High-Temperature Superconductors: Materials, Properties, and Applications

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 1-6

3. The Superconducting State

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 7-78

4. A Survey of Superconducting Cuprates

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 79-132

5. Physical Properties of High-Tc Superconductors

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 133-222

6. Processing of Superconducting Powders

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 223-264

7. Conductor Fabrication

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 265-346

8. Foundations of Applied Superconductivity

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 347-384

9. Magnet and Energy Applications

   • Rainer Wesche

   Pages 385-398

10. Outlook

    • Rainer Wesche

    Pages 399-399

11. Back Matter

    Pages 401-437

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The discovery by J. G. Bednorz and K. A. Mtllier in 1986 that the superconducting state can exist in oxides at temperatures above 30 K stimulated research in the field of superconductivity and opened up a new field of research. Within a few years a large number of cuprate superconductors with transition temperatures well above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen have been found. The possibility of using liquid nitrogen as coolant re-stimulated interest in power applications of supercon­ ductivity. In this book an overview of the known high-Te superconductors and their physical properties is presented. Aspects related to conductor fabrication and high-current applications are emphasised. The material should be suitable for use in graduate­ level courses on superconductivity. Researchers in the field may profit from the large number of tables and references describing its status at the end of 1997. An introduction to high-To superconductivity must be based on the fundamental physical principles of normal-state electrical conductivity and the well-known characteristics of conventional superconductors. In Chapter 2 this background is provided. Crystal structures, anisotropic properties and general trends of the critical temperatures of the cuprate superconductors are described in Chapters 3 and 4. The processing of superconductor powders addressed in Chapter 5 affects considerably the current-carrying capacity of high-T. wires. In Chapter 6 several fabrication techniques for superconducting wires are described. In addition, the factors limiting the transport critical currents ofhigh-Te wires are discussed.

• crystal
• crystal structure
• liquid
• material
• superconductivity

• École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

  Rainer Wesche

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