Synthesis of c-axis oriented single-domain Sm123 superconductors capable of trapping 9 Tesla at 25 K and its application to a strong magnetic field generator

The c-axis oriented single-domain Sm123 bulk superconductors containing 10- 20 wt.% Ag2O have been synthesized under the Ar gas flowing atmosphere by u sing Nd123 as a seed crystal in the melt-texturing process. Samples synthes ized were either 30 or 36 mm in diameter and 12-18 mm in thickness. The max imum trapped flux density at 77 K has reached 2.1 T at the center of the fr ee surface of the sample containing 10 wt.% Ag2O. The highest trapped flux density of 9.0 T was achieved by lowering temperature to 25 K. A compact ma gnetic field generator capable of producing higher than 2 Tesla in free spa ce has been constructed by magnetizing the Sm123 superconductor by means of the pulse field technique. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reser ved.