Use of second generation coated conductors for efficient shielding of DC magnetic fields

in Journal of Applied Physics (2010), 108

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the performance of two types of magnetic screens assembled from YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) coated conductors. Since effective screening of the ... [more ▼]

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the performance of two types of magnetic screens assembled from YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) coated conductors. Since effective screening of the axial DC magnetic field requires the unimpeded flow of an azimuthal persistent current, we demonstrate a configuration of a screening shell made out of standard YBCO coated conductor capable to accomplish that. The screen allows the persistent current to flow in the predominantly azimuthal direction at a temperature of 77 K. The persistent screen, incorporating a single layer of superconducting film, can attenuate an external magnetic field of up to 5 mT by more than an order of magnitude. For comparison purposes, another type of screen which incorporates low critical temperature quasi-persistent joints was also built. The shielding technique we describe here appears to be especially promising for the realization of large scale high-Tc superconducting screens. [less ▲]

Measurement of dielectric properties at low temperatures: application to the study of magnetoresistive manganite/ insulating oxide bulk composites

in Journal of Physics: Conference Series [=JPCS] (2010), 253

In this paper, we report low temperature dielectric measurements of bulk composite electroceramic samples containing a colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) manganite phase (La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 [abbreviated LCMO ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we report low temperature dielectric measurements of bulk composite electroceramic samples containing a colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) manganite phase (La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 [abbreviated LCMO]) and an insulating phase (Mn3O4). Details of the experimental system are given and possible experimental artefacts due to moisture are outlined. For a LCMO volume fraction of ~ 16%, the permittivity of the LCMO/ Mn3O4 composite at T = 50 K is found to be much higher than that of pure Mn3O4 and magnetic field dependent. This effect is related to an extrinsic space charge polarization mechanism between the insulating phase (Mn3O4) and the conducting magnetoresistive phase (LCMO). [less ▲]

Shielding efficiency and E(J) characteristics measured on large melt cast Bi-2212 hollow cylinders in axial magnetic fields

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2010), 23

We show that tubes of melt cast Bi-2212 used as current leads for LTS magnets can also act as efficient magnetic shields. The magnetic screening properties under an axial DC magnetic field are ... [more ▼]

We show that tubes of melt cast Bi-2212 used as current leads for LTS magnets can also act as efficient magnetic shields. The magnetic screening properties under an axial DC magnetic field are characterized at several temperatures below the liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). Two main shielding properties are studied and compared with those of Bi-2223, a material that has been considered in the past for bulk magnetic shields. The first property is related to the maximum magnetic flux density that can be screened, Blim; it is defined as the applied magnetic flux density below which the field attenuation measured at the centre of the shield exceeds 1000. For a cylinder of Bi-2212 with a wall thickness of 5 mm and a large ratio of length over radius, Blim is evaluated to 1 T at T = 10 K. This value largely exceeds the Blim value measured at the same temperature on similar tubes of Bi-2223. The second shielding property that is characterized is the dependence of Blim with respect to variations of the sweep rate of the applied field, dBapp/dt. This dependence is interpreted in terms of the power law E = Ec(J/Jc)^n and allows us to determine the exponent n of this E(J) characteristics for Bi-2212. The characterization of the magnetic field relaxation involves very small values of the electric field. This gives us the opportunity to experimentally determine the E(J) law in an unexplored region of small electric fields. Combining these results with transport and AC shielding measurements, we construct a piecewise E(J) law that spans over 8 orders of magnitude of the electric field. [less ▲]

Self-heating of bulk high temperature superconductors of finite height subjected to a large alternating magnetic field

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2010), 23

In this work we study, both experimentally and numerically, the self-heating of a bulk, large YBCO pellet of aspect ratio (thickness / diameter) ~ 0.4 subjected to a large AC magnetic field. To ensure ... [more ▼]

In this work we study, both experimentally and numerically, the self-heating of a bulk, large YBCO pellet of aspect ratio (thickness / diameter) ~ 0.4 subjected to a large AC magnetic field. To ensure accurate temperature measurements, the sample was placed in an experimental vacuum chamber to achieve a small and reproducible heat transfer coefficient between the superconductor and the cryogenic fluid. The temperature was measured at several locations on the sample surface during the self-heating process. The experimentally determined temperature gradients are found to be very small in this arrangement (< 0.2 K across the radius of the superconductor). The time-dependence of the average temperature T(t) is found to agree well with a theoretical prediction based on the one-dimensional (1-D) Bean model, assuming a uniform temperature in the sample. A 2-D magneto-thermal model was also used to determine the space and time-dependent temperature distribution T(r, z, t) during the application of the AC field. The losses in the bulk pellet were determined using an algorithm based on the numerical method of Brandt, which was combined with a heat diffusion algorithm implemented using a finite-difference method. The model is shown to be able to reproduce the main trends of the observed temperature evolution of the bulk sample during a self-heating process. Finally, the 2-D model is used to study the effect of a non-uniform distribution of critical current density Jc(r, z) on the losses within the bulk superconductor. [less ▲]

Local Structure of Mn in (La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 Studied by X-ray Absorption Fine Structure

in Acta Physica Polonica A (2010), 117(2), 257-261

Results of X-ray absorption fine structure measurements in manganites (La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 with 0.15 < x < 0.50 are presented. When LaMnO3 is doped with a divalent element such as Ca2+, substituting ... [more ▼]

Results of X-ray absorption fine structure measurements in manganites (La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 with 0.15 < x < 0.50 are presented. When LaMnO3 is doped with a divalent element such as Ca2+, substituting forLa3+, holes are induced in the filled Mn d orbitals. This leads to a strong ferromagnetic coupling between Mn sites. Ca ions in La1-xCaxMnO3 introduce a distortion of the crystal lattice and mixed valence Mn ions (Mn3+ and Mn4+). On the other hand, in manganites (La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 the substitution of La for Ho causes a lattice distortion and induces a disorder, which reduces a magnetic interaction. The ferromagnetic transition temperature and conductivity decrease very quickly with increasing x. The magnetic and transport properties of compounds depend on the local atomic structure around Mn ions. The information on the bond lengths and Debye–Waller factor are obtained from the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data analysis. The charge state of Mn is determined from the position of the absorption edge in X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) data. XAFS results are in good agreement with magnetic characteristics of the studied materials. [less ▲]

Magnetic shielding properties of high- Tc superconducting hollow cylinders: model combining experimental data for axial and transverse magnetic field configurations

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2009), 22(10), 10500210

Magnetic shielding efficiency was measured on high- Tc superconducting hollow cylinders subjected to either an axial or a transverse magnetic field in a large range of field sweep rates, dBapp/dt. The ... [more ▼]

Magnetic shielding efficiency was measured on high- Tc superconducting hollow cylinders subjected to either an axial or a transverse magnetic field in a large range of field sweep rates, dBapp/dt. The behaviour of the superconductor was modelled in order to reproduce the main features of the field penetration curves by using a minimum number of free parameters suitable for both magnetic field orientations. The field penetration measurements were carried out on Pb-doped Bi-2223 tubes at 77 K by applying linearly increasing magnetic fields with a constant sweep rate ranging between 10 uT s[?]1 and 10 mT s[?]1 for both directions of the applied magnetic field. The experimental curves of the internal field versus the applied field, Bin(Bapp), show that, at a given sweep rate, the magnetic field for which the penetration occurs, Blim, is lower for the transverse configuration than for the axial configuration. A power law dependence with large exponent, n', is found between Blim and dBapp/dt. The values of n' are nearly the same for both configurations. We show that the main features of the curves Bin(Bapp) can be reproduced using a simple 2D model, based on the method of Brandt, involving a E(J) power law with an n-exponent and a field-dependent critical current density, Jc(B), (following the Kim model: Jc = Jc0(1+B/B1)[?]1). In particular, a linear relationship between the measured n'-exponents and the n-exponent of the E(J) power law is suggested by taking into account the field dependence of the critical current density. Differences between the axial and the transverse shielding properties can be simply attributed to demagnetizing fields. [less ▲]

Numerical simulation of the magnetization of high-temperature superconductors: a 3D finite element method using a single time-step iteration

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2009), 22

In this paper, we report progress towards a 3D finite element model for the magnetization of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS): we suggest a method that takes into account a power law conductivity ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we report progress towards a 3D finite element model for the magnetization of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS): we suggest a method that takes into account a power law conductivity and demagnetization effects, while neglecting the effects associated with currents that are not perpendicular to the local magnetic induction. We consider samples that are subjected to a uniform magnetic field varying linearly with time. Their magnetization is calculated by means of a weak formulation in the magnetostatic approximation of the Maxwell equations (A–φ formulation). An implicit method is used for the temporal resolution (backward Euler scheme) and is solved with the open source solver GetDP. Fixed point iterations are used to deal with the power law conductivity of HTS. The finite element formulation is validated for an HTS tube with large n value by comparing with results obtained with other well-established methods. We show that carrying out the calculations with a single time-step (as opposed to many small time-steps) produces results with excellent accuracy in a drastically reduced simulation time. The numerical method is extended to the study of the trapped magnetization of cylinders that are drilled with different arrays of columnar holes arranged parallel to the cylinder axis. [less ▲]

Magneto transport characterization of the Sn-doped TbMnO3 manganites

in Journal of Alloys & Compounds (2009), 467(1-2), 35-40

The structural, magnetic and electrical transport properties of the Sn-doped TbMnO3 manganites are studied by X-ray diffraction, ac susceptibility, dc magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements ... [more ▼]

The structural, magnetic and electrical transport properties of the Sn-doped TbMnO3 manganites are studied by X-ray diffraction, ac susceptibility, dc magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements. The Sn doping into the Tb and Mn sites of TbMnO3 compresses the unit cell and changes parameters of the antiferromagnetic phase whereas the magnetic moment of Mn are only weakly affected. The electrical resistivity of doped manganites is reduced and the activation energy EA is determined for the thermally activated conduction. [less ▲]

Magnetic and transport properties of HoMnO3 monocrystals

in Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials [= JOAM] (2009), 11

This paper presents results from measurements of the magnetization, specific heat and dielectric constant, and their temperature and magnetic field dependence, for HoMnO3 single crystals. The results are ... [more ▼]

This paper presents results from measurements of the magnetization, specific heat and dielectric constant, and their temperature and magnetic field dependence, for HoMnO3 single crystals. The results are discussed in the framework of existing data on magnetic symmetries and the interactions between the Mn-spins, the rare earth moments, and the lattice. From the resulting data, the magnetic phase diagram of HoMnO3 was built. [less ▲]

STFT-based spectral analysis of urban waterworks leakage detection

in XIX IMEKO World Congress Proceedings (2009)

Water is an essential good for human being necessity. It must be protected against pollution and useless leakage. Urban waterworks is a strategic infrastructure to be managed with particular attention and ... [more ▼]

Water is an essential good for human being necessity. It must be protected against pollution and useless leakage. Urban waterworks is a strategic infrastructure to be managed with particular attention and care so that users must be satisfied. Different techniques are used to detect leaks from waterworks, specifically from pipelines carrying water. Among them, spectral analysis is very interesting to apply amid problems related to the pipeline section. This paper presents an application of STFT (short-term Fourier transform) technique for identifying urban waterworks leaks; STFT technique is usually used in processing speech. For the purposes of this research, a specific pipeline plant has been build in other to feature a real case. The pipeline section is almost one inch; the adopted section makes the research very interesting since spectral analysis, based essentially on FFT, is generally used for section greater than 20 cm. [less ▲]