For extraction of the self-energy from the angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy(ARPES) experiments for the cuprate superconductors, the momentum distribution curve(MDC) analysis is commonly used. There are two requirements for this method to work: the self-energy is momentum independent and the bare electron dispersion is known. Assuming that the first condition is satisfied in the cuprates, we checked the effects of the bare dispersion on the extracted self-energy. For this, we first generated the ARPES intensity using the tight-binding band of the B2212 by solving the Eliashberg equation. We then extracted the self-energy from the theoretically generated ARPES intensity using the linear and quadratic dispersions. By choosing the bare dispersion such that the Kramer-Kronig relation is best satisfied between the real and imaginary parts of the extracted self-energy, we confirmed that the quadratic dispersion is better for the bare electron band for Bi2212. The self-energy can be reasonably extracted from the ARPES experiments using the MDC analysis.

Inter-grain nanobridges of the $MgB_2$ superconductor have been fabricated by focused-ion-beam(FIB) and their electrical transport properties were studied. The $MgB_2$ film was prepatterned into microbridges by a standard argon ion milling technique and then FIB-patterned into 100 nm$\times$100 nm bridges. Current-voltage characteristics showed a strong flux-flow type behavior at all temperatures with a trait of Josephson coupling near $T_c$. At low temperatures, the curves showed a two-step resistance-doubled transition with occasional hysteresis. The resistance-doubling transition is believed to be due to a two-channel flux-flow effect. The temperature-dependent critical current data showed $I_c(T){\propto}(1-T/T_c)^2$ near $T_c$, same as a normal barrier junction, and $I_c(T){\propto}(1-T/T_c)^{1.2}$ at low temperatures, similar to that of a film.

We successfully fabricated C-doped ex-situ $MgB_2$ wires using two different methods such as mechanical alloying(MA) and combined process(CP) of in-situ and ex-situ. In the MA, the precursor powder was prepared with a mixture of $MgB_2$ and 1 at% C powders by planetary ball milling for 0-100 h. In the CP, on the other hand, C-doped $MgB_2$ powder was prepared with Mg, B, and C powders by in-situ process via compaction, sintering, and crushing. The powders prepared by two methods were loaded into Fe tube and then the assemblages were drawn by a conventional powder-in-tube technique. The MA treatment of C-added $MgB_2$ decreased the particles/grains size and resulted in C-doping into $MgB_2$ after sintering, improving the critical current density($J_c$) in high external magnetic field. For the C-doped $MgB_2$ wire by MA for 25 h, the $J_c$ was $4.1{\times}10^3A/cm^2$ at 5 K and 6.4 T, which was 5.9 times higher than that of pure and untreated $MgB_2$ wire. The CP also provided C-doping into $MgB_2$ and improved the $J_c$ in high magnetic field; the C-doped $MgB_2$ wire fabricated by CP exhibited a $J_c$ being 2.3 times higher than that of the ex-situ wire used commercial $MgB_2$ powder at 5 K and 6.0 T($2.7{\times}10^3A/cm^2\;vs.\;1.2{\times}10^3A/cm^2$).

Fluorine-doped $SmFeAsO_{1-x}F_x$ single crystals with the nominal value of x=0.2 were grown at $1350-1450^{\circ}C$ under the pressure of 3.3 GPa by using the self-flux method. Plate-shaped single crystals in the range of a few-150 ${\mu}m$ in their lateral size were obtained. The detailed crystal structure was analyzed by using the x-ray diffractometry. Superconducting transition temperature, determined by the resistive transition, of a single crystal was about 49 K with a narrow resistive transition width of ${\sim}1$ K. A relatively sharp transition, a low residual resistivity, and a large residual resistivity ratio compared with those reported for $REFeAsO_{1-x}F_x$(RE=Sm, Nd) single crystals indicate the high quality of our single crystals.

The magnetic field profiles near the surface of a $Sm_1Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$ coated conductor(CC-tape) under magnetic field and current that were applied simultaneously with phase differences ${\phi}s$ were measured using scanning Hall probe method. Measurements were carried out along the elliptic load lines with $\phi=90^{\circ}\;and\;45^{\circ}$ for some $B_{peak},\;I_{peak}$ values. From the measured field profiles, sheet current density J(x, $B_a,\;I_a$) and magnetic flux density $B_0(x,\;B_a,\;I_a)$ profiles in the CC-tape were calculated. Using these J(x, $B_a,\;I_a$) and $B_0(x,\;B_a,\;I_a)$ profiles, we estimated the hysteresis energy loss Q in the CC-tape. The estimated Qs, together with our previous results for $\phi=0^{\circ}$ from [9], were compared with theoretical values based on Brandt's calculation.

We report our development of the fabrication process of sub-micron scale $Al-AlO_x-Al$ tunnel junction by using electron-beam lithography and double-angle shadow evaporation technique. We used double-layer resist to construct a suspended bridge structure, and double-angle electron-beam evaporation to form a sub-micron scale overlapped junction. We adopted an e-beam insensitive resist as a bottom sacrificing layer. Tunnel barrier was formed by oxidation of the bottom aluminum layer between the bottom and top electrode deposition, which was done in a separate load-lock chamber. The junction resistance is designed and controlled to be 50 $\Omega$ to match the impedance of the transmission line. The junctions will be used in the broadband shot noise thermometry experiment, which will serve as a link between the electrical unit and the thermodynamic unit.

$Bi_2Sr_2Ca_1Cu_2O_x$(BSCCO 2212) superconductors for current lead were fabricated by centrifugal melting process(CMP). BSCCO 2212 powder was melted at $1200^{\circ}\C$ in a resistance furnace using a Pt crucible and poured in a rotating cylindrical mold preheated at $550^{\circ}\C$ for 2 hour. The solidified BSCCO-2212 samples were heat-treated by partial melting process in oxygen atmosphere. The current-voltage curves at 77 K of the samples were obtained by transport measurement, and the microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscope. The $J_c$ values at 77 K of the tubes partially melted at $840^{\circ}C,\;860^{\circ}C\;and\;880^{\circ}C$ were 492, 430 and 398 $A/cm^2$, respectively. It was observed that the plate-like grains in BSCCO 2212 tube was more developed in the sample heat-treated at $840^{\circ}C$. It was found that the critical current of the BSCCO 2212 samples was dependent on the partial melting schedule regarding the grain shape and size of the BSCCO 2212.

As a participant taking part in the ITER TF conductor R&D program, we developed two toroidal field conductors with variations of conduit thickness resulting in the different void fraction of the conductors. The estimated void fractions of the conductors are 31% and 33%. In this paper we present the details of the TF conductor development and performance test results of them carried out by the measurement of current sharing temperature under cyclic loading. Regarding the conductor development, the internal-Sn-processed $Nb_3Sn$ strand characteristics, strand cabling, twist pitch and characteristics of the conduit materials are presented. For the understanding of the conductor design and performance, the conductor test results are presented and the effect of the conductor design parameters such as void fraction and twist pitch is discussed based on the results.

We introduce a measurement method that enables to measure the penetration depth($\lambda$) of superconductor films by using a short-ended parallel plate sapphire resonator. Variations in the $\lambda$ of $MgB_2$ films could be measured down to the lowest temperature using a sapphire resonator with a $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ film at the bottom. A model equation of $\lambda=\lambda_0[1-(T/T_c)^{\tau}]^{-1/2}$ for $MgB_2$ films appeared to describe the observed variations of the resonant frequency of the sapphire resonator with temperature, with $\lambda_0,\;\tau$, and $T_C$ used as the fitting parameters.

NaFeAs recently observed superconductivity with the maximum $T_c{\approx}25$ K is investigated using first principles approach. We will address briefly the electronic structure and contrast other superconducting pnictides. This system shows strong two-dimensionality and reduction of flatness in the Fermi surfaces undermines tendencies of magnetic or charge instabilities. As observed in other superconducting pnictides, $Q_M=(\pi,\pi,0)$ antiferromagnetic ordering, which has not been observed clearly yet in this compound, is energetically favored. However, contrast to other superconducting pnictides, the density of states in this ordering shows considerable electron-hole asymmetry, implying efficiency of hole-doping than electron-doping to enhance $T_c$.

Polycrystalline samples of $(Ru_{0.8}Nb_{0.2})Sr_2(Gd_{1.5-x}Nd_xCe_{0.5})Cu_2O_z$($ 0{\leq}x{\leq}1.25$) have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction route. The X-ray diffraction data revealed that the Nd solubility limit can be placed between x=0.5 and x=0.75. The superconducting transition temperature decreased with increasing Nd content, confirming that Nd entered the lattice. Room-temperature thermoelectric power measurements showed that all the samples are in the underdoped state and the partial substitution of Nd for Gd resulted in a decrease in the carrier density on the superconducting layers.

The $Nd_{1+x}Ba_{2-x}Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$(Nd123) superconductor exhibits high performance in high magnetic field and high temperature. We have studied phase stability for Nd123 under reduced oxygen partial pressure and various heat-treatment conditions. The main phase is Nd123 and some samples contain small amounts of Nd422 depending on the temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The decomposition temperature decreases with decreasing oxygen partial pressure from $1052^{\circ}C(P(O_2)$=150 Torr) to about $845^{\circ}C(P(O_2)$=0.1 Torr). The liquidus line was steeper temperature with decreasing oxygen partial pressure. In same condition of oxygen partial pressure, the region of stable Nd123 phase was formed at slightly higher temperature than the region of stable YBCO phase.

We have fabricated a low-noise 61-channel axial-type first-order gradiometer system for measuring fetal magnetocardiography(MCG) signals. Superconducting quantum interference device(SQUID) sensor was based on double relaxation oscillation SQUID(DROS) for detecting biomagnetic signal, such as MCG, magnetoencphalogram(MEG) and fetal-MCG. The SQUID sensor detected axial component of fetal MCG signal. The pickup coil of SQUID sensor was wound with 120 ${\mu}m$ NbTi wire on bobbin(20 mm diameter) and was a first-order gradiometer to reject the environment noise. The sensors have low white noise of 3 $fT/Hz^{1/2}$ at 100 Hz on average. The fetal MCG was measured from $24{\sim}36$ weeks fetus in a magnetically shielded room(MSR) with shielding factor of 35 dB at 0.1 Hz and 80 dB at 100 Hz(comparatively mild shielding). The MCG signal contained maternal and fetal MCG. Fetal MCG could be distinguished relatively easily from maternal MCG by using independent component analysis(ICA) filter. In addition, we could observe T peak as well as QRS wave, respectively. It will be useful in detecting fetal cardiac diseases.

A current limiter was manufactured using a Josephson junction array to cut off an excessive current flowing into the SQUID sensor. The Fabricateed Josephson junction array was connected in series with a flux transformer that consists of a pick-up coil and an input coil, and the flux transformer was inductively coupled with a Double Relaxation Oscillation SQUID(DROS). The flux-voltage modulation curve was induced by applying an AC magnetic field whose magnitude was far smaller than that of the DC magnetic field. A change in the flux-voltage modulation curve of the SQUID was observed while the DC magnetic field was increased, to qualitatively examine the current limiting characteristic of the Josephson junction array. As a result, it was found that the SQUID flux-voltage modulation curve disappeared at the critical current of the Josephson junction array, which indicates that the Josephson junction array properly works as a current limiter.

We measured and analyzed the quench development in coated conductor(CC) tapes. The CC was grown on hastelloy substrates and has an Ag protection layer. The tapes were subjected to simulated AC fault currents for quench development measurement. They were immersed in liquid nitrogen during the experiment. The quench resistance increased rapidly first, and the increase slowed down afterwards. It increased linearly with applied voltage at lower voltages, and depended less strongly on applied voltage at higher voltages. The resistance was compared with that of Au/YBCO films grown on sapphire substrates, and found to increase more monotonously than the latter. Data were analyzed quantitatively with the concept of heat transfer within the tape and the surrounding liquid nitrogen. A heat balance equation was derived and solved, taking into consideration temperature dependence of thermal parameters of the tapes. Solutions, together with values of thermal parameters taken from the literature, explained the data well. Cooling by liquid nitrogen affected the quench development considerably at lower applied voltages. Dependence on applied voltages could be also understood quantitatively.