Single-domain NEG-123 bulk superconductors for high magnetic field applications

The single-domain (Nd0.33Eu0.33Gd0.33)Ba2Cu3O, "NEG-123" bulk superconductors of 22 mm diameter were prepared with the oxygen-controlled melt-growth process, 40 mol% of (Nd0.33Eu0.33Gd0.33)(2)BaCuO, "NEG-211" sub-micron particles was dispersed in the NEG-123 matrix to improve the flux pinning capability at 77 K, For the controlled crystal growth, we used the melt-textured Nd-123 as a seed. The trapped fields were Measured at 77 K using a Hall probe scanned at 2 mm above the pellet surface. In the single-domain NEG bulk 22 mm in diameter and 9.5 mm in thickness, a trapped magnetic field of 0.7 T was recorded at 77 K and 2 T. which corresponds to the total 2.7 T including the external field. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.