Anisotropic superconducting strip in an oblique magnetic field

Abstract

The critical state of a thin superconducting strip in an oblique applied magnetic field H_a is analyzed without any restrictions on the dependence of the critical current density j_c on the local magnetic induction {\bf B}. In such a strip, j_c is not constant across the thickness of the sample and differs from J_c/d, where J_c is the critical sheet current. It is shown that in contrast to the case of {\bf B}-independent j_c, the profiles H_z(x) of the magnetic-field component perpendicular to the strip plane generally depend on the in-plane component H_{ax} of the applied magnetic field H_a, and on how H_a is switched on. On the basis of this analysis, we explain how and under what conditions one can extract j_c({\bf B}) from the magnetic-field profiles H_z(x) measured by magneto-optical imaging or by Hall-sensor arrays at the upper surface of the strip.