparation of a joint in a special spark-discharge welding geometry. In a typical application, a piece of Nb foil about 25 m thick is rolled to form a tube, into which is inserted a wire that one seeks to weld to the tube (see figure). The tube can be slightly crimped for mechanical stability. Then a spark weld is made by use of the aforementioned apparatus with energy and time settings chosen to melt a small section of the niobium foil. The energy setting corresponds to the setting of a voltage to which the capacitor is charged. In an experiment, the technique was used to weld an Nb foil to a copper wire coated with a Pb/Sn soft solder, which is superconducting. The joint was evaluated as part of a persistent-current circuit having an inductance of 1 mH. A current was induced in a loop, and no attenuation of the current after a time interval 1,000 s was discernible in a measurement having a fractional accuracy of 10(exp -4): This observation supports the conclusion that the weld had an electrical resistance <10(exp -10) omega.

Review of the Theoretical Description of Time-Resolved Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy in Electron-Phonon Mediated Superconductors

DOE PAGES

Kemper, A. F.; Sentef, M. A.; Moritz, B.; ...

2017-07-13

Here. we review recent work on the theory for pump/probe photoemission spectroscopy of electron-phonon mediated superconductors in both the normal and the superconducting states. We describe the formal developments that allow one to solve the Migdal-Eliashberg theory in nonequilibrium for an ultrashort laser pumping field, and explore the solutions which illustrate the relaxation as energy is transferred from electrons to phonons. We also focus on exact results emanating from sum rules and approximate numerical results which describe rules of thumb for relaxation processes. Additionally, in the superconducting state, we describe how Anderson-Higgs oscillations can be excited due to the nonlinearmore » coupling with the electric field and describe mechanisms where pumping the system enhances superconductivity.« less

Review of the Theoretical Description of Time-Resolved Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy in Electron-Phonon Mediated Superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kemper, A. F.; Sentef, M. A.; Moritz, B.

Here. we review recent work on the theory for pump/probe photoemission spectroscopy of electron-phonon mediated superconductors in both the normal and the superconducting states. We describe the formal developments that allow one to solve the Migdal-Eliashberg theory in nonequilibrium for an ultrashort laser pumping field, and explore the solutions which illustrate the relaxation as energy is transferred from electrons to phonons. We also focus on exact results emanating from sum rules and approximate numerical results which describe rules of thumb for relaxation processes. Additionally, in the superconducting state, we describe how Anderson-Higgs oscillations can be excited due to the nonlinearmore » coupling with the electric field and describe mechanisms where pumping the system enhances superconductivity.« less

Method for making high-critical-current-density YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 superconducting layers on metallic substrates

DOEpatents

Feenstra, Roeland; Christen, David; Paranthaman, Mariappan

1999-01-01

A method is disclosed for fabricating YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 superconductor layers with the capability of carrying large superconducting currents on a metallic tape (substrate) supplied with a biaxially textured oxide buffer layer. The method represents a simplification of previously established techniques and provides processing requirements compatible with scale-up to long wire (tape) lengths and high processing speeds. This simplification has been realized by employing the BaF.sub.2 method to grow a YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 film on a metallic substrate having a biaxially textured oxide buffer layer.

Passivated niobium cavities

DOEpatents

Myneni, Ganapati Rao [Yorktown, VA; Hjorvarsson, Bjorgvin [Lagga Arby, SE; Ciovati, Gianluigi [Newport News, VA

2006-12-19

A niobium cavity exhibiting high quality factors at high gradients is provided by treating a niobium cavity through a process comprising: 1) removing surface oxides by plasma etching or a similar process; 2) removing hydrogen or other gases absorbed in the bulk niobium by high temperature treatment of the cavity under ultra high vacuum to achieve hydrogen outgassing; and 3) assuring the long term chemical stability of the niobium cavity by applying a passivating layer of a superconducting material having a superconducting transition temperature higher than niobium thereby reducing losses from electron (cooper pair) scattering in the near surface region of the interior of the niobium cavity. According to a preferred embodiment, the passivating layer comprises niobium nitride (NbN) applied by reactive sputtering.

Implementing two optimal economical quantum cloning with superconducting quantum interference devices in a cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Liu; Hu, GuiYu; Li, AiXia

2011-01-01

We propose a unified scheme to implement the optimal 1 → 3 economical phase-covariant quantum cloning and optimal 1 → 3 economical real state cloning with superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) in a cavity. During this process, no transfer of quantum information between the SQUIDs and cavity is required. The cavity field is only virtually excited. The scheme is insensitive to cavity decay. Therefore, the scheme can be experimentally realized in the range of current cavity QED techniques.

Partial Melt Processing of Solid-Solution Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta Thick-Film Conductors with Nanophase Al2O3 Additions

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-01

characterize the superconducting properties of powders, field-cooled (FC) Meissner and ZFC measure- ments were performed from 5 to 125 K.46 The SQUID magnet ...measured magnetic susceptibility, and D 0.3333 is the demagnetization factor assuming a spherical particle distribution.6,46 The applied magnetic ...and superconducting properties was studied for a range of partial-melt temperatures. Results were compared to Al203-free films with compositions lying

AMSAHTS 1990: Advances in Materials Science and Applications of High Temperature Superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, Larry H. (Editor); Flom, Yury (Editor); Moorjani, Kishin (Editor)

1991-01-01

This publication is comprised of abstracts for oral and poster presentations scheduled for AMSAHTS '90. The conference focused on understanding high temperature superconductivity with special emphasis on materials issues and applications. AMSAHTS 90, highlighted the state of the art in fundamental understanding of the nature of high-Tc superconductivity (HTSC) as well as the chemistry, structure, properties, processing and stability of HTSC oxides. As a special feature of the conference, space applications of HTSC were discussed by NASA and Navy specialists.

Fabrication of superconducting MgB2 nanostructures by an electron beam lithography-based technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Portesi, C.; Borini, S.; Amato, G.; Monticone, E.

2006-03-01

In this work, we present the results obtained in fabrication and characterization of magnesium diboride nanowires realized by an electron beam lithography (EBL)-based method. For fabricating MgB2 thin films, an all in situ technique has been used, based on the coevaporation of B and Mg by means of an e-gun and a resistive heater, respectively. Since the high temperatures required for the fabrication of good quality MgB2 thin films do not allow the nanostructuring approach based on the lift-off technique, we structured the samples combining EBL, optical lithography, and Ar milling. In this way, reproducible nanowires 1 μm long have been obtained. To illustrate the impact of the MgB2 film processing on its superconducting properties, we measured the temperature dependence of the resistance on a nanowire and compared it to the original magnesium diboride film. The electrical properties of the films are not degraded as a consequence of the nanostructuring process, so that superconducting nanodevices may be obtained by this method.

Superconducting radio-frequency cavities made from medium and low-purity niobium ingots

DOE PAGES

Ciovati, Gianluigi; Dhakal, Pashupati; Myneni, Ganapati R.

2016-04-07

Superconducting radio-frequency cavities made of ingot niobium with residual resistivity ratio (RRR) greater than 250 have proven to have similar or better performance than fine-grain Nb cavities of the same purity, after standard processing. The high purity requirement contributes to the high cost of the material. As superconducting accelerators operating in continuous-wave typically require cavities to operate at moderate accelerating gradients, using lower purity material could be advantageous not only to reduce cost but also to achieve higher Q 0-values. In this contribution we present the results from cryogenic RF tests of 1.3–1.5 GHz single-cell cavities made of ingot Nbmore » of medium (RRR = 100–150) and low (RRR = 60) purity from different suppliers. Cavities made of medium-purity ingots routinely achieved peak surface magnetic field values greater than 70 mT with an average Q 0-value of 2 × 10 10 at 2 K after standard processing treatments. As a result, the performances of cavities made of low-purity ingots were affected by significant pitting of the surface after chemical etching.« less

Coulomb Blockade and Multiple Andreev Reflection in a Superconducting Single-Electron Transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lorenz, Thomas; Sprenger, Susanne; Scheer, Elke

2018-06-01

In superconducting quantum point contacts, multiple Andreev reflection (MAR), which describes the coherent transport of m quasiparticles each carrying an electron charge with m≥3, sets in at voltage thresholds eV = 2Δ /m. In single-electron transistors, Coulomb blockade, however, suppresses the current at low voltage. The required voltage for charge transport increases with the square of the effective charge eV∝ ( me) ^2. Thus, studying the charge transport in all-superconducting single-electron transistors (SSETs) sets these two phenomena into competition. In this article, we present the fabrication as well as a measurement scheme and transport data for a SSET with one junction in which the transmission and thereby the MAR contributions can be continuously tuned. All regimes from weak to strong coupling are addressed. We extend the Orthodox theory by incorporating MAR processes to describe the observed data qualitatively. We detect a new transport process the nature of which is unclear at present. Furthermore, we observe a renormalization of the charging energy when approaching the strong coupling regime.

Development of high Tc (greater than 110K) Bi, Tl and Y-based materials as superconducting circuit elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haertling, Gene; Grabert, Gregory; Gilmour, Phillip

1991-01-01

Experimental work was continued on the development and characterization of bulk and hot pressed powders and tapecast materials in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O systems. A process for producing warp-free, sintered, superconducting tapes of Bi composition Bi1Sr2Ca2 Cu3O(x) was established. The procedure requires a triple calcination at 830 C for 24 hours and sintering at 845 C from 20 to 200 hours. Hot pressing the triple calcined powder at 845 C for 6 hours at 5000 psi yielded a dense material, which on further heat treatment at 845 C for 24 hours, exhibited a Tc of 108.2K. The Bi compositions were found to be much less oxygen sensitive than the Y compositions. This was especially noted in the case of the hot pressed materials which were superconducting as hot pressed, a condition that could not be achieved in the Y compositions. Safire-type grounding links are in the process of being fabricated from these materials.

The ESS Superconducting RF Cavity and Cryomodule Cryogenic Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darve, C.; Elias, N.; Molloy, S.; Bosland, P.; Renard, B.; Bousson, S.; Olivier, G.; Reynet, D.; Thermeau, J. P.

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is one of Europe's largest research infrastructures, tobring new insights to the grand challenges of science and innovation in fields as diverse as material and life sciences, energy, environmental technology, cultural heritage,solid-state and fundamental physics by the end of the decade. The collaborative project is funded by a collaboration of 17 European countries and is under design and construction in Lund, Sweden. A 5 MW, long pulse proton accelerator is used to reach this goal. The pulsed length is 2.86 ms and the repetition frequency is 14 Hz (4% duty cycle). The choice of SRF technology is a key element in the development of the ESS linear accelerator (linac). The superconducting linacis composed of one section of spoke cavity cryomodules(352.21 MHz) and two sections of elliptical cavity cryomodules (704.42 MHz). These cryomodules contain niobium SRF cavities operating at 2 K, cooled by the accelerator cryoplantthrough the cryogenic distribution system. This paper presents the superconducting RF cavity and cryomodule cryogenic processes, which are developed for the technology demonstrators and to be ultimately integrated for the ESS tunnel operation.

Design and Fabrication Highlights Enabling a 2 mm, 128 Element Bolometer Array for GISMO

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Christine; Benford, Dominic; Miller, Timothy; Staguhn, Johannes; Wollack, Edward; Moseley, Harvey

2007-01-01

The Backshort-Under-Grid (BUG) superconducting bolometer array architecture is intended to be highly versatile, operating in a large range of wavelengths and background conditions. We have undertaken a three-year program to develop key technologies and processes required to build kilopixel arrays. To validate the basic array design and to demonstrate its applicability for future kilopixel arrays, we have chosen to demonstrate a 128 element bolometer array optimized for 2 mm wavelength using a newly built Goddard instrument, GISMO (Goddard /RAM Superconducting 2-millimeter Observer). The arrays are fabricated using batch wafer processing developed and optimized for high pixel yield, low noise, and high uniformity. The molybdenum-gold superconducting transition edge sensors are fabricated using batch sputter deposition and are patterned using dry etch techniques developed at Goddard. With a detector pitch of 2 mm 8x16 array for GISMO occupies nearly one half of the processing area of a 100 mm silicon-on-insulator starting wafer. Two such arrays are produced from a single wafer along with witness samples for process characterization. To provide thermal isolation for the detector elements, at the end of the process over 90% of the silicon must be removed using deep reactive ion etching techniques. The electrical connections for each bolometer element are patterned on the top edge of the square grid supporting the array. The design considerations unique to GISMO, key fabrication challenges, and laboratory experimental results will be presented.

Transport performance of a HTS current lead prepared by the TFA-MOD processed YBCO tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiohara, K.; Sakai, S.; Ohki, S.; Yamada, Y.; Tachikawa, K.; Koizumi, T.; Aoki, Y.; Hikichi, Y.; Nishioka, J.; Hasegawa, T.

2009-10-01

A superconducting current lead has been prepared using 12 tapes of the trifluoroacetates - metal organic deposition (TFA-MOD) processed Y 1Ba 2Cu 3O 7-δ (YBCO) coated conductors with critical current ( I c) of about 100 A at 77 K in self-field. The tapes are 4.5 mm in width, 220 mm in length and about 120 μm in overall thickness. The 1 μm thick superconducting YBCO layer was formed through the TFA-MOD process on Hastelloy TM substrate tapes with two buffer oxide layers of Gd 2Zr 2O 7 (GZO) and CeO 2. The 12 YBCO tapes were arrayed on the both sides (six tapes on each side) of a stainless steel board with 3 mm in thickness for a board type shape. They were similarly soldered to copper caps at the both ends. The transport current of 1000 A was stably applied for 10 min in the liquid nitrogen temperature without any voltage generation in all tapes. Although some voltage in some YBCO tapes generated at the applied currents of about 1100 A, the transport current of 1200 A was successfully applied without quenching. The voltage between both copper caps linearly increased with increasing the transport current, and it was about 300 μV at an applied current of 1000 A. A low joint resistance between the YBCO tapes and the copper caps resulted in small amounts of the Joule heating at the joints when 1000 A was applied. The overall (effective) thermal conductivity of the current leads composed of YBCO tapes and the stainless steel board was much lower than that of Non-superconducting current leads. Therefore, the present current leads with small heat leakage seemed to be practically promising for superconducting magnets.

Electronic materials high-T(sub c) superconductivity polymers and composites structural materials surface science and catalysts industry participation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

The fifth year of the Center for Advanced Materials was marked primarily by the significant scientific accomplishments of the research programs. The Electronics Materials program continued its work on the growth and characterization of gallium arsenide crystals, and the development of theories to understand the nature and distribution of defects in the crystals. The High Tc Superconductivity Program continued to make significant contributions to the field in theoretical and experimental work on both bulk materials and thin films and devices. The Ceramic Processing group developed a new technique for cladding YBCO superconductors for high current applications in work with the Electric Power Research Institute. The Polymers and Composites program published a number of important studies involving atomistic simulations of polymer surfaces with excellent correlations to experimental results. The new Enzymatic Synthesis of Materials project produced its first fluorinated polymers and successfully began engineering enzymes designed for materials synthesis. The structural Materials Program continued work on novel alloys, development of processing methods for advanced ceramics, and characterization of mechanical properties of these materials, including the newly documented characterization of cyclic fatigue crack propagation behavior in toughened ceramics. Finally, the Surface Science and Catalysis program made significant contributions to the understanding of microporous catalysts and the nature of surface structures and interface compounds.

Superconductivity devices: Commercial use of space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haertling, Gene; Furman, Eugene; Hsi, Chi-Shiung; Li, Guang

1993-01-01

A YBCO thick film containing 20 percent Ag2O with a T(sub c) of 86.8 K and J(sub c) of 108 A/sq cm was obtained. The film was fabricated by a two-step firing process, i.e., firing the film at 1000 C for 10 minutes and annealing at 970 C for 30 minutes. The two-step firing process, however, was not suitable for the multiple-lead YBCO sample due to the formation of the 211 green phase at 1000 C in the multiple-lead YBCO sample. A BSCCO thick film printed on a MgO coated MSZ substrate and fired at 845 C for 2 hours exhibited a superconducting behavior at 89 K. Because of its porous microstructure, the critical current density of the BSCCO thick film was limited. This report also includes the results of the YBCO and BSCCO materials used as oxide electrodes for ferroelectric materials. The YBCO electroded PLZT showed higher remanent polarization and coercive field than the sample electroded with silver paste. A higher Curie temperature for the PLZT was obtained from the YBCO electroded sample. The BSCCO electroded sample, however, exhibited the same Curie temperature as that of a silver electroded sample. Dissipation factors of the ferroelectric samples increased when the oxide electrode was applied.

High-Tc superconducting microbolometer for terahertz applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulysse, C.; Gaugue, A.; Adam, A.; Kreisler, A. J.; Villégier, J.-C.; Thomassin, J.-L.

2002-05-01

Superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers are now a competitive alternative to Schottky diode mixers in the terahertz frequency range because of their ultra wideband (from millimeter waves to visible light), high conversion gain, and low intrinsic noise level. High Tc superconductor materials can be used to make hot electron bolometers and present some advantage in term of operating temperature and cooling. In this paper, we present first a model for the study of superconducting hot electron bolometers responsivity in direct detection mode, in order to establish a firm basis for the design of future THz mixers. Secondly, an original process to realize YBaCuO hot electron bolometer mixers will be described. Submicron YBaCuO superconducting structures are expitaxially sputter deposited on MgO substrates and patterned by using electron beam lithography in combination with optical lithography. Metal masks achieved by electron beam lithography are insuring a good bridge definition and protection during ion etching. Finally, detection experiments are being performed with a laser at 850 nm wavelength, in homodyne mode in order to prove the feasibility and potential performances of these devices.

Quantum memristor in a superconducting circuit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salmilehto, Juha; Sanz, Mikel; di Ventra, Massimiliano; Solano, Enrique

Memristors, resistive elements that retain information of their past, have garnered interest due to their paradigm-changing potential in information processing and electronics. The emergent hysteretic behaviour allows for novel architectural applications and has recently been classically demonstrated in a simplified superconducting setup using the phase-dependent conductance in the tunnel-junction-microscopic model. In this contribution, we present a truly quantum model for a memristor constructed using established elements and techniques in superconducting nanoelectronics, and explore the parameters for feasible operation as well as refine the methods for quantifying the memory retention. In particular, the memristive behaviour is shown to arise from quasiparticle-induced tunneling in the full dissipative model and can be observed in the phase-driven tunneling current. The relevant hysteretic behaviour should be observable using current state-of-the-art measurements for detecting quasiparticle excitations. Our theoretical findings constitute the first quantum memristor in a superconducting circuit and act as the starting point for designing further circuit elements that have non-Markovian characteristics The authors acknowledge support from the CCQED EU project and the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

Coherent optical excitations in superconducting qubit chain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ian, Hou; Liu, Yu-Xi

2012-06-01

In the recent years, the theories of quantum optics have been borrowed to study the flows of electron pairs and their interactions with the circuit photon in the superconducting qubit circuits. These studies bring about new theories of quantum optics, such as the tunable electromagnetically induced transparency effect, peculiar to the Cooper pairs in circuits. In this talk, we focus on a special type of superconducting qubit circuits: superconducting qubit chain (SQC), which comprises dozens of qubits linearly placed along a stripline resonator. Since the dimensions of the qubits and the stripline have made their interactions inhomogeneous, the SQC cannot be diagonalized using the usual Dicke model. We present a new theoretical method, the deformation-projection method, for the exact diagonalization of the collective excitations of the qubits. This method allows us to predict that these excitations emulate the behaviors of Wannier and Frenckel excitons in the solid-state systems. The spontaneous emissions from the individual qubits in SQC are relayed to their neighbors, eventually arriving at a coherent emission, known as superradiance. We present a quantum relay model, which is crucial to quantum information processing, based on this finding.

Overview of ten-year operation of the superconducting linear accelerator at the Spallation Neutron Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, S.-H.; Afanador, R.; Barnhart, D. L.; Crofford, M.; Degraff, B. D.; Doleans, M.; Galambos, J.; Gold, S. W.; Howell, M. P.; Mammosser, J.; McMahan, C. J.; Neustadt, T. S.; Peters, C.; Saunders, J. W.; Strong, W. H.; Vandygriff, D. J.; Vandygriff, D. M.

2017-04-01

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) has acquired extensive operational experience of a pulsed proton superconducting linear accelerator (SCL) as a user facility. Numerous lessons have been learned in its first 10 years operation to achieve a stable and reliable operation of the SCL. In this paper, an overview of the SNS SCL design, qualification of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities and ancillary subsystems, an overview of the SNS cryogenic system, the SCL operation including SCL output energy history and downtime statistics, performance stability of the SRF cavities, efforts for SRF cavity performance recovery and improvement at the SNS, and maintenance activities for cryomodules are introduced.

Overview of ten-year operation of the superconducting linear accelerator at the Spallation Neutron Source

DOE PAGES

Kim, Sang-Ho; Afanador, Ralph; Barnhart, Debra L.; ...

2017-02-04

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) has acquired extensive operational experience of a pulsed proton superconducting linear accelerator (SCL) as a user facility. Numerous lessons have been learned in its first 10 years operation to achieve a stable and reliable operation of the SCL. In this paper, an overview of the SNS SCL design, qualification of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities and ancillary subsystems, an overview of the SNS cryogenic system, the SCL operation including SCL output energy history and downtime statistics, performance stability of the SRF cavities, efforts for SRF cavity performance recovery and improvement at the SNS, and maintenancemore » activities for cryomodules are introduced.« less

Dual-keel electrodynamic maglev system

DOEpatents

He, Jianliang; Wang, Zian; Rote, Donald M.; Coffey, Howard T.; Hull, John R.; Mulcahy, Thomas M.; Cal, Yigang

1996-01-01

A propulsion and stabilization system with a plurality of superconducting magnetic devices affixed to the dual-keels of a vehicle, where the superconducting magnetic devices produce a magnetic field when energized. The system also includes a plurality of figure-eight shaped null-flux coils affixed to opposing vertical sides of slots in a guideway. The figure-eight shaped null-flux coils are vertically oriented, laterally cross-connected in parallel, longitudinally connected in series, and continue the length of the vertical slots providing levitation and guidance force. An external power source energizes the figure-eight shaped null-flux coils to create a magnetic traveling wave that interacts with the magnetic field produced by the superconducting magnets to impart motion to the vehicle.

Overview of ten-year operation of the superconducting linear accelerator at the Spallation Neutron Source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Sang-Ho; Afanador, Ralph; Barnhart, Debra L.

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) has acquired extensive operational experience of a pulsed proton superconducting linear accelerator (SCL) as a user facility. Numerous lessons have been learned in its first 10 years operation to achieve a stable and reliable operation of the SCL. In this paper, an overview of the SNS SCL design, qualification of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities and ancillary subsystems, an overview of the SNS cryogenic system, the SCL operation including SCL output energy history and downtime statistics, performance stability of the SRF cavities, efforts for SRF cavity performance recovery and improvement at the SNS, and maintenancemore » activities for cryomodules are introduced.« less

Superconductor fiber elongation with a heated injected gas

DOEpatents

Zeigler, Douglas D.; Conrad, Barry L.; Gleixner, Richard A.

2001-01-16

An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36') which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).

Superconductor fiber elongation with a heated injected gas

DOEpatents

Zeigler, Douglas D.; Conrad, Barry L.; Gleixner, Richard A.

1998-06-02

An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36') which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).

Magnetic Fluctuations in Pair-Density-Wave Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christensen, Morten H.; Jacobsen, Henrik; Maier, Thomas A.; Andersen, Brian M.

2016-04-01

Pair-density-wave superconductivity constitutes a novel electronic condensate proposed to be realized in certain unconventional superconductors. Establishing its potential existence is important for our fundamental understanding of superconductivity in correlated materials. Here we compute the dynamical magnetic susceptibility in the presence of a pair-density-wave ordered state and study its fingerprints on the spin-wave spectrum including the neutron resonance. In contrast to the standard case of d -wave superconductivity, we show that the pair-density-wave phase exhibits neither a spin gap nor a magnetic resonance peak, in agreement with a recent neutron scattering experiment on underdoped La1.905 Ba0.095 CuO4 [Z. Xu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 177002 (2014)].

Process simulations for the LCLS-II cryogenic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravindranath, V.; Bai, H.; Heloin, V.; Fauve, E.; Pflueckhahn, D.; Peterson, T.; Arenius, D.; Bevins, M.; Scanlon, C.; Than, R.; Hays, G.; Ross, M.

2017-12-01

Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS-II), a 4 GeV continuous-wave (CW) superconducting electron linear accelerator, is to be constructed in the existing two mile Linac facility at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The first light from the new facility is scheduled to be in 2020. The LCLS-II Linac consists of thirty-five 1.3 GHz and two 3.9 GHz superconducting cryomodules. The Linac cryomodules require cryogenic cooling for the super-conducting niobium cavities at 2.0 K, low temperature thermal intercept at 5.5-7.5 K, and a thermal shield at 35-55 K. The equivalent 4.5 K refrigeration capacity needed for the Linac operations range from a minimum of 11 kW to a maximum of 24 kW. Two cryogenic plants with 18 kW of equivalent 4.5 K refrigeration capacity will be used for supporting the Linac cryogenic cooling requirements. The cryogenic plants are based on the Jefferson Lab’s CHL-II cryogenic plant design which uses the “Floating Pressure” design to support a wide variation in the cooling load. In this paper, the cryogenic process for the integrated LCLS-II cryogenic system and the process simulation for a 4.5 K cryoplant in combination with a 2 K cold compressor box, and the Linac cryomodules are described.

Improvements in the processing of large grain, bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors via the use of additional liquid phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Congreve, Jasmin V. J.; Shi, Yunhua; Dennis, Anthony R.; Durrell, John H.; Cardwell, David A.

2017-01-01

A major limitation to the widespread application of Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) bulk superconductors is the relative complexity and low yield of the top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process, by which these materials are commonly fabricated. It has been demonstrated in previous work on the recycling of samples in which the primary growth had failed, that the provision of an additional liquid-rich phase to replenish liquid lost during the failed growth process leads to the reliable growth of relatively high quality recycled samples. In this paper we describe the adaptation of the liquid phase enrichment technique to the primary TSMG fabrication process. We further describe the observed differences between the microstructure and superconducting properties of samples grown with additional liquid-rich phase and control samples grown using a conventional TSMG process. We observe that the introduction of the additional liquid-rich phase leads to the formation of a higher concentration of Y species at the growth front, which leads, in turn, to a more uniform composition at the growth front. Importantly, the increased uniformity at the growth front leads directly to an increased homogeneity in the distribution of the Y-211 inclusions in the superconducting Y-123 phase matrix and to a more uniform Y-123 phase itself. Overall, the provision of an additional liquid-rich phase improves significantly both the reliability of grain growth through the sample thickness and the magnitude and homogeneity of the superconducting properties of these samples compared to those fabricated by a conventional TSMG process.

3D multiphysics modeling of superconducting cavities with a massively parallel simulation suite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kononenko, Oleksiy; Adolphsen, Chris; Li, Zenghai; Ng, Cho-Kuen; Rivetta, Claudio

2017-10-01

Radiofrequency cavities based on superconducting technology are widely used in particle accelerators for various applications. The cavities usually have high quality factors and hence narrow bandwidths, so the field stability is sensitive to detuning from the Lorentz force and external loads, including vibrations and helium pressure variations. If not properly controlled, the detuning can result in a serious performance degradation of a superconducting accelerator, so an understanding of the underlying detuning mechanisms can be very helpful. Recent advances in the simulation suite ace3p have enabled realistic multiphysics characterization of such complex accelerator systems on supercomputers. In this paper, we present the new capabilities in ace3p for large-scale 3D multiphysics modeling of superconducting cavities, in particular, a parallel eigensolver for determining mechanical resonances, a parallel harmonic response solver to calculate the response of a cavity to external vibrations, and a numerical procedure to decompose mechanical loads, such as from the Lorentz force or piezoactuators, into the corresponding mechanical modes. These capabilities have been used to do an extensive rf-mechanical analysis of dressed TESLA-type superconducting cavities. The simulation results and their implications for the operational stability of the Linac Coherent Light Source-II are discussed.

The first man-loading high temperature superconducting Maglev test vehicle in the world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jiasu; Wang, Suyu; Zeng, Youwen; Huang, Haiyu; Luo, Fang; Xu, Zhipei; Tang, Qixue; Lin, Guobin; Zhang, Cuifang; Ren, Zhongyou; Zhao, Guomin; Zhu, Degui; Wang, Shaohua; Jiang, He; Zhu, Min; Deng, Changyan; Hu, Pengfei; Li, Chaoyong; Liu, Fang; Lian, Jisan; Wang, Xiaorong; Wang, Lianghui; Shen, Xuming; Dong, Xiaogang

2002-10-01

The first man-loading high temperature superconducting Maglev test vehicle in the world is reported. This vehicle was first tested successfully on December 31, 2000 in the Applied Superconductivity Laboratory, Southwest Jiaotong University, China. Heretofore over 17,000 passengers took the vehicle, and it operates very well from beginning to now. The function of suspension is separated from one of propulsion. The high temperature superconducting Maglev provides inherent stable forces both in the levitation and in the guidance direction. The vehicle is 3.5 m long, 1.2 m wide, and 0.8 m high. When five people stand on vehicle and the total weight is 530 kg, the net levitation gap is more than 20 mm. The whole vehicle system includes three parts, vehicle body, guideway and controlling system. The high temperature superconducting Maglev equipment on board is the most important for the system. The onboard superconductors are melt-textured YBaCuO bulks. The superconductors are fixed on the bottom of liquid nitrogen vessels and cooled by liquid nitrogen. The guideway consists of two parallel permanent magnetic tracks, whose surface concentrating magnetic field is up to 1.2 T. The guideway is 15.5 m long.

Applications of superconductor technologies to transportation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rote, D. M.; Herring, J. S.; Sheahen, T. P.

1989-06-01

This report assesses transportation applications of superconducting devices, such as rotary motors and generators, linear synchronous motors, energy storage devices, and magnets. Among conventional vehicles, ships appear to have the greatest potential for maximizing the technical benefits of superconductivity, such as smaller, lighter, and more-efficient motors and, possibly, more-efficient generators. Smaller-scale applications include motors for pipeline pumps, all-electric and diesel-electric locomotives, self-propelled rail cars, and electric highway vehicles. For diesel-electric locomotives, superconducting units would eliminate space limitations on tractive power. Superconducting magnetic energy storage devices appear most suitable for regenerative braking or power assistance in grade climbing, rather than for long-term energy storage. With toroidal devices (especially for onboard temporary energy storage), external fields would be eliminated. With regard to new vehicle technologies, the use of superconducting devices would only marginally enhance the benefits of inductive-power-coupled vehicles over conventional electric vehicles, but could enable magnetically levitated (maglev) vehicles to obtain speeds of 520 km/h or more. This feature, together with the quiet, smooth ride, might make maglev vehicles an attractive alternative to intercity highway-vehicle or airlane trips in the range of 100 to 600 miles. Electromagnetic airport applications are not yet feasible.

Insights to Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavity Processing from First Principles Calculations and Spectroscopic Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ford, Denise Christine

Insights to the fundamental processes that occur during the manufacturing of niobium superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are provided via analyses of density functional theory calculations and Raman, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. I show that during electropolishing fluorine is bound and released by the reaction of the acid components in the solution: HF + H2SO4 <-> HFSO3 + H2O. This result implies that new recipes can possibly be developed on the principle of controlled release of fluorine by a chemical reaction. I also show that NMR or Raman spectroscopy can be used to monitor the free fluorine when polishing with the standard electropolishing recipe. Density functional theory was applied to calculate the properties of common processing impurities---hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon---in the niobium. These impurities lower the superconducting transition temperature of niobium, and hydride precipitates are at best weakly superconducting. I modeled several of the niobium hydride phases relevant to SRF cavities, and explain the phase changes in the niobium hydrogen system based on the charge transfer between niobium and hydrogen and the strain field inside of the niobium. I also present evidence for a niobium lattice vacancy serving as a nucleation center for hydride phase formation. In considering the other chemical impurities in niobium, I show that the absorption of oxygen into a niobium lattice vacancy is preferred over the absorption of hydrogen, which indicates that oxygen can block these phase nucleation centers. I also show that dissolved oxygen atoms can trap dissolved hydrogen atoms to prevent niobium hydride phase formation. Nitrogen and carbon were studied in less depth, but behaved similarly to oxygen. Based on these results and a literature survey, I propose a mechanism for the success of the low-temperature anneal applied to niobium SRF cavities. Finally, I present the beginning of a model to describe magnetic impurities in niobium SRF cavities, which can cause a loss of local superconductivity. I calculated magnetic configurations of niobium hydrides and oxides, and show that stoichiometric hydride and oxide structures are nonmagnetic, but defective oxide structures retain local magnetic moments.

Insights to Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavity Processing from First Principles Calculations and Spectroscopic Techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ford, Denise Christine

Insights to the fundamental processes that occur during the manufacturing of niobium superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are provided via analyses of density functional theory calculations and Raman, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. I show that during electropolishing fluorine is bound and released by the reaction of the acid components in the solution: HF + H 2SO 4 <-> HFSO 3 + H 2O. This result implies that new recipes can possibly be developed on the principle of controlled release of fluorine by a chemical reaction. I also show that NMR or Raman spectroscopy can be used to monitormore » the free fluorine when polishing with the standard electropolishing recipe. Density functional theory was applied to calculate the properties of common processing impurities – hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon – in the niobium. These impurities lower the superconducting transition temperature of niobium, and hydride precipitates are at best weakly superconducting. I modeled several of the niobium hydride phases relevant to SRF cavities, and explain the phase changes in the niobium hydrogen system based on the charge transfer between niobium and hydrogen and the strain field inside of the niobium. I also present evidence for a niobium lattice vacancy serving as a nucleation center for hydride phase formation. In considering the other chemical impurities in niobium, I show that the absorption of oxygen into a niobium lattice vacancy is preferred over the absorption of hydrogen, which indicates that oxygen can block these phase nucleation centers. I also show that dissolved oxygen atoms can trap dissolved hydrogen atoms to prevent niobium hydride phase formation. Nitrogen and carbon were studied in less depth, but behaved similarly to oxygen. Based on these results and a literature survey, I propose a mechanism for the success of the low-temperature anneal applied to niobium SRF cavities. Finally, I present the beginning of a model to describe magnetic impurities in niobium SRF cavities, which can cause a loss of local superconductivity. I calculated magnetic configurations of niobium hydrides and oxides, and show that stoichiometric hydride and oxide structures are nonmagnetic, but defective oxide structures retain local magnetic moments.« less

High-Temperature High-Current Superconductors: Preparation, Structure, Superconducting Properties, and Flux-Pinning Mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Shouxiang

In bulk high-T_{rm c } superconductors, weak links at the grain boundaries and weak flux pinning are the two major causes of low critical current density (J_{ rm c}) at 77 K. In the present study, various processes designed and developed to address these problems are discussed. The novel pressurized-partial -melt-growth process, which leads to a relatively large improvement in the microstructure as well as in the superconducting properties of bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors, is described. The effects of introducing foreign elements to serve as pinning centers are reported, and the associated anomalous superconducting phenomena are explained on the basis of a detailed study of basic pinning mechanisms related to the presence of small defects. It is demonstrated that in certain cases the pinning force induced by the compression of the vortex line may be comparable to, or even larger than, the usually recognized pinning force due to the condensation energy. Studies of the pinning mechanism corresponding to large boundary defects show that boundary defects associated with certain non-superconducting inclusions and isolated weak links have a very positive role in the enhancement of both the critical current density and the effective activation energy for flux creep. However, even optimized theoretical estimates show that it will be difficult to reach J_ {rm c} values of 5 times 10^5 A/cm^2 at 77 K and H = 1 T by increasing the number of Y_2BaCuO inclusions alone. Although even higher J_{rm c} values may be achieved by introducing other types of defects using alternative approaches such as irradiation, and, probably, chemical doping, the presence of large amount of boundary defects is very important in causing a large increase in the effective activation energy for flux creep. Also studied are the anisotropic electromagnetic features of the grain-aligned YBa_2Cu _3O_{rm x} bulk superconductors. The development of novel processing methods guided by improved understanding of the basic mechanisms involved opens the way for the preparation of high-quality bulk high-T_{rm c} superconducting materials for a wide variety of applications.

Simultaneous constraint and phase conversion processing of oxide superconductors

DOEpatents

Li, Qi; Thompson, Elliott D.; Riley, Jr., Gilbert N.; Hellstrom, Eric E.; Larbalestier, David C.; DeMoranville, Kenneth L.; Parrell, Jeffrey A.; Reeves, Jodi L.

2003-04-29

A method of making an oxide superconductor article includes subjecting an oxide superconductor precursor to a texturing operation to orient grains of the oxide superconductor precursor to obtain a highly textured precursor; and converting the textured oxide superconducting precursor into an oxide superconductor, while simultaneously applying a force to the precursor which at least matches the expansion force experienced by the precursor during phase conversion to the oxide superconductor. The density and the degree of texture of the oxide superconductor precursor are retained during phase conversion. The constraining force may be applied isostatically.

Preparation of YBa2Cu3O7 High Tc Superconducting Coatings by Plasma Spraying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danroc, J.; Lacombe, J.

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION * THE COMPOUND YBa2Cu3O7-δ * Structure * Critical temperature * Critical current density * Phase equilibria in the YBaCuO system * PREPARATION OF YBa2Cu3O7 COATINGS * General organisation of the preparation process * The powder * Hot plasma spraying of YBa2Cu3O7 * The post-spraying thermal treatment * CHARACTERISTICS OF THE YBa2Cu3O7-δ COATINGS * Chemical composition * Crystalline structure * Morphology of the coatings * Electrical and magnetic characteristics * Conclusion * REFERENCES

Thin Film Approaches to the SRF Cavity Problem Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Thin Films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beringer, Douglas

Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cavities are responsible for the acceleration of charged particles to relativistic velocities in most modern linear accelerators, such as those employed at high-energy research facilities like Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory’s CEBAF and the LHC at CERN. Recognizing SRF as primarily a surface phenomenon enables the possibility of applying thin films to the interior surface of SRF cavities, opening a formidable tool chest of opportunities by combining and designing materials that offer greater performance benefit. Thus, while improvements in radio frequency cavity design and refinements in cavity processing techniques have improved accelerator performance and efficiency – 1.5more » GHz bulk niobium SRF cavities have achieved accelerating gradients in excess of 35 MV/m – there exist fundamental material bounds in bulk superconductors limiting the maximally sustained accelerating field gradient (≈ 45 MV/m for Nb) where inevitable thermodynamic breakdown occurs. With state of the art Nb based cavity design fast approaching these theoretical limits, novel material innovations must be sought in order to realize next generation SRF cavities. One proposed method to improve SRF performance is to utilize thin film superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) multilayer structures to effectively magnetically screen a bulk superconducting layer such that it can operate at higher field gradients before suffering critically detrimental SRF losses. This dissertation focuses on the production and characterization of thin film superconductors for such SIS layers for radio frequency applications. Correlated studies on structure, surface morphology and superconducting properties of epitaxial Nb and MgB2 thin films are presented.« less

Overview of superconductivity in Japan Strategy road map and R&D status

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsukamoto, O.

2008-09-01

Superconducting technology benefits society in broad fields; environment/energy, life science, manufacturing industry and information and communication. Superconducting equipments and devices used in various fields are divided into two categories, electric and electronic applications. Technologies in those applications are progressing remarkably owing to firm and consistent supports by various national projects. The final target of the NEDO R&D project of fundamental technology for superconductivity applications to develop 500 m long coated conductors (CCs) of the critical current 300 A/cm (at 77 K, 0 T) will be fulfilled by the end of JFY 2007 and manufacturing process to produce extremely low-cost CCs is to be developed to make the applications realistic. Preliminary works to develop power apparatuses using CCs have started in the frame of the R&D project for the fundamental technology and have produced significant results. Performance of BSCCO/Ag-sheathed wires has been improved greatly and various applications using those wires are being developed. R&D projects for SMES, power cable, flywheel energy storage and rotating machines are going to introduce those equipments to the real world. Technologies of SQUID and SFQ, basic devices of the electronic applications, are progressing dramatically also owing to various national projects. In this back ground the technology strategy map in the field of superconducting technology was formulated to prioritize investments in R&D by clearly defining the objectives and inspire autonomous R&D actives in various fields of industries. R&D activities in the superconducting technologies are to be scheduled following this strategy map.

Processing and characterization of superconducting solenoids made of Bi-2212/Ag-alloy multifilament round wire for high field magnet applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Peng

As the only high temperature superconductor with round wire (RW) geometry, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (Bi-2212) superconducting wire has the advantages of being multi-filamentary, macroscopically isotropic and twistable. With overpressure (OP) processing techniques recently developed by our group at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), the engineering current density (Je) of Bi-2212 RW can be dramatically increased. For example, Je of more than 600 A/mm 2 (4.2 K and 20 T) is achieved after 100 bar OP processing. With these intrinsically beneficial properties and recent processing progress, Bi-2212 RW has become very attractive for high field magnet applications, especially for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnets and accelerator magnets etc. This thesis summarizes my graduate study on Bi-2212 solenoids for high field and high homogeneity NMR magnet applications, which mainly includes performance study of Bi-2212 RW insulations, 1 bar and OP processing study of Bi-2212 solenoids, and development of superconducting joints between Bi-2212 RW conductors. Electrical insulation is one of the key components of Bi-2212 coils to provide sufficient electrical standoff within coil winding pack. A TiO 2/polymer insulation offered by nGimat LLC was systematically investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dielectric property measurements, and transport critical current (Ic) property measurements. About 29% of the insulation by weight is polymer. When the Bi-2212 wire is fully heat treated, this decomposes with slow heating to 400 °C in flowing O2. After the full reaction, we found that the TiO2 did not degrade the critical current properties, adhered well to the conductor, and provided a breakdown voltage of more than 100 V. A Bi-2212 RW wound solenoid coil was built using this insulation being offered by nGimat LLC. The coil resistance was constant through coil winding, polymer burn-off and full coil reaction. The coil was successfully tested at the NHMFL generating 33.8 T combined magnetic field in a 31.2 T background field. Multiple quenches occurred safely, which also illustrates that the insulation provided sufficient dielectric standoff. For Bi-2212 RW with a typical as-drawn diameter of 1.0-1.5 mm, this 15 microm thick insulation allows a very high coil packing factor of ~0.74, whereas earlier alumino-silicate braid insulation only allows packing factors of 0.38-0.48. In addition to the commercial TiO2/polymer insulation, we have also investigated sol-gel based ceramic coatings through collaboration with Harran University and another TiO2 based insulation coating at the NHMFL. Since Bi-2212 superconducting coils employ the Wind-and-React (W&R) technology, there are some potential issues in processing Bi-2212 coils, in particular for coils with a large thermal mass and dense oxide insulation coating. For this study, several Bi-2212 test solenoids with an outer diameter (OD) of about 90 mm were built and heat treated in 1 bar flowing oxygen with deadweights applied so as to simulate large coil packs. After the heat treatment (HT), coils were epoxy impregnated and cut. Winding pack was checked using SEM in terms of conductor geometry and insulation. Some samples were extracted to measure transport critical current Ic and critical temperature Tc. The results are very promising: test coils presented low creep behavior after standard partial melt HT under mechanical load, and no Ic degradation was found due to the application of mechanical load, and no inadequate oxygenation issue was seen for thick coils with ceramic coating on the wire. However, coils were partially electrically shorted after 1 bar HT under mechanical load, and we believe that increasing insulation coating thickness is necessary. In addition, several small solenoids were manufactured to study OP processing of Bi-2212 coils. The preliminary results indicate that there are some gaps between turns due to densification of wires (~4% wire diameter reduction) during 50-100 bar OP processing, and the diameter shrinking of conductors will potentially lead to coil sagging. So far, we have developed some methods to solve the issue of coil sagging, such as using flexible coil flange to allow smooth sagging of winding pack during OP processing. We have also investigated electrical joints between Bi-2212 RW conductors, which include resistive joints and superconducting joints. For resistive Bi-2212 joints, we evaluated conventional diffusion bonding method and soldering method. In general, the joints (with 42 mm joint length) resistances are below 200 nO at 4.2 K and magnetic fields up to 13.5 T, and the effect of magnetoresistance is clearly present. In addition to resistive joints, we successfully developed a superconducting joint between Bi-2212 RW conductors for persistent current mode (PCM) operations. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

A-15 Superconducting composite wires and a method for making

DOEpatents

Suenaga, Masaki; Klamut, Carl J.; Luhman, Thomas S.

1984-01-01

A method for fabricating superconducting wires wherein a billet of copper containing filaments of niobium or vanadium is rolled to form a strip which is wrapped about a tin-alloy core to form a composite. The alloy is a tin-copper alloy for niobium filaments and a gallium-copper alloy for vanadium filaments. The composite is then drawn down to a desired wire size and heat treated. During the heat treatment process, the tin in the bronze reacts with the niobium to form the superconductor niobium tin. In the case where vanadium is used, the gallium in the gallium bronze reacts with the vanadium to form the superconductor vanadium gallium. This new process eliminates the costly annealing steps, external tin plating and drilling of bronze ingots required in a number of prior art processes.

Spaceborne Gravity Gradiometers. Part 3: Instrument status and prospects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1984-01-01

Various technologies incorporated in the development of gravity gradiometers are demonstrated through descriptions of specific instruments. Concepts covered include: rotating, spherical, cryogenic, and superconducting gravity gradiometers with and without accelerometers. The application of superconducting cavity oscillators to mass-spring gradiometers, and cooperation of Italy's Piano Spaziale Nazionale with the Smithsonian Astrophysics Observatory in the design and development of a high sensitivity gradiometer are described. Schematics are provided for each instrument.

Superconducting Magnetic Projectile Launcher

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jan, Darrell L.; Lawson, Daniel D.

1991-01-01

Proposed projectile launcher exploits Meissner effect to transfer much of kinetic energy of relatively massive superconducting plunger to smaller projectile, accelerating projectile to high speed. Because it operates with magnetic fields, launcher not limited by gas-expansion thermodynamics. Plunger energized mechanically and/or chemically, avoiding need for large electrical power supplies and energy-storage systems. Potential applications include launching of projectiles for military purposes and for scientific and industrial tests of hypervelocity impacts.

Design of superconducting corrector magnets for LHC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baynham, D. E.; Coombs, R. C.; Ijspeert, A.; Perin, R.

1994-07-01

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will require a range of superconducting corrector magnets. This paper presents the design of sextupole and decapole corrector coils which will be included as spool pieces adjacent to each main ring dipole. The paper gives detailed 3D field computations of the coil configurations to meet LHC beam dynamics requirements. Coil protection within a long string environment is addressed and mechanical design outlines are presented.

Materials Research in Support of Superconducting Machinery - II

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-10-01

iwiRnai«.|UiipWiw .mm i MARTIN MARIETTA AEROSPACE, DENVER DIVISION Study of Fracture Behavior of Metals for Superconducting Applications...into design use by compiling and publishing what literature data are available and assessing what properties need further study . The first year’s...non-metal base composites, including B-epoxy, C-epoxy and polyimide, PRD 49-epoxy, borsic-Al, Steel-Al. Screening study of composites for torque

First results of 28 GHz superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source for KBSI accelerator.

PubMed

Park, Jin Yong; Lee, Byoung-Seob; Choi, Seyong; Kim, Seong Jun; Ok, Jung-Woo; Yoon, Jang-Hee; Kim, Hyun Gyu; Shin, Chang Seouk; Hong, Jonggi; Bahng, Jungbae; Won, Mi-Sook

2016-02-01

The 28 GHz superconducting electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source has been developed to produce a high current heavy ion for the linear accelerator at KBSI (Korea Basic Science Institute). The objective of this study is to generate fast neutrons with a proton target via a p(Li,n)Be reaction. The design and fabrication of the essential components of the ECR ion source, which include a superconducting magnet with a liquid helium re-condensed cryostat and a 10 kW high-power microwave, were completed. The waveguide components were connected with a plasma chamber including a gas supply system. The plasma chamber was inserted into the warm bore of the superconducting magnet. A high voltage system was also installed for the ion beam extraction. After the installation of the ECR ion source, we reported the results for ECR plasma ignition at ECRIS 2014 in Russia. Following plasma ignition, we successfully extracted multi-charged ions and obtained the first results in terms of ion beam spectra from various species. This was verified by a beam diagnostic system for a low energy beam transport system. In this article, we present the first results and report on the current status of the KBSI accelerator project.