Collapse of the critical state in superconducting niobium

ORAL

Abstract

Giant abrupt changes in the magnetic flux distribution in niobium foils were studied by using magneto-optical visualization, thermal and magnetic measurements. Uniform flux jumps and sometimes almost total catastrophic collapse of the critical state are reported. Results are discussed in terms of thermomagnetic instability mechanism with different heat removal channels. Video figures are available at: http://www.cmpgroup.ameslab.gov/supermaglab/video/Nb.html

*Supported by NSF Grant DMR-05-53285 and by the Alfred P. Sloan Research Foundation.

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Authors

  • Ruslan Prozorov

    • Ames Laboratory and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames IA 50011
    • Ames Lab. and Dept. Phys. and Astron., Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011
    • Ames Laboratory and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011

  • Daniel V. Shantsev

    • Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1048 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

  • Roman G. Mints

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel