Effects of Weak Links in the Nonlinear Microwave Response of MgB2 Superconductor.pdfVIP

Effects of Weak Links in the Nonlinear Microwave Response of MgB2 Superconductor A. Agliolo Gallitto1, G. Bonsignore1, G. Giunchi2 and M. Li Vigni1 1CNISM and Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche ed Astronomiche, Università di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy 2EDISON SpA, RD Division, Foro Buonaparte 31, 20121 Milano, Italy Abstract We report experimental results of second-harmonic (SH) response at microwave frequency in several ceramic MgB2 samples, prepared by different methods. The SH signal has been investigated as a function of the temperature and DC magnetic field. The investigation has been carried out at low magnetic fields, where nonlinear processes arising from motion of Abrikosov fluxons are ineffective. We show that the low-temperature SH emission is ascribable to processes involving weak links. Comparison among the peculiarities of the SH signal radiated by the different samples shows that the presence of weak links strongly depends on the sample preparation method, as well as the purity and morphology of the components used for the preparation. Key words: Microwave response; Harmonic generation; Magnesium diboride; Weak links. Running head: Weak-link effects in the nonlinear mw response of MgB2. Corresponding author: Prof. Aurelio AGLIOLO GALLITTO Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche ed Astronomiche via Archirafi 36, I-90123 Palermo (Italy) Tel: +39 091 6234207 – Fax: +39 091 6162461 Web: www.fisica.unipa.it – E-mail: agliolo@fisica.unipa.it 1 1. INTRODUCTION Since the discovery of superconductivity at ~ 40 K in magnesium diboride, several authors have been devoting the attention to understand the origin of superconductivity in this material, as well as to explore its potential in technological applications [1-3]. Since the first studies, it has been shown that grain boundaries do not appreciably affect the transport properties of this material. In particular, in contrast to what occurs in