A scheme to calculate the electron momentum density in simple liquid metals, with the effect ofboth electron correlations and ionic potentials included, is given. This scheme is applied to the case of liquid aluminium. The results are substantially different from calculations considering only the ion potentials, and also from the results for a homogeneous electron gas of corresponding density.

Some of the recent work on disorder-induced changes inT_c is reviewed. Shock-pressures induce a disorder uncomplicated by antisite disorder typical of particle irradiation, and have generated interest because of the shock-synthesis of A-15 Nb₃Si. In this paper we present our results on laser-induced shock-damage, and compare it with the results on V₃Si and the results on particle irradiation of Chevrel phase superconductors.

We have studied the hysteresis loops of RBa₂Cu₃O₇ (R=Gd, Ho and Y) and detected anomalies in some of them. The observed anomalies support a recent prediction by Ravi Kumar and Chaddah based on an extension of Bean’s model. The anomalies indicate lowH_c1 values and we have confirmed this by studying the onset of low-field hysteresis in less than 10 Oe at 77 K for these highT_c superconductors.

We present DC and low frequency AC magnetization measurements on various RBa₂Cu₃O₇ superconductors. We identify features intrinsic to these compounds, and establish the features originating from intergranular links in sintered pellets. The isothermal magnetization curves, and the temperature dependence of magnetization in field-cooled and zero field-cooled states are shown to be consistent with the calculations done following a recent extension of Bean’s model. Low field anomalies predicted within this model are observed, and yieldH_c1 values of a few Oe. These values are shown to be consistent with the temperature variation of magnetization. A comparison is made with the other existing data and it is demonstrated that earlier quoted values ofH_c1 are gross overestimates.

We have measured the transport critical current densityJ_cof sintered YBa₂Cu₃O₇, in various applied fields up to 185 Oe at 77 K. We find a sharp decay ofJ_cwith magnetic field. We show that this sharp decay is consistent with the low field hysteresis results of Groveret al. We argue that the observed field dependence is not caused by intragranular weak links.

We present a calculation of the isothermal magnetization hysteresis curves appropriate to highT_csuperconductors. We discuss the nature of the low field anomaly as one goes from this strong pinning case to the weak pinning case. We show that the shape of the equilibrium (thermodynamic) magnetization curve is recovered in the limit ofJ_capproaching zero.

The existence of a remanent magnetization (M_rem) on switching off the field of a field cooled (FC) sample of a highT_c superconductor is often reported. It has recently been argued thatM_rem should equal the difference in FC and zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetizations (M_FC —M_ZFC) in hard superconductors and this has been demonstrated to hold in single crystals of YBCO at 4.2K over a limited range ofH values. We report the detailed magnetization measurements under various thermomagnetic histories (of whichM_rem is one special case) on two specimens of Nb, which show different extents of flux trapping. We find that there are in general three regions inH, T space, corresponding toM_rem+M_ZFC−M_FC=0,M_rem<(M_FC−M_ZFC) andM_rem>(M_FC−M_ZFC). At anyT, the equality holds forH<H_c1(T), and forH→H_c2 (M_FC−M_ZFC) asymptotically vanishes and thereM_rem>(M_FC−M_ZFC). We show that there exists an intermediate region in all hard superconductors, whereM_rem<(M_FC−M_ZFC). The range over which this situation persists, however, depends on the degree of irreversibility in a sample. We can explain qualitatively all the history dependent magnetization data in terms of the critical state model. We point out an inconsistency in an earlier analysis to determineH_c1(T) from such data in YBCO. We also propose a new criterion for putting limits onH_c1(T) in hard superconductors.

We present exact solutions of Bean’s critical state model for some sample shapes having non-zero demagnetization factorN. Virgin and hysteresis magnetization curves are obtained for samples in the shape of (i) a sphere (ii) a spheroid (iii) a cylinder of circular cross-section with its axis perpendicular to the field and (iv) a cylinder of elliptical cross section with its axis perpendicular to the field. Some interesting features seen in these first solutions forN ≠ 0 are discussed.

We have studied the variation of low field magnetization hysteresis in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ as a function of the maximum magnetic field applied during a hysteresis cycle (1 G<H_max<7.3 G) and also as a function of temperature (77 K<T<95 K). The remnant magnetization is studied as a function ofH_max andT and the measured dependences are explained using the extended critical state model. The potential of this technique as a contactless method of probing the temperature dependence ofJ_c is discussed.

Magnetic measurements in the superconducting state of the high temperature superconductors have been characterized by the feature of irreversibility. Similar effects have been known in the conventional type II superconductors for about three decades now, and have been studied in great detail during the last few years. Recent studies of magnetic irreversibilities, in both conventional and high temperature superconductors, will be reviewed here. Thermally-activated relaxation accompanies such irreversibilities, and studies on flux-creep will also be reviewed.

This review shall cover the measurement of isothermal magnetization curves, of ac susceptibility, of thermo-magnetic history effects in the magnetization at a particular field and temperature, and of flux creep. An understanding of these in terms of Bean’s celebrated macroscopic model shall be discussed. We shall also cover measurements that confirm the existence of weak links in ceramic high-temperature, as well as in conventional multifilamentary, superconductors.

A comparison has been made of irreversibility temperature determined by four different methods in few specimens of lead (type-I) and niobium (type-II). The merger ofM_ZFC(T) andM_FC(T) curves giveT_r(H) values lower than those evident from vanishing the hysteresis in isothermal DC magnetization. The identification of peak temperature inx″_H(T) data withT_r(H) is appropriate only if the contribution from changes in the normal state electrodynamics can be isolated and the peak is narrow. The appearance of differential paramagnetic effect inx′_H(T) data is adequate to imply reversibility, however, its efficacy to precisely locate irreversibility line remains to be established.

We present measurements of harmonic generation in the magnetization of sintered pellets of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ and Bi_1.7Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ as a function of DC field. The DC field is applied in the field-cooled mode. Measurements are made at 77 K for various values of the AC field amplitude. A comparison is made with calculations done within the critical state model.

Results are presented for study of nonlinear magnetization of a sintered YBa₂Cu₃O_7−y pellet of different thickness of a sample subjected to very low magnetic field. On cooling the sample belowT_c in zero field a change, in the oscillatory structure of harmonics in increasing dc field is observed in very low ac magnetic field. The effect of finiteness of the sample on the oscillatory structure and on the hysteresis of harmonics is also studied. The results are explained qualitatively.

Superconductivity in CeRu₂ was discovered 40 years ago, and was extensively studied because alloying with magnetic elements showed the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic order. The normal state of CeRu₂ has been of interest because of its intermediate valuence character. The superconducting state has been studied extensively because of its paramagnetic nature and anomalous pinning properties. This review presents the present status of knowledge, and discusses the puzzling features of CeRu₂.

Hysteresis in cycling through first-order phase transitions in vortex matter, akin to the well-studied phenomenon of supercooling of water, has been discussed in literature. Hysteresis can be seen while varying either temperature T or magnetic field H (and thus the density of vortices). Our recent work on phase transitions with two control variables shows that the observable region of metastability of the supercooled phase would depend on the path followed in H-T space, and will be larger when T is lowered at constant H compared to the case when H is lowered at constant T. We discuss the effect of isothermal field variations on metastable supercooled states produced by field-cooling. This path dependence is not a priori applicable to metastability caused by reduced diffusivity or hindered kinetics.

We present a model in which metastable supercooled phase and stable equilibrium phase of vortex matter coexist in different regions of a sample. Minor hysteresis loops are calculated with the simple assumption of the two phases of vortex matter having field-independent critical current densities. We use our earlier published ideas that the free energy barrier separating the metastable and stable phases reduces as the magnetic induction moves farther from the first order phase transition line, and that metastable to stable transformations occur in local regions of the sample when the local energy dissipation exceeds a critical value. Previously reported anomalous features in minor hysteresis loops are reproduced, and calculated field profiles are presented.

We shall discuss magnetization and transport measurements in materials exhibiting a broad first-order transition. The phase transitions would be caused by varying magnetic field as well as temperature, and we concentrate on ferro- to antiferromagnetic transitions in magnetic materials. We distinguish between metastable supercooled phases and metastable glassy phase.