HOW IS A FULLY PENETRATED STATE FORMED IN AN ANISOTROPIC SUPERCONDUCTOR

The fully penetrated state of anisotropic superconductors which are ex tended in the c-axis direction is analyzed using a model to describe t he current distributions. Based on magnetooptical investigations on a rectangular single crystal and on a cubic melt-processed YBa2CU3O7-del ta sample, the current distributions found in (a, b)-planes and (a, c) -planes with the external magnetic field perpendicular to the plane ar e discussed. The easy flux penetration along the CuO2 layers is shown to have important consequences for the analysis of angle-dependent mag netization or torque measurements in c-axis direction extended samples .