Large intrinsic effect of axial strain on the critical current of high-temperature superconductors for electric power applications

Published

January 31, 2007

Author(s)

Daniel C. van der Laan, John (Jack) W. Ekin

Abstract

A remarkably large reversible reduction in the critical current of "second generation" high-temperature superconductors for electric power applications has been measured with a new technique over a wide range of mechanical strain. The effect amounts to a 40% reduction in critical current at 1% compressive strain in self-magnetic field, and is symmetric for compressive and tensile strains. The intrinsic effect is measured in highly aligned multigranular YBa₂Cu₃O_7-d coated conductors made by different processes, including superconductors with nanoscale pinning centers. This effect and its magnitude are expected to have a significant impact on power applications and provide a useful new parameter for probing the fundamental nature of current transport in high-temperature superconductors.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

90

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

critical current, electro-mechanical properties, high-temperature superconductors, reversible strain effect, Superconductivity, YBCO coated conductors

Citation

van der Laan, D. and Ekin, J. (2007), Large intrinsic effect of axial strain on the critical current of high-temperature superconductors for electric power applications, Applied Physics Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=32463 (Accessed October 10, 2025)