Abstract
The fabrications condition and superconducting properties of top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) processed $GdBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Gd123) bulk superconductors were studied. Processing parameters (a maximum temperature ($T_{max}$), a temperature for crystal growth ($T_G$) and a cooling rate ($R_G$) through a peritectic temperature ($T_P$) for the fabrication of single grain Gd123 superconductors were optimized. The magnetic levitation forces, trapped magnetic fields, superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) and critical current density ($J_c$) of the Gd123 bulks superconductors were estimated. Single grain Gd123 bulk superconductors were successfully fabricated at the optimized processing condition. The $T_c$ of a TSMG processed Gd123 sample was 92.5 K and the $J_c$ at 77 K and 0 T was approximately $50kA/cm^2$. The trapped magnetic field contour and magnetic levitation forces were dependent on the top surface morphology of TSMG processed Gd123 samples. The single grain Gd123 samples, field-cooled at 77 K using a Nd-B-Fe permanent magnet with 5.27 kG and 30 mm dia., showed the trapped magnetic field contour of a single grain with a maximum of 4 kG at the sample center. The maximum magnetic levitation forces of the single grain Gd123 sample, field-cooled or zero field-cooled, were 40 N and 107 N, respectively.
