arXiv subjects

Kazuo Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to Kazuo Watanabe.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Fabrication and Transport Properties of 100 m Class Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 Wires and Pancake Coils

Iron-pnictides are hotly studied since 2008 in the superconducting materials research area, due to their special properties and unclear mechanism. Big achievement has been made in the pnictide research during the past years. For practical uses, pnictide superconductor should be fabricated in a long wire form which can be used for different devices. In this work, 100 m class 7-core Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 (Sr122) tapes have been made using the powder-in-tube technique, which is reported for the first time. Clearly, an average Jc of 1.3x10^4 A/cm^2 at 10 T was reached over the 115 meter length, showing a high property and good uniformity of 100 meter level Sr122 tapes. Using the 10 m long Sr122 tapes, two double-pancake coils were fabricated by a wind and reaction technique. No transport current could be measured for the coil made from the mono-filamentary tape. However, transport Ic was obtained in the coil made from the 7-filamentary tape. The factors which affect the superconducting property of the coil were discussed in this work.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Enhancement of critical current densities in (Ba,K)Fe2As2 wires and tapes using HIP technique

(Ba,K)Fe2As2 superconducting wires and tapes are fabricated by using hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technique, and their superconducting properties are studied. In the HIP round wire, transport critical current density (Jc) at 4.2 K has achieved record-high value of 175 kA/cm2 at zero field, and exceeds 20 kA/cm2 even at 100 kOe. Improvement of polycrystalline powder synthesis may play a key role for the enhancement of Jc. In the HIP tape, even larger transport Jc of 380 kA/cm2 is realized at zero field. Based on magnetization and magneto-optical measurements, possible further enhancement of Jc is discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Non-Fermi liquid behavior of electrical resistivity close to the nematic critical point in Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Se and FeSe$_{1-y}$S$_y$

Temperature dependence of resistivity of single crystals of Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Se and FeSe$_{1-y}$S$_y$ is studied in detail under zero and high magnetic field (magnetoresistance), the latter of which enables to monitor the temperature ($T$) evolution of resistivity below the onset of superconducting transition temperature ($T_{\rm c}$). In FeSe$_{1-y}$S$_y$, $T$-linear dependence of resistivity is prominent in $y$ = 0.160 below 40 K, whereas it changes to a Fermi-liquid(FL)-like $T^2$ one below 10 K in $y$ = 0.212. These suggest that the quantum critical point (QCP) originating from the electronic nematicity resides around $y$ = 0.160 and the fluctuation in QCP gives rise anomalous $T$-linear dependence in resistivity in a wide $T$ range. In Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Se, resistivity gradually changes from linear- to quadratic- $T$-dependent one at low temperatures in the range between $x$ = 0.036 and 0.075. These could be interpreted by scenarios of both the nematic QCP and the crossover in the ground states between the orthorhombic nematic phase and the tetragonal phase. The anomalies found as $T$-linear resistivity are discussed in terms of orbital and spin fluctuation arising from the nematic QCP.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Vortex pinning and dynamics in high performance Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconductor

We have studied vortex pinning and dynamics in a Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconducting tape with critical current density Jc~0.1 MA/cm2 at 4.2 K and 10 T. It is found that grain boundary pinning is dominant in the vortex pinning mechanism. Furthermore, we observe large density of dislocations which can also serve as effective pinning centers. We find that the temperature dependence of critical current density is in agreement with the model of vortices pinned via spatial fluctuation of charge carrier mean free path. Magnetic relaxation measurement indicates that the magnetization depends on time in a logarithmic way. The relaxation rate in the low and intermediate temperature region is small, and it exhibits a weak temperature and field dependence. A crossover from elastic creep to plastic creep regime is observed. Finally, we conclude a vortex phase diagram for the high performance Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconducting tape.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Critical current density and microstructure of iron sheathed multifilamentary Sr1-xKxFe2As2/Ag composite conductors

Iron-based superconductors have been considered to be very promising in high-field applications, for which multifilamentary wire and tape conductors with high mechanical strength are essential. In this work, 7-,19- and 114-filament Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 (Sr-122) superconducting wires and tapes with silver as matrix and iron as outer reinforcing sheath were produced by the ex situ powder-in-tube method. The mass densities of Sr-122 phase in 7- and 19-filament conductors were investigated by microhardness characterization, which revealed a positive correlation between hardness and transport critical current density (Jc) in round wires and flat tapes with various thicknesses. For Sr-122/Ag/Fe 114-filament conductors, in which an average cross-sectional filament size smaller than 50 microns was achieved by drawing into round wires of 2.0 mm in diameter, the transport Jc can be significantly enhanced by flat rolling, as for the 7- and 19-filament conductors. The highest transport Jc of the 7-,19- and 114-filament Sr-122/Ag/Fe tapes reached 1.4x10^4, 8.4x10^3 and 6.3x10^3 A cm-2 (4.2 K, 10 T), respectively, showing a Jc degradation with the increase of filament number. This Jc degradation can be ascribed to the sausage effect for filaments in longitudinal direction and the grain refinement in these very fine filaments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Hot pressing to enhance the transport Jc of Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconducting tapes

High-performance Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 (Sr-122) tapes have been successfully fabricated using hot pressing (HP) process. The effect of HP temperatures (850-925 C) on the c-axis texture, resistivity, Vickers micro-hardness, microstructure and critical current properties has been systematically studied. Taking advantage of high degree of c-axis texture, well grain connectivity and and large concentration of strong-pinning defects, we are able to obtain an excellent Jc of 1.2x10^5 A/cm^2 at 4.2 K and 10 T for Sr-122 tapes. More importantly, the field dependence of Jc turns out to be very weak, such that in 14 T the Jc remains ~1.0x10^5 A/cm^2. These Jc values are the highest ever reported so far for iron-pnictide wires and tapes, achieving the level desired for practical applications. Our results clearly strengthen the position of iron-pnictide conductors as a competitor to the conventional and MgB2 superconductors for high field applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

High critical current density in textured Ba-122/Ag tapes fabricated by scalable rolling process

The industrial manufacturing of the long-length iron-pnictide wires and tapes requires simple and low-cost technology. Although the transport critical current density of the FeAs-122 tapes has already achieved the practical application level, their fabrication procedures are relatively complicated or required specialized instruments. Ag-sheathed Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconducting tapes were fabricated by the scalable rolling process. At 4.2 K and 10 T, the critical current density Jc has achieved 5.4x10^4 A/cm2. We ascribe the excellent performance to the high purity and homogeneity of the superconducting phase, high density and high c-axis texture of the superconducting core. Our method provides a simple way to scale up the production of the long-length iron-based superconducting tapes with high Jc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Van der Waals epitaxial growth of topological insulator Bi$_{2-x}$Sb$_x$Te$_{3-y}$Se$_y$ ultrathin nanoplate on electrically insulating fluorophlogopite mica

We report the growth of high quality Bi$_{2-x}$Sb$_x$Te$_{3-y}$Se$_y$ ultrathin nanoplates (BSTS-NPs) on an electrically insulating fluorophlogopite mica substrate using a catalyst-free vapor solid method. Under an optimized pressure and suitable Ar gas flow rate, we control the thickness, the size and the composition of BSTS-NPs. Raman spectra showing systematic change indicate that the thicknesses and compositions of BSTS-NPs are indeed accurately controlled. Electrical transport demonstrates that a robust Dirac cone carrier transport in BSTS-NPs. Since BSTS-NPs provide superior dominant surface transport of the tunable Dirac cone surface states with negligible contribution of the conduction of the bulk states, BSTS-NPs provide an ideal platform to explore intrinsic physical phenomena as well as technological applications of 3-dimensional topological insulators in the future.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Enhancement of transport critical current density of SmFeAsO1-xFx tapes fabricated by an ex-situ powder-in-tube method with a Sn-presintering process

SmFeAsO1-xFx (Sm1111) tapes were prepared by an ex-situ powder-in-tube method with a Sn-presintering process. Scanning electron microscopy revealed apparent difference in microstructure between Sn-presintered tapes and the previously reported polycrystalline Sm1111 bulk, since Sn has reduced FeAs wetting phase and filled the voids between Sm1111 grains. The Sn-presintered tapes showed significant enhanced field dependences of transport Jc compared with Sn-added tapes. A highest transport critical current density (Jc) of 3.45x10^4 A cm-2 at 4.2 K and self-field is achieved. Magneto-optical (MO) imaging further confirmed large and well-distributed global and intergranular Jc in Sn-presintered Sm1111 tapes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Realization of practical level current densities in Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 tape conductors for high-field applications

122 type pnictide superconductors are of particular interest for high-field applications because of their large upper critical fields Hc2 (> 100 T), low Hc2 anisotropy r (< 2), and high thin-film critical current densities Jc (> 1 MA/cm2 at 4.2 K). Successful magnet applications require fabrication of polycrystalline superconducting wires that exhibit large in-field Jc, which is limited by poor grain coupling and weak-link behavior at grain boundaries. Here we report our recent achievement in the developing Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 tapes with transport Jc up to 0.1 MA/cm2 at 10 T and 4.2 K. This value is by far the highest ever recorded for iron based superconducting wires and has surpassed the threshold for practical application for the first time. The synergy effects of enhanced grain connectivity, alleviation of the weak-link behavior at grain boundaries, and the strong intrinsic pinning characteristics led to the superior Jc performance exhibited in our samples. This advanced Jc result opens up the possibility for iron-pnictide superconducting wires to win the race in high-field magnet applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Strongly enhanced current densities in Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 superconducting tapes

Improving transport current has been the primary issue for practical application of superconducting wires and tapes. However, the porous nature of powder-in-tube (PIT) processed iron-based superconducting tapes is thought to be one of the important reasons for the low Jc values. In this work, the superconducting core density of ex-situ Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 tapes was significantly improved by employing a simple hot pressing as an alternative route for final sintering. At 4.2 K, the transport Jc values showed excellent values of 5.1x10^4 A/cm^2 at 10 T and 4.3x10^4 A/cm^2 at 14 T, respectively, which attain the Jc level desired for practical applications. Moreover, the Jc values exhibited extremely weak magnetic field dependence. These results clearly demonstrate that PIT pnictide wire conductors are very promising for high field magnet applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

High critical current density and low anisotropy in textured Sr1-xKxFe2As2 tapes for high field applications

From the application point of view, large critical current densities Jc (H) for superconducting wires are required, preferably for magnetic fields higher than 5 T. Here we show that strong c-axis textured Sr1-xKxFe2As2 tapes with nearly isotropic transport Jc were fabricated by an ex-situ powder-in-tube (PIT) process. At 4.2 K, the Jc values show extremely weak magnetic field dependence and reach high values of 1.7x10^4 A/cm^2 at 10 T and 1.4x10^4 A/cm^2 at 14 T, respectively, these values are by far the highest ever reported for iron based wires and approach the Jc level desired for practical applications. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that amorphous oxide layers at grain boundaries were significantly reduced by Sn addition which resulted in greatly improved intergranular connectivity. Our results demonstrated the strong potential of using iron based superconductors for high field applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Improved transport critical currents in Ag and Pb co-doped BaxK1-xFe2As2 superconducting tapes

Fe-clad BaxK1-xFe2As2 superconducting tapes were fabricated by the ex situ powder-in-tube method combined with a short high-temperature annealing technique. The effect of annealing time and different dopants on the transport properties of the BaxK1-xFe2As2 tapes were systematically studied. By co-doping with Ag and Pb, the transport critical current density Jc of BaxK1-xFe2As2 tapes was significantly improved in whole field region and the highest transport Jc was up to 1.4x10^4 A/cm^2 (Ic=100 A) at 4.2K in self field. It is proposed that the superior Jc in the co-doped samples are due to the combine effect of Pb doping at low fields and Ag doping at high fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Effect of starting materials on the superconducting properties of SmFeAsO1-xFx tapes

SmFeAsO1-xFx tapes were prepared using three kinds of starting materials. It shows that the starting materials have an obvious effect on the impurity phases in final superconducting tapes. Compared with the other samples, the samples fabricated by SmAs, FeO, Fe2As, and SmF3 have the smallest arsenide impurity phase and voids. As a result, these samples possess much denser structure and better grain connectivity. Moreover, among the three kinds of samples fabricated in this work, this kind of sample has the highest zero-resistivity temperature ~40 K and largest critical current density ~4600 A/cm^2 in self-field at 4.2 K. This is the highest Jc values reported so far for SmFeAsO1-xFx wires and tapes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Magnetic Properties of Spinel FeCr$_{2}$S$_{4}$ in High Magnetic Field

We studied temperature and magnetic field dependence of magnetization, $M(T)$ and $M(B)$, on thiospinel FeCr$_{2}$S$_{4}$. We observed a step-like anomaly at $T_{OO} \sim$ 9 K for $M$($T$) attributed to an orbital order transition in magnetic field 0 $< B \leq$ 7 T. Furthermore, also for $M$($B$), an step-like anomaly appears at $B_{c} \sim$ 5.5 T below $T_{OO}$. This suggests an existence of a magnetic phase boundary at $B_{c}$ in $T < T_{OO}$. Because the anomaly at $B_{c}$ of $M(B)$ exists in the orbital ordered phase, the spin structure of FeCr$_{2}$S$_{4}$ in $T\ <\ T_{OO}$ is strongly coupled with the lattice of the system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Large transport critical currents of powder-in-tube Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2/Ag superconducting wires and tapes

We report significant transport critical currents firstly achieved in Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 wires and tapes with a Tc = 34 K, which were fabricated through an in-situ powder-in-tube process. Silver was used as a chemical addition as well as a sheath material. Transport measurements were performed by a standard four-probe resistive method. All the wire and tape samples have shown transport properties. Critical current density Jc was enhanced upon silver addition, and at 4.2 K, a best Jc of ~1200 A/cm^2 (Ic = 9 A) was achieved for 20 % silver added tapes, which is the highest in iron-based wires and tapes so far. The Jc is almost field independent between 1 T and 10 T, exhibiting a strong vortex pinning. Such a high transport critical current density is attributed to the absence of reaction layer between the silver sheath and superconducting core, as well as an improved connectivity between grains. We also identify a weak-link behavior from the creep drop of Jc at low fields and a hysteretic phenomenon. Finally, we found that compared to Fe, Ta and Nb tubes, Ag was the best sheath material for the fabrication of high-performance 122 type pnictide wires and tapes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

High-field Magnetic Torque Measurements in (CH$_3$)$_2$CHNH$_3$CuCl$_3$

High-field magnetic torque measurements were carried out in the spin gap system (CH$_3$)$_2$CHNH$_3$CuCl$_3$. It was observed that the magnitude of the magnetic torque $τ$ is almost zero until the critical field and then increases rapidly, which indicates the existence of the magnetic quantum phase transition from the spin-gap phase to the field-induced magnetic ordered phase. From the temperature dependence of the magnetic torque $τ$, the cusp-like minimum indicative of the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of magnons was observed for $H \perp$ C-plane, while the kink-anomaly was observed for $H \perp$ A-plane at the field-induced transition temperature. It was found that this different behavior between $H \perp$ A-plane and $H \perp$ C-plane can be interpreted as the breaking of the magnon BEC picture due to the rotational symmetry breaking. The additional anomaly was also observed in the field-induced magnetic ordered phase at the intermediate angle of the applied magnetic field in the A-plane and discussed in terms of the spin-flop transition, the spin-reorientation transition and the spin-lattice correlations. In order to investigate the spin-lattice correlations in (CH$_3$)$_2$CHNH$_3$CuCl$_3$, we performed the magnetostriction measurements and observed that the magnetostriction appears by vanishing of the spin gap.

cond-mat.str-el↗