Measurements of the first-flux-penetration field in surface-treated and coated Nb: Distinguishing between surface pinning and an interface energy barrier

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Asaduzzaman, Md, McFadden, Ryan M. L., Thoeng, Edward, Laxdal, Robert E., Junginger, Tobias
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866917718804922368
author Asaduzzaman, Md
McFadden, Ryan M. L.
Thoeng, Edward
Laxdal, Robert E.
Junginger, Tobias
author_facet Asaduzzaman, Md
McFadden, Ryan M. L.
Thoeng, Edward
Laxdal, Robert E.
Junginger, Tobias
contents We report measurements of the first-flux-penetration field in surface-treated and coated Nb samples using muon spin rotation ($μ$SR). Using thin Ag foils as energy moderators for the implanted muon spin-probes, we "profile" the vortex penetration field $μ_{0} H_{\mathrm{vp}}$ at sub-surface depths on the order of $\sim 10$ $\mathrmμ$m to $\sim 100$ $\mathrmμ$m. In a coated sample [Nb$_3$Sn(2 $\mathrmμ$m)/Nb], we find that $μ_{0} H_{\mathrm{vp}}$ is depth-independent with a value of 234.5(35) mT, consistent with Nb's metastable superheating field and suggestive of surface energy barrier for flux penetration. Conversely, in a surface-treated sample [Nb baked in vacuum at 120 $^{\circ}$C for 48 h], vortex penetration onsets close to pure Nb's lower critical field $μ_{0}H_\mathrm{c1} \approx 170$ mT, but increases with increasing implantation depth, consistent with flux-pinning localized at the surface. The implication of these results for technical applications of superconducting Nb, such as superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities, is discussed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_15500
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Measurements of the first-flux-penetration field in surface-treated and coated Nb: Distinguishing between surface pinning and an interface energy barrier
Asaduzzaman, Md
McFadden, Ryan M. L.
Thoeng, Edward
Laxdal, Robert E.
Junginger, Tobias
Superconductivity
We report measurements of the first-flux-penetration field in surface-treated and coated Nb samples using muon spin rotation ($μ$SR). Using thin Ag foils as energy moderators for the implanted muon spin-probes, we "profile" the vortex penetration field $μ_{0} H_{\mathrm{vp}}$ at sub-surface depths on the order of $\sim 10$ $\mathrmμ$m to $\sim 100$ $\mathrmμ$m. In a coated sample [Nb$_3$Sn(2 $\mathrmμ$m)/Nb], we find that $μ_{0} H_{\mathrm{vp}}$ is depth-independent with a value of 234.5(35) mT, consistent with Nb's metastable superheating field and suggestive of surface energy barrier for flux penetration. Conversely, in a surface-treated sample [Nb baked in vacuum at 120 $^{\circ}$C for 48 h], vortex penetration onsets close to pure Nb's lower critical field $μ_{0}H_\mathrm{c1} \approx 170$ mT, but increases with increasing implantation depth, consistent with flux-pinning localized at the surface. The implication of these results for technical applications of superconducting Nb, such as superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities, is discussed.
title Measurements of the first-flux-penetration field in surface-treated and coated Nb: Distinguishing between surface pinning and an interface energy barrier
topic Superconductivity
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.15500