Thin superconducting disk with field-dependent critical current: Magnetization and ac susceptibilities

Abstract

Magnetization hysteresis loops and the ac susceptibility of a superconducting thin disk are calculated in the critical-state model assuming a field-dependent critical current density, Jc(B). The results are obtained by solving numerically the set of coupled integral equations for the flux and current distributions [PRB 60(17) p.13112 (1999)] for a disk placed in a perpendicular applied field Ba. From the magnetization curves the range of fields where the vertical width of the loop relates directly to Jc(Ba) is determined. Comparing our results on susceptibility with experimental data for parametric plot Im(chi) vs. Re(chi) shows that by taking the B-dependence of Jc into account the agreement improves dramatically. We show that the asymptotic behavior for large ac-field amplitudes Bam changes from Re(chi) ~ 1/Bam^{3/2} and Im(chi) ~ 1/Bam for the Bean model, to Re(chi) ~ 1/Bam^3 and Im(chi) ~ 1/Bam^2 for Jc decreasing with |B| as 1/|B| or faster. For small Bam the behavior can always be described by an effective Bean model with a renormalized Jc. We also find that in the Im(chi) vs. Re(chi) plot the peak of Im(chi) increases in magnitude and shifts to lower |Re(chi)|. This allows an easy experimental discrimination between a Bean model behavior, one with Jc(B), and one where flux creep is an ingredient.