Coupling losses and transverse resistivity of multifilament YBCO coated superconductors

Abstract

We studied the magnetization losses of four different types of filamentary YBCO coated conductors. A 10 mm wide YBCO coated conductor was subdivided into 20 filaments by laser ablation. We measured the frequency dependence of the total losses in the frequency range 0.1 Hz < f < 608 Hz. The coupling loss was obtained from the total by subtracting the hysteresis loss. The latter was measured at low frequencies since only hysteresis loss is nonnegligible at frequencies below 1 Hz. The transverse resistivity, ρtr, was determined from the coupling losses; it was assumed that the sample length is equal to half of the twist pitch. The values of ρtr deduced from the loss data were compared with those obtained by the four-point measurements with current flowing perpendicular to the filaments. Preliminary results indicate the existence of electrical contacts between the superconducting filaments and the substrate in some areas of the samples. This was also confirmed by the Hall probe mapping of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the tape. The measured transverse resistivity was close to the resistivity of the substrate (Hastelloy). © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.