Magnetic Vortex Phase Diagram for a Non-Optimized CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Superconductor Presenting a Wide Vortex Liquid Region and an Ultra-High Upper Critical Field

To draw a complete vortex phase diagram for a CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> polycrystalline iron-based superconductor, different kinds of magnetic measurements have been performed focusing on the critical parameters of the sample. Firstly, magnetic moment versus field measu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Armando Galluzzi, Antonio Leo, Andrea Masi, Francesca Varsano, Angela Nigro, Gaia Grimaldi, Massimiliano Polichetti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/884
Description
Summary:To draw a complete vortex phase diagram for a CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> polycrystalline iron-based superconductor, different kinds of magnetic measurements have been performed focusing on the critical parameters of the sample. Firstly, magnetic moment versus field measurements m(H) were performed at low fields in order to evaluate the lower critical field H<sub>c1</sub>. After that, by performing relaxation measurements m(t), a field crossover H<sub>cross</sub> was detected in the framework of a strong pinning regime. The irreversibility field H<sub>irr</sub> as a function of the temperature curve was then drawn by plotting the critical current densities J<sub>c</sub> versus the field for temperatures near T<sub>c</sub>. J<sub>c</sub>(H) has demonstrated a second magnetization peak effect phenomenon, and the second peak field H<sub>sp</sub> has been identified and plotted as a function of temperature, providing information about an elastic to plastic transition in the vortex lattice. Finally, the upper critical field H<sub>c2</sub> as a function of the temperature has been obtained. H<sub>c1</sub>, H<sub>cross</sub>, H<sub>sp</sub>, H<sub>irr</sub>, H<sub>c2</sub> have been fitted and used for drawing the complete vortex phase diagram of the sample. It can be helpful for the understanding of the applicative ranges in the field and temperature of the materials with not-optimized fabrication characteristics, as usually is found in superconducting wires and cables for power applications.
ISSN:2076-3417