CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN FILAMENTS IN BSCCO-2223 MULTI-FILAMENTARY TAPE

Technologically, the most advanced conductor utilising high temperatur e superconductors is the multifilamentary tape produced by the powder in tube method. Previous investigations have indicated that the filame nts in these materials are strongly connected by superconducting paths . This connectivity is of particular importance in, amongst other thin gs, governing the dissipation of the conductors when carrying AC curre nts or exposed to varying magnetic fields. In this paper we report dir ect measurements of the transverse (in contrast to the more usual long itudinal) current carrying capability. Measurements of electric field versus current ('E-I characteristics') for transverse and longitudinal transport currents as a function of applied magnetic field and temper ature are reported. Our data indicates that the filaments are indeed s trongly connected by superconducting paths but also that the E-I chara cteristics for the transverse and longitudinal connections are differe nt.