Non-resonant radio-frequency response in superconducting MgB2

Abstract

Non-resonant radio frequency absorption (NRRA) of superconducting MgB2 pellet is investigated as a function of frequency, temperature, pressure, rf power, magnetic field, sample size and grain size. The NRRA signals of granular MgB2 samples show three separate and distinguish temperature dependent phase reversals, one of them is similar to the phase reversal occurs very often in high Tc superconductors at temperature few degrees below Tc, the other two are anomalous and occur at lower temperatures. Interpretation based on the assumptions in the line shape model indicates that the Josephson junctions are weakly coupled in MgB2 than other high temperature superconductors like YBa2Cu3O7, La1.9Sr0.1CuO4 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. The samples show a significant magnetic field sweep hysteresis, which is a signature of trapped flux. The hysteresis behavior suggests that the vortices in the MgB2 are rather rigid. The effects of passing dc current through the sample on the NRRA signal patterns are discussed. It is seen that the transition temperature Tc measured using the NRRA technique decreases with decreasing sample size, whereas the Tc measured using ac susceptibility and temperature dependent resistivity is independent of the sample size. The results are discussed in terms of resistively shunted junction, flux flow and bond percolation models. Effect of MgO doping is analyzed and discussed. The intergranular coupling energy and the activation energy of MgB2 are calculated and compared with other high temperature superconductors. The effects of sintering on the weak links in MgB2 polycrystalline pellet are discussed.