PARAMAGNETIC MEISSNER EFFECT IN HTSC

For certain polycrystalline Bi-HTSC samples, a surprising feature was observed: instead of the usual diamagnetic response of the dc field-co oling (FC) signal, a paramagnetic moment develops below T(C) for field s < 1 Oe. This effect correlates with an anomaly in the low-field micr owave absorption. The data are consistent with spontaneous paramagneti c moments due to spontaneous orbital supercurrents. Such currents may originate in so called pi-contacts in the weak link network of polycry stalline material.