r ~ndudivity

,J IJ'(fRODUCTION TO SUPER CONDUCTOR : GTU, J:muary-2019

)07

y-:--~·~--:--:---:-----------------:-,
j, Define superconductivity and critical temperature. [January-2019, 3-Marks]
We know the Ohm's law,

where, R = resistance
V = voltage
I = current
A superconductor is a material that can conduct electricity ~r transport electrons from one atom to another
with no resistance.
So, in a superconductor, the electric resistance is equal to zero (R ~ 0).
So if we putting R = 0 in above equation, we get V = 0.
So, SUpel'conducting materials carry current with no applied voltage.
;tl!_!rconductor :
It is a material that loses all its resistance (offers zero resistance) to the tlow of electric current when
it is cooled below a certain temperature called the critical temperature (Tc>·
Example : Mercury, Zinc, Niobium, etc.

-
Critical Temperature (T,) :
The temperature at which a material's electrical resistivity drops to absolute zero is called the critical
temperature or transition temperature.
It is denoted by Tc·

Syllabus Topic : Introduction of Superconductivity

i.z SUPERCONDUCTIVITY GTU, January-2019

It. Define superconductivity and critical temperature. [January-2019, 3-Marks]

, Superconductivity was discovered by Dutch
Physicist Heike Kamerling Ones in 1911. en Helke Kamerllngh Onnes
w (1853 -1926)
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
z
Z·
0 He was a Dutch physicist . He
in 19JJ for his low-temperature research.
discoverered the concept of
He found that when pure .mercury (Hg) was superconductivity. In 1911
placed in liquid helium, than mercury (Hg) . Kamerlingh· Onnes measured
suddenly lost its resistivity at 4 .2 K. It was the electrical conduJtivity of
found to be l 0-5 n
cm. pure metals (mercury, and later tin and lead) at very low
temperatures. He found that at 4.2 K the resistance in a solid
Some materials loose its resistivity when mercury wire immersed in liquid helium suddenly vanished. He
they are kept below certain temperature. w
~ published articles about the phenomenon, initially referring to
This phenomenon is known as jjj it as "supraconductivity" in 1913 he received the Nobel Prize
"Superconductivity". :c in Physics.
 -
108 Physics (Gro
== == == == == == == == == =~

MeJCUIY

Po

4.2 K Temperature (K) T-

.
FIG. S.1 : RESISTIVITY V/S TEMPERATURE FOR SUPERCONDUCTOR AND NORMAL CONDUCTO
It
. is known as "Critical tempernt
• The value of temperature where resistivity of matenal becomes zer0 Ure
(Tc>'' of that superconducting materials.

Syllabus Topic : Properties of Superconductors

5.3 PROPERTIES OF SUPERCONDUCTORS : OliMiW\lil@ii

1. Explain properties of superconductors.
• The various important properties of superconductors are given below :
1. Electrical Resistance
2. Effect of Magnetic Field
3. Meissner Effect
4. Pressure Effect
5. Impurify Effect
6. Isotopic Mass Effect

5.3.1 Electrical Resistance :

• The electrical resistance of a superconducting material is very low and is of the order of 10-7 n.
Syllabus Topic : Effect of Magnetic Field

S.3.2 Effect of Magnetic Field :

• When a super conductor is placed in a strong magnetic field, its superconductivity destroys at a particuln1
value of external maghetic field.
• If a substance is in super conducting state below its critical temperature Tc (T < Tc) and sufficiently stron1
magnetic field is applied, the super conductivity state disappears and the substance returns to nonna
conducting state.
• "The minimum value of magnetic field required to destroy the superconducting state is called the critics
magnetic field He".
 , gq
~ ~ ~ ~\jl~~ - - : ; : : . -
Y -.;,- cnttcDI nui1'ne1~ fu:ht nf a
fun(.hOn of tcmpc-1 Murc
'fht ,,:uut1cm of H, with ltfflJ'tt1 a1urc 1\ ,,..,rn by

0)
Where H0 it the cri11cal fleld a1 T = O K,
1ltc critical field dccrc aw:.1, w11ti 10C1UJ, 1ni tcmpo ~rt
itod. becominu u:ro UI T = T
" ,-
Pig. S.2 givct. the graphi. of n c veN.1.\ te:mpc- ra.rurc Cl<)
The material ii t,1aid to be in tht ,.upe;conctoctm, \.Utt:
within the curve and is non-i.lJ~ t-condoc~m~ (r.om\AI
~u,tc) in the region out,.idc the rnNe
;~n - -
f \(; . ~-1

5.3.3 _Melnn ff Effttt :

Whe n 1,upcrconducwr i!- placed m an utemal ~gnctt .: fid(l ,, r ,~,~
al\ l\\.1i11et1 ~ f\\l" \lllc'Q rn,,n H
Th i1, iM kno wn 1.11. "Mti5!fnt<r t:fff'rt.,
When the supcrconduc1mg mat.en al ,, p\actd m a m.1@:nc!hc fic\J ( H > H, ) ,\l •f 1\11 ~ the m11~.nct ,_.
t\'1-'111 INll\'(: u ·
field ii; found to penetra te normall y through oot the m., ,m.,1 Fi~ ~
..\to)
Hnwcvcr, if the te mpe rature '" lowCTCd bdC1"" T arnl ,1.1th ti <. 1\ • the 1.,.. , .. ,1 11\ \'i 1'm111d t1• f\'JCd l\ll
\ 1 , .. "
the magnet ic fi eld pcnctra lm~ \htouth ,t 1,
,hown m Ft[l . ~ )(\)).

I I

M-,nttk Ptrld

' l (

T•Tc and H•Hc T<Tc and H<Hc

(a) Nonnal Sta1e (b) Super-conducting State

FIG. 5.3

• The magnetic induction inside the specimen is given by

IB = J1o (M + H) \ ... (2)
 110 Physks (Gro
,..,,
H '-1
• -~·-. - - .::::: :_ ·-----=---=-.::..__:.
1H11g11ctic 11rlJ l111hll'tlon
_:.::;~·::=::.:=======-==== === =~
11 ~ m1111m·tic fkhl tnlcmity
M mn>!nctisn tion vector und
".'<

llo H j)('III\Cllhlllty or frc,• !\pare l,!J 41'( x Io·1 11/m

We k1111w 1h111 H ~ 0, inside 1111pcn:011d11,1or whl!n T :; 1>
o ,., 110 (M ... H)

M ~ - 11

lir -~
JI,_
- oi ~

M11g11etlc susceptibility lXm) Is given hy,

I
"• (3)

M
TJ " Xm ... (4)

So Xm JI!! - I.
Thus. this mcnns 1h01, for n Mlpcr conduclor 1hc susceptibility is negative und maximum. i.e. Sllper conductor
cxhibhli perfect diomngncli~m.

Syllubus Topic : Impurity Effect

.!li.3,4 l11111urlty EfTrct t

• Impurity of mnteriul directly effects critical tcmpcm111rc (T) of materiel. As impurity of u mnlerinl increases,
ill- nilicnl tcmpcroturc vuhu.' (T ) dccrcnscs.
r
For cxnmplc, Ir pure mercury shows supcn:onductivity stntc 111 4.2 K, thnn impure mercury will show
thii. slate below 4.2 K. A)I impurity increases, in mercury, value of Tr will shift towurds O K.

Syllnbus Topic : Pressure Effect

5,3,5 Prt.ssm~ EfTrcl :

Some muterinls bchnvc us superconductors when they arc pluced under pressure. For example, cesium is
not supcrconduc1or in nomllll atmospheric pressure 111 l.5 k, but when I JO k bar pressure is applied on
Cs, it shows superconductivity, below its Tr value.

Syllabus Topic : Isotopic Mass Effccl

5.3.6 Isotopic Mass EfTect :

• The, critical rcmpcruture (1) or 11 superconductor is found to vury with its isotopic mass .
• .
The) relntion between Tr nnd the isotopic mass is given by

1~.«i l ... (I)

where, M is the isotopic muss.
i.e. 111c transition temperature is inversely proportional to the square root of the isotopic mass of a single
super conductor.
 111
rconductivity
;11P e;;:: === === === === === === === === === === ;;;; isotopic mass
~heno meno n of decrease of critical temperature with increasing atomic mass is called
' effect.

. _7 persistent Current
3
~
consider a superconductor ring placed in a magnetic field.
When it cooled to below the critical temperature, it becomes
superconducting.
The external field induces a current in the ring.
When current is made to flow through a super conducting ring
which is at a temperature either equal to its Tc value or less than
its Tc value, it was observed that the current was flowing through
the material ,~ithout any significant loss in its value. FIG. 5.4 : PERSISTENT CURRENT
EFFECT IN SUPERCONDUCTOR
This steady flow of current in a superconducting ril'!g without any
potential deriving it, is called the persistent current.

5,4 CRITICAL CURRENT AND CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY

-
1; Critical Current (I,) :
When a current is passed through a conductor under superconducting state, a magnetic field
If the current increase beyond certain value the magnetic field increased up to critical
is developed.
value at which
conductor returns to its normal state.
This value of current is called critical current.

where, lc = Critical Current

r = Radius of Superconducting
He = Critical Mag11etic Field
z. Critical Curren t Density (J,) :
destroying
It is defined as the maximum current that can be permitted in a superconducting material without
its superconductivity state .
., The relation between critical current density (Jc) and critical current (lc) is given by

. . IJ ~ ICA I .
C

where, A = Superconductor Cross Section Area

Syllabus Topic : BCS Theory

S.5 BARDEEN, COOPER AND SCHRIEFFER (BCS) THEORY GTU, Jan. 2019, May-2019

GTU Questions
[January-2019, 4-Marks]
1. Explain mechanism of superconductivity.
[May-2019, 4-Marks]
2. Explain BCS theory for superconductivity.

This theory was developed by Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer.

L
 112
Physics (Gro
;;;This== == == == ======~~~==-~=;=;~~~~7,~~~=-~=-=
theory states that the ~ =~1>·11) John Bardeen (1 908 - 1991)·
electron experience special kind He was an American physicist and electrical en
He Is the only person who _won the Nobel P~i' neer.
of attraction Interaction, Physics twice: first In 1956 with William Shockl ~e In
overcoming the coulomb forces Walter Brattain for the invention of the translstoer~ anct
off repulsion between them, as again In 1972 with Leon N cooper and John R' alld
Schrieffer for a fundamental theory of convent~bert
a result Cooper pairs. John Bardeen superconductivity known as the BCS theory. 0
na1
At low temperature, these pairs Leon N cooper(1930)
move without scattering i.e. He is an American phys1c1at an d Nobel Prize laurea
who with John Bardeen and John Robert Schrleffte,
without any resistance through developed the BCS theory of superconductlvity.(Hee;',
also the namesake of the Cooper pair and 6
the lattice points and the materials of the BCM theory of synaptic plasticity. co-develoPer
become superconductor. Leon N Cooper
John Robert Schrieffer (1931)
Here the electron - lattice - He was educated at the Massachusetts Institute
electron 1'nteract1'on should be Technology, Cambndge.He Is an American Physic!~:
stronger than electron - electron Who' with John Bardeen and Leon N Cooper wa
recipient of the 1972 Nbl o e . p·nze in. Physic' s sa
for
interaction. developing the BCS theory, the first successful quantu
Robert Schrieffer
theory of superconductivity. n,
1. Electron - Lattice - Electron Interaction : .
When an electron (l 51) moves through the lattice, it will be attract
ed _by t~e c~re (+ eV c~arg~) of the
lattice. Due to this attraction, ion core is disturbed and it is called
as lattice distortion. The-lattice vibrations
are quantized in terms of phonons.
The deformation product a region of increased positive charge. Thus
another electron (2nd) moves through this region as shown in Fig.
is II
5.5. I electron
0(v
2)0 ~ 2 electron
0
It will be attracted by the greater concentration of positive charge
hence the ener~y of the 2nd electron is lowered.
an~ 0 0 o
Lattice
• Hence the two electrons interact through the lattice (or) the phonons
field 0 0
resulting in lowering of energy of the electron. This lowering of energy 0 0
implies that the force between the two electrons are attractive. FIG. 5.5
• This type of interaction is called Electrons - Lattice - Electron interac
tion. The interaction is strong only
when the two electrons have equal and opposite momentum and
spins.
2. Explanation :
• Consider the Ist electron with wave vector k distorts the lattice,
there
by emitting a phonons of wave vector q. This result in the wave
vector
k - q for the 151 electron.
• Now if the 2nd electron with wave vector k', seeks the lattice, it
takes
Up the energy from the lattice and its wave vector changes to k'
k+q
as shown in Fig. 5.6. Two electrons with wave vector k - q and FIG. 5.6 : ELECTRON-
k' +
q from a pair of electrons known as Cooper pairs. l'HONON INTERACTION
3. Cooper p~rs :
• Th~-pairs of electrons formed due to electron - lattice - electron
(phonons), electron - electron interaction
(forces of attraction) by overcoming the electron - _electron interac
tion (force of repulsion) with equal
and opposfte. momentum and spins i.e., with wave vector k - q
and ·/c + q are called cooper pairs.
4. Coherence length :
• In the electron ~ lattice - electron interactions, the electrons will not
be fixed, they move in opposite directions
and their co-relations may persist over lengths of maximum of I~
m. This length is called coherence length.
 Q ercon d uc t·JVJ·tY ,.·
~
Physics (Gr- ==--~p~~~~~;;;;;;;;;;;;;;~;;~;~~;;;~~~~~;~~~~~;~~~;;~;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:::::~1f
13
t-
Syllabu s Topic : Penetration Depth
~ ·71,EN ETRAT ION DEPTH
10 _won
icisl and_rhe Nobel
electrica l e ;~•nee,.
.
w,r h Wdllam Shock1 n.:e in
nlion of the transist: y and
!ff:-:::;;;;;.j~~•~~~~;,;;;,;;~=~~~-:---:----:-------------~~~~~~~~
I
is London penetrat ion depth ? Derive its equation s.
GTU, May-20 19

[May-20 19, 4-Mark s

Cooper and John
al theory of conv ~bert
A°
and When a magneti c field is applied to a super conduct or, the applied
field does not suddenly drop to zero
the BCS theory. enr,ona1 at the surface.
Instead the field decays exponen tially accordin g to the formula
and Nobel Pri.:e la
I John Robert Schureate,
, r1ett8
supe~on duclivity.[H _r,
I Hex>= Hco)e T I ... (I)
,er pair and CO-dev I e •s where, Ho = field applied at the surface at x = o,
: plasticity. e Per
0
x = distance from the surface.
1)
A. = the Penetrat ion Depth.
ssachus etts lnslitut
an American Ph ~ of It is also de.fined as the distance in which the field decrease
eon
- . N .C coper, WasYsicist s by the factor ( ~}
. Pnze ,n Physics a The Penetra tion depth A. varies from 300 to about 5000 A dependi
,rst successf ul quanri : ng on the material . It is indepen dent
of frequen cy of the magneti c field but it strongly depends
on tempera ture.
The tempera ture depende nce of A is given by the relation

"-r = "-o 4
· eV charge) of th
'he lattice vibratio n: 1-(I) ... (2)

0 ~ 0 where, "'r = Penetra tion depth at T K and 1.. = Penetra tion

0 depth at O K.
2 electron • At low tempera tures, A. is nearly indepen dent of tempera ture.
As the tempera ture approac lies the transitio n
tempera ture A. increase s rapidly and approac hes infinity.
0 0
mice Syllabu s Topic : Josephs on Junction
0 0 0 JOSEPHSON JUNCT ION
GTU, May-20 19
·G. 5.5

m is strong only
on metal semico nductor junction s.
[May-2 019, 7-Mark s]
When two superco nductor are separat ed by an insulati ng
layer between them, this is called Josephs on Junctio n
k'+q (superco nductor - insulato r - superco nductor ).
2 Insulator

.k'
CTRON -
:.ACTION
Brain David Joseph son
Brian David Joseph son (1940)
He is a professor of physics at the University
n interac tion of Cambridge. He is known for his work on
, with equal superconductivity and quantum tunnelling, he
>per pairs. was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in
Superco nductors 1973 for his prediction of the Josephson effect,
made in 1962 when he was a 22-year-old PhD
FIG. 5.1: JOSEPHSON JUNCTION student at Cambridge University.
e directio ns
nee length. f/iJJla (Group-II) I 20/9 115
1J4 Physics (Gro
=========== ========:;~
~
S.7.1 Josephson Effect :
When a DC \'Oltnge is applied to contact
points of superconductors (Fig. 5.8) electrons
will flow from one superconductor to another OxidoUlsuJ.~
-~-..., 1
oxide insulntor. This phenomenon is L~~-~~•
'through
ft . .

,mown as "Josephson Effect".

The insulator nornmlly acts as potentinl
barrier to the flow of electrons from
one superconductor to the another
superconductor. FIG, 5,8 : JOSEPHSON EFFECT
• If this barrier •is sufficiently thin 1here is significnnl probnbility thnt nn electron cnn cross the barrier, even
• . .
if Its energy 1s less than the height of the bamer.
· • _. There are two types of Josephson effect :
1. DC Josephson effect :
• Even if an external electricnJ field hns been removed from Josephson junction, DC current flows fi
one superconductor to another through oxide insulator. This effect is known ns "DC Josephson effe:~
2. AC Josephson effect : .
• -'When an external electric field is applied on both the sides of Josephson junction, current passes fr
one superconductor to another 1hrough oxide insulator with high frequency. This effect is known as 11 1~
Josephson effect".
• If applied potential difference across the junction is 2 eV then frequency of current is given by,

lv=~vl
Syllabus Topic : Application of Josephson Junction

5.8 APPLICATION OF JOSEPHSON JUNCTION: GTU, May-2019

1. Give infonnation and applications of SQUID. [May-2019, 3-Marks]

Magnetic Field

Cummr- ,,,._-Current

,·ottagc drop across junction

FIG. 5.9 : SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF SQUID

r ,. erconductivlty I
115
~
~ID works on a principle of Josephson effect.
• SQUID is known as "Superconducting Quantum Interference Device" ,
11 is a magnetometer which measures small change in magnetic field as well as of voltage .
When current is passed from one side of superconductor it flows equally
through both the branches of
' sQUID through Josephson junction.
current passing through the Josephson junctions is very sensitive to magnet
ic flux. Therefo re change in
' 013gnetic flux wi_
ll lead to change in current and hence voltage developed across Josephs
on junctions.

~ As shown m- Fig.- 5.9, two superconductors and thin oxide insulation are arranged in such a way that,
I
they fonn two parallel Josephson junctions.
'fhis arrangement is connec ted to measuring devices which can measure
' nominal change of voltage and
magnetic field across junctio n. -
~
11te current passing through the SQUID is very sensitive to magnetic flux
passing normally through the
closed circuit.
, So, an extremely small magnetic flux can be detected with this device.
• As magnet ic flux, current and voltage are dependent on each other, we
I can measure any one when other
is known to us. •

~atio n ;
SQUID can detect very small change s in quantities like voltage (upto
1 order of 10- 15 V) and magnetic
field (upto order of 10-21 T).
It can detect weak magnet ic field produced by biological current like human
1 brain.
It is also used to measure magnetic field of earth and to detect mineral. and
oil laid inside earth.
In recent space explora tion activity ;·to detect gravitational waves space shuttle
1 was equippe d with SQUID
I arrongements.

!,2 THREE IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING THE SUPERCONDUCTING

STAT E:
The importa nt factors affectin g superco nductin g state are

t. Critical Tempe rature Tc

2. Critical Curren t Density Jc T

3. Critical Magne tic field He

Tc
, Each of these parame ters are very depend ent on the other
two properties. If T < Tc, J < Jc and Hext < He• then there
will be superco nductin g state.
, We can prepare a surface in three dimens ional 'space'
defined by T, Hext and J as shown in Fig. 5.10. He
, The highest values for He and Jc occur at .0 K, while the H
highest value for Tc occurs when H and J are zero.
; . The surface shown in Fig. 5.10 is called critical surface
(f,, J, H) points within the surface give superco nductin g
state.
, The points outside the surface give nonnal states. FIG. 5.10
 ~
1.l1J~6~========================Pb===yS1==·cs::;{G~\l
= ~
S,10 TYPES OF SUPERCONDUCTORS :
• There are two types of superconductors : Type-I and type·n· There is no.
difference in the rnecb .
th ..
. . th nnal properties at e trans1tton tempeanisrn of
superconductivity in both the types. Both have s1nu 1ar e ratu~ ill
zero magnetic field.
• There arc thirty pure metals which exhibit uro resistivity at.
• .
Low temperatures and have the property of excludin ti fields from the interior of the superc
g magne c <>ndll<:tor
{Meissner Effect).
• They are called Type-I superconductors. Type-I superconductors are described by the BCS theory
.
• Starting in 1930 with lead-bismuth alloys, a number of alloys were fou nd whi~h exhib!t~ superconducti'lity-
they are called type-IT superconductors. They were found to have much higher cnt.Ical fields.
'
S.10.1 Type-I Superconductors :
• Type-I superconductors exhibit complete Meissner effect i.e. they are completely diamagnetic.
• In type-I superconductors, the transition from superconducting state lo normal state in the presence
of
magnetic field occ~rs sharply at the critical value of H,, as shown in Fig. 5.1 l(a).
• Fig. shows_the magnetization curve for soft superconducting material~ .

t
~
a
·.o t

Normal State
l..
::e I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

Mixed or
Vortex
I
I State
I
I
I
I
Normal
I
State
State ' SC
He /slllcd
Applied Magnetic Field (H) - - - Hc1 He Bez
Applied Magnetic Field (H)

(a) ~ I superconductor (b) Type-II superconductor

FIG. S.11

• The values of H, for type-I superconducting materials are always too low.
• It shows that the transition at H, is reversible which means that if the magnetic field is reduced
below
He, the material again acquires .the superconducting properly and the magnetic field is expelled.
• Aluminiu111t lead and indium are examples of Type-I superconductors. The critical field He is
relatively
low for this type. ·
• Type-I superconductors are also soft superconductors.
r conductMif
511P~
tl "
~ I of T_ype•I Supercontluclor :
acter ss~Cl:,_:;::_:.~- :-~ - -- --
- - 1l7

~ e y ore perfectly diotnagrietic

~: '[hey httVe only one critical flelcJ. At the c:t:tical fleld the rr,agnefitatkrr, dt<Yp!I ft, t6tt:J.
,, Tl 1e
crlticol field ls of the ot<ler o-f {J, 1 Wb/m ,

dt'antages !
~J ·uperconductors cannot entry large currents and hence nre r,Qi en tnud, u~ ,N- ~.1,. , u
., rype· s · -- ,,. l1Uuemg rngh rn1fgotfk
fields,
e-ll Superconductors :
510,Z 1'YP~:...::-.:--- - - -
, 'J'yp~II superconductivity was disco'lerecl by Schubnikov in 19'30!: 1t11d 7111 s ~1.pf1tin~ tr:1 Abrik&.".,(,•/
' in 1957,
'fYP~JI superconductor, also known ns hard superconductor is chiitacterlud tr1 tvlu crititttl field~ Ht imd
, [t.J < 1-1, < H, ], I
J,{ r Cj 'l
Cz • ts in three stotcc; : superconducting, mixed ond normal.
lt ex1s
' T)le transition from superconducting stole to normul stale occurs graclun11y M the rnngr1etic fleld ,~ inereii~,<l
' 11 to 1-1 , M shown in Fig, 5. I J (b),
frolll nc1 cz
For on applied field below He,• the moterlul 111 perfectly clinmngnetlc uncl henee tho field Is c<ltf,pletely
' ded H Js called us lower crlticnl field.
cXC1U ' CJ
••
Al n,1, the field starts to thread the specimen nncl lhli: penetrution im:rense until .H Is reached at itth' ,t
. cz ~n
' the mngnetlzation vanishes ond the specimen becomes normiil. Htz is cmlled the upper crltl<:al field,
, In the region between H,1 nnd Hc2, tho mnlerlal is in the mb:ed slate tJr verte1. Mate.
, 'fhc value of H, for type-11 may be 100 times more or e11en higher thun thut (1f type--1 llu~rC<Yttductlng
2
material.
As H and Tc of this materials are higher thnn that of type--I superconductors, the ty{>t-11 ~llptfCOfl(luctini
• materi~s are most widely used ln a11 ,;nginee.dng apptlcation!I,
, This materials are also called as hard superconduct<>rs because of retuti11ely large magnetic field re<fUlrerntrrt
10
bring them back to their normul 1.Unte,- ·
stlcs of Type-D Superconductors :
CharaCteri
- -I. They have two critical magnetic fields, The materiut is perfect dlt,mugnetic below the tower critical
field, He,. Meissner effect is complete in this region, Above the upper crltlcut field, Ht mt,gnetic
21
flux enters the specimen,

2. They exist in nn intermediate stute in between the criticul field&, H01 und litJi' The intermediate ~tate
is a mixture of the normut and superconducting 11tute, mngnetlcutly bit ctectriculty the mattrh,t t~
a superconductor,
3, The upper critical field is very high and is of the order of 200_Wb/m2.
Applications :
1, They ure used in upplicutione of generating very hlgh magnetic fields,
 118 l~ry~a (<'
:;;~================= ===========.::---
;;;;
,rou,.,,.ll)
- - - -~":----
"'t
5.10.3 Comparison Between Typc•I und Type.fl SupcrconductorH __:
fMay-2019 3 ; ~
1-1_._D_if_fc_r_en_t_ia_te_be_t_w_ce_n_!!_of_t_a_n_d_h_a_rd_a_:upc
_ rc_o_n_du_c_1,_,r_11._ __==::...-.--------~ ~u
~========= ========:;:=======-:,,;:-Y
: .:J,:-C•-J;~
l S:: u:pc;:•r:c:OJ;11: ~fu::c;,tc:;1:·u
---~~~~~~~- - --'-----=-,:_==~=----
Type-I Superconductors
I. These supcrconductorn arc called ali 1mfl 1. 'J11cric uuperconducwr11 arc call<!d a~- ' ,-1ard-
superconductors. supcrconductorn.
2. They exhibit complete Meissner effcct. 2. They do not exhibit complete Mci½sncr cffcCl,
3. Only one critical field exists for these 3. 'fwo critical field Hc, 1 (lowc:r magnetic
•
field) illll
. J
superconductors. H (Upper magnetic field) cx11H11.
c2
4. In type-I, transition at He i.s reversible. 4. In type-U, the state H, 1 and H,i' S~ _above He ,
means between -Hc 1 and H,2 trans1110rn; is nJt
reversible.
5. The critical field value is very low of the order 5. The critical value is very high of the order of 10
of 0. J Tesla. Tesla.
6. These materials have limited technical applications 6 They have wider technological applications
_
because of very lower field strength value. because of very higher field strength valul!.
7. Lead, Tm, Mercury are examples. 7. Nb Ge, Nb3Si etc. are examples.
3

5.11 HIGH T, SUPERCONDUCTORS :

Superconductors are divided into two categories :

I. Low temperature Superconductors

2. High temperature Superconductors
• y
• The tenn high-temperature superconductor was first discovered
by Johnson George Bednorz and Karl Alexander Muller in April • Ba
1986, for which they won 1he nobel prize in Physics.
~ Cu
• They prepared certain compounds of copper oxides and achieve
critical temperature uplo 30 K. The compound Y 1B32Cu30 7 Oo
(YBCO. 123 compound) was discovered in 1987.
It had transition temperature 93-95 K. This is above liquid
nitrogen (77 K) temperature.
• The superconductors with T, > 77 K are generally known as
high temperature superconductors.
For example Phi YSr2Cu30 8 [T, = 77 K] Hg - Ba - Ca - Cu - 0
compounds [T, = 130 ._ 135] etc. 1he highest transition
temperature attained. So far is 138 K in thallium doped mercuric
FIG. 5.12
cuprate comprised of Hg, Ti, Ba, Ca, Cu and 0 .
• The detailed structural investigations ofY1B32Cu3 0 6 crystal is done by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction
techniques.
The structure of this compound is shown in the following Fig. 5.12.
• This figure is the unit cell of crystal of Y1Ba2Cu30 6.
• There is only one Y atom in the unit cell. It is shown by •·
 2 Ph,, ·
12 -~~ (G
Example-55 :
.A volt
. age of 2.07 V is applied across a Josephson June
tion Find out the fn'<)uenc~· of
· ·
~current il~.t-n~
the Junction.
·"-\:S
Solution :
Given V = 2.07 V, " = '!
We know that
2eV
V =
h
2 X 1.6 X 10-t 9 X 2.07
= -----~
34 6.62 X )0-
= Io.ootox 10 18
Hz I
Example-5.6 : .
••
CalcuIate the cnh cal current for a wire of lead hav• diameter of 1 mm at 4.2 K Th
temperature for lead is 7.18 K and H tng4a · e Ctiti
'(O)
H
0
6.5 x 10 Afm= =
. Ca)
Solution :
Given T = 4.2 K
Tc = 7.18 K
H0 = 6.5 x 10'4 Alm
d = I mm = I x I o-3 m
We know that

H, = H0 [1 -(;, J]
= 6.5x 10• [1-(74 M]
= 4.28 x 10'4 Alm
The critical current
Ic = 21t r He
= 1t d He [ ·: 2r = d]
= 3.)4 X 1 X J0-3 X 4.28 X 104
I
IC = 134.5 A I
Example-5.7 :
The critical temperature of Nb is 9.15
K. At zero kelvin,. the critical field is
0.196 T. Calculate the
critical field at 6 K.
GTU, January-2019
Solution :
Given Tc = 9.15 K
T= 6K
Ho = 0.196 T
He =?
 123
ductivltY
crco "
~ 2

H, = Ho (1 -( ~) ]
= 0.196 (1 -(9.~5 J)
:: 0.196 [ I - 0.4299)
:: 0. I 96 [0.570 I]
CTic= 0. 11 17 T I
mplc•5,8 : 2 wire
~ a l current density equal to 1.71 x 108 A/m is required to change a supercond ucting
1'! 1e cr~ mm at 4.2 K. If the critical temperatu re of the material is 7.18 K, calculate the maximum
0•
of ,.....~d1US
f the • •
critu:al magne,·1c fi1cId • GTU, Mayr2019
vnruc o
50/t1tiOf1 :
GiYen Data : 8 2
Critical Current Density, JC = J.71 X 10 A/m
Critical Temperature, T, = 7.18 K

Temperature, T = 4.2 K

Radius of wire, r = 0.5 x 10-3 m

Critical Magnetic Field, H, = ?
. J le ... (I)
Critical current density, c = 7tr2
... (2)
But critical current, I, = 2 7t · r • H,
Now, substitute equation (2) in (1), we get
J = 21t•r•Hc
C 1tr2
2·Hc
J = __
C r
r•Jc 0.5 X 10-J X 1.71 X 108
H, = 2 = 2

= I0.4275 x 10 5
Alm I
1---- ---- ---- ---- 1 EXERCISE 1------ -=--"" ',..._~ -----== --=---
l. Define superconductor. (Refer Section-5.1)
by critical temperature in superconductivity ? (Refer Section-5.2)
2. What do you mean
3. ExpJain the properties of superconductors. (Refer Section-5.3)
4. Define the followings :
(I) Effect of magnetic field. (Refer Section-5.3.2)
(2) Critical current. (Refer Section-5.4)
(3) Meissner effect. (Refer Section-5.3.3)
(4) Mass effect. (Refer Scction-5.3.6)
(5) Critical current density. (Refer Section-5.4)

-- -- -~ -•