고온초전도 CC를 다른 산소 분압에서 Ag과 YBCO의 녹는점 보다 낮은 온도에서 열처리시 CC의 특성에 미치는 영향을 실험하였다. 전류의 수송능력과 미세구조는 보호층인 Ag의 존재여부에 다양하게 영향을 미친다. Ag를 제거한 CC를 $850^{\circ}C$의 산소 분위기에서 2시간 동안 열처리 한 시편의 경우 CC의 임계전류의 특성에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 그러나 Ag를 제거하지 않은 CC를 $800^{\circ}C$의 산소 분위기에서 2시간 동안 열처리한 시편의 경우 임계전류가 140 A에서 8 A로 떨어지는 결과를 보였다. 또한, Ag을 제거하지 않은 CC를 1000 ppm 산소 분위기의 $800^{\circ}C$에서 2시간 동안 열처리한 시편의 경우 임계전류 값이 원래 $I_c$ 값의 $70{\sim}80%$의 임계전류 값이 나타났다. SEM 이미지와 XRD 회절 분석 결과 Ni과 Cr 원자들이 표면으로 확산되어 CC의 전류수송 특성에 영향을 미친다.

We investigated the effects of the irradiation of light-ions on the superconducting $MgB_2$ thin films fabricated by using HPCVD. Deuterium and helium ions were irradiated on $MgB_2$ thin films by various doses, from $1{\times}10^{10}cm^{-2}\;to\;8{\times}10^{15}cm^{-2}$. During these experiments some reasonable results and unpredictable results have been obtained. The reasonable results are that the peak of the reduced maximum pinning force shifts by increasing the pinning sites in $MgB_2$ films and the slightly change of critical current density of films. We obtained some unusual results, which are the increasing of the transition temperature and the change of residual resistance ratio. Among the data of deuterium and helium ion irradiation experiments, the results of helium ion irradiation have most notable points so we will discuss mainly about helium irradiation experiments.

Partial discharge measurements in cryogenic dielectric materials of HTS transformer are very important because partial discharge was regarded as primary source for ageing and breakdown of cryogenic materials. But, partial discharge measurement techniques and its effects in low temperature high voltage environments were not suggested and there exist only a few reports on this research fields. Therefore, in order to implement reliable HTS transformers, partial discharge diagnosis techniques for cryogenic materials of HTS transformers were investigated using partial discharge (PD) pattern analysis methods. In this works, four different types of artificial defects including turn to turn insulation, free moving particle, void and protrusion, have been fabricated since it was commonly regarded that they might cause the sudden service failures of the power apparatus. For this purpose, these defects are installed into the dielectric materials in liquid nitrogen and experimental investigations have been carried out for the diagnosis of HTS transformer. And various PD patterns caused by the amount of quench of superconductors were analyzed. Throughout this works, the different PD patterns in cryogenic dielectric materials in liquid nitrogen, and PD measuring technique could be the fundamental steps to establish diagnosis technologies of HTS transformer for power applications.

Among the various types of fault current limiters, superconducting fault current limiters could be the most preferable choice for high voltage electric power systems owing to the remarkable current limiting characteristics of superconductors. But, there have been no commercial superconducting fault current limiters which were installed into actual electric power systems until these days due to some remained technical and economical problems. Thus, in order to promote the development and application of the superconducting fault current limiters into real field, it is essential to understand the power utilities’ requirements for their networks and also suitable test method and some specifications should be prepared. This paper focuses on the matters of test requirements and standardization issues that should be prepared for commercialization of superconducting fault current limiters. The unique current limiting characteristics of superconducting fault current limiters were investigated and related other standards including circuit breakers, transformers, reactors, power fuse, and fused circuit breakers were compared to setup the basis of novel specification of superconducting fault current limiters. Furthermore, required essential test procedures for superconducting fault current limiters were suggested.

Polycrystalline samples of $(R_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ (R = Lu and Y) were synthesized by a solid-state reaction route, and the phase stabilities were examined by heating at temperatures between $800^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$ in various atmospheres. A comparative analyses of the x-ray diffraction data of the $(Lu_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ and $(Y_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ compounds showed that the 123 phase of both compounds is stable under heating in air and $O_2$ of 1 atm. However, contrary to the $(Y_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ compound, the $(Lu_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_z$ compound was found to become unstable when heated in the low oxygen partial pressure below about 8 % $O_2\;in\;N_2$, Considering the instability of parent $LuBa_2Cu_3O_z$ compound, this result suggests that the phase stability of Lu-based 123 compounds is sensitive to both the composition and the oxygen partial pressure.

We have investigated the characteristics of a superconductive Pb shield for hemispherical shape and plate to improving signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) of biomagnetism. We measured the shielding factor for the position of helmet shape Pb and for changing the distance from Pb surface. To make a uniform magnetic field, a $1.5m{\times}1.5m$ set of the helmholtz coils activated at several frequencies. The shielding factor of hemispherical shape Pb was from 20 to 57 dB and of Pb plate was about $6{\sim}26dB$ as a function of distance from the lead surface. The shielding factor was rapidly reduced as increasing the distance from Pb surface. The white noise of superconductive quantum interference device(SQUID) with a superconductive shield was about $12fT/Hz^{1/2}$ at 1 Hz, $7fT/Hz^{1/2}$ at 100 Hz. The white noise was more increased about two times than conventional SQUID system without Pb shielding. An auditory signal was measured by first order gradiometer and magnetometer with Pb superconductive shield and compared the SNR. The SQUID system with Pb shield had better performance at low frequency noise level.

Superconducting quantum phenomena are getting attention from the field of metrology area. Following its first successful application of Josephson effect to voltage standard, piconewton force standard was suggested as a candidate for the next application of superconducting quantum effects in metrology. It is predicted that a micron-sized superconducting Nb ring in a strong magnetic field gradient generates a quantized force of the order of sub-piconewtons. In this work, we studied the design and fabrication of Nb superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) on an ultra-thin silicon cantilever. The Nb SQUID and electrodes were structured on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer by dc magnetron sputtering and lift-off lithography. Using the resulting SOI wafer, we fabricated V-shaped and parallel-beam cantilevers, each with a $30-{\mu}m$-wide paddle; the length, width, and thickness of each cantilever arm were typically $440{\mu}m,\;4.5{\mu}m$, and $0.34{\mu}m$, respectively. However, the cantilevers underwent bending, a technical difficulty commonly encountered during the fabrication of electrical circuits on ultra-soft mechanical substrates. In order to circumvent this difficulty, we controlled the Ar pressure during Nb sputtering to minimize the intrinsic stress in the Nb film and studied the effect of residual stress on the resultant device.

With an aim of comparison, single grain Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) bulk superconductors were fabricated using a liquid infiltration growth (LIG) process and a conventional melt growth (MTG) process with top seeding. The MTG process uses an $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$(Y123) powder as a precursor, while the LIG process uses $Y_2BaCuO_5(Y211)/Ba_3Cu_5O_8(Y035)$ pre-forms. The growth of a single Y123 domain on the top seed was successful in the both processes. Different feature between the two processes is the interior microstructure regarding the critical current density ($J_c$). The LIG-processed YBCO sample showed a lower porosity, more uniform distribution of Y211 particles and the enhanced Y211 refinement compared to the conventional MTG process. The $J_c$ improvement in the LIG process is attributed to the dispersion of finer Y211 particles as well as lower porosity within the Y123 superconducting matrix.

For many large-scale applications of high-temperature superconducting materials, large critical current density ($J_c$) in high applied magnetic fields are required. A number of methods have been reported to introduce artificial pinning centers in $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ films for enhancement of their $J_c$. We studied the microstructures and characteristic of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ films fabricated on $SrTiO_3$ (100) substrates with ZnO nanorods as pinning centers. Au catalyst nanoparticles were synthesized on STO substrates with self assembled monolayer to control the number of ZnO nanorods. The density of Au nanoparticles is approximately $240{\sim}260{\mu}m^{-2}$ with diameters of $41{\sim}49nm$. ZnO nanorods were grown on STO by hot-walled PLD with Au nanoparticles. Typical size of ZnO nanorod was around 179 nm in diameter and $2{\sim}6{\mu}m$ in length respectively. YBCO films deposited directly on STO substrates show the c-axis orientation, while YBCO films with ZnO nanorods exhibit any mixed phases without any typical crystal orientation.

Temperature distributions and thermal stresses were calculated and analyzed to investigate the effect of the artificial holes to the transient behaviors of the superconductors which was cooled in liquid nitrogen. Three dimensional finite element method was used to calculated the transient temperature and thermal stresses in the superconductors. The cooling speed of the superconductors with holes is faster than those without holes. Because the thermal stresses calculated in the superconductors can be relaxed by the distributed holes, the volume of the peak tensile stress decreases during the cooling in liquid nitrogen. If optimal metal, which can maintain the relaxation of thermal stresses, is used to fill and reinforce the artificial holes, the probability of failure of the superconductors may be decreased by the decrease of volume of peak tensile stress.

A superconductor flywheel energy storage(SFES) system is mainly act an electro-mechanical battery which transfers mechanical energy into electrical form and vice versa. SFES system consists of a pair of non-contacting High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) bearings with a very low frictional loss. But it is essential to design an efficient HTS bearing considering with rotor dynamic properties through correct calculation of stiffness in order to support a huge composite flywheel rotor with high energy storage density. Static properties of HTS bearings provide data to solve problems which may occur easily in a running system. Since stiffness to counter vibration is the main parameter in designing an HTS bearing system, we investigate HTS bearing magnetic force through static properties between the Permanent Magnet(PM) and HTS. We measured axial / radial stiffness and found bearing stiffness can be easily changed by activated vibration direction between PM and HTS bulk. These results are used to determine the optimal design for a 10 kWh SFES.

Introduction of proper impurity into $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ (YBCO) thin films is an effective way to enhance its flux-pinning properties. We investigate effect of $Y_2O_3$ nanoparticles on the critical current density $J_c$ of the YBCO thin films. The $Y_2O_3$ nanoparticles were created perpendicular to the film surface (parallel with the c-axis) either between YBCO and substrate or on top of YBCO, YBCO/$Y_2O_3$/LAO or $Y_2O_3$/YBCO/STO, by pulsed laser deposition. The deposition temperature of the YBCO films were varied ($780^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$) to modify surface morphology of the YBCO films. Surface morphology characterization revealed that the lower deposition temperature of $780^{\circ}C$ created nano-sized holes on the YBCO film surface which may behave as intrinsic pinning centers, while the higher deposition temperature produced much denser and smoother surface. $J_c$ values of the YBCO films with $Y_2O_3$ particles were either remained nearly the same or decreased for the samples in which YBCO is grown at $780^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, $J_c$ values were enhanced for the samples in which YBCO is grown at higher temperature of $800^{\circ}C$. The difference in the effect of $Y_2O_3$ can be explained by the fact that the higher deposition temperature of $800^{\circ}C$ reduces intrinsic pinning centers and $J_c$ is enhanced by introduction of artificial pinning centers in the form of $Y_2O_3$ nanoparticles.

The effect of Cu substitution on the structural and superconducting properties of the $(Ru_{1-x}Cu_x)Sr_2(Eu_{1.34{\cdot}}Ce_{0.66})Cu_2O_z$ system with x = 0, 0.25 and 0.5 prepared under ambient pressure have been investigated. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the Ru ions are replaced by the Cu ions. It is found that the Cu substitution for Ru significantly reduces the ferromagnetic component of field-cooled magnetic susceptibility, but results in a small change in diamagnetic onset transition temperature of zero-field-cooled magnetic susceptibility. In contrast to the Ru $Sr_2(Eu_{1.34{\cdot}}Ce_{0.66})Cu_2O_z$, bulk Meissner effect is observed in the field-cooled magnetization measurements of the Cu doped samples. The experimental results are discussed in connection with the spontaneous vortex phase interpretation.

Low temperature scanning laser microscopy (LTSLM) can be used for a two-dimensional display of bolometric response arising from the localized excitation of a sample by the focused laser beam. In this study, the distribution of critical temperature ($T_c$) and critical current density ($J_c$) in YBCO coated conductor were analyzed using LTSLM. For improving the temperature stability, we have modified the system into a double-shielding type. Through the modification, the temperature stability was successfully improved from ${\pm}10mK\;to\;{\pm}2mK$. The superconducting properties of YBCO coated conductors were measured for the sample of a narrow bridge type using wet etching process. The spatial non-uniformity of the ac voltage response, ${\delta}V(x)$, which is proportional to ${\partial}\rho(x,J_B)/{\partial}T$ in the transition temperature region could be observed and displayed in a two-dimensional image.

We have fabricated a helmet type magnetoencephalogrphy(MEG) with a $1^{st}$ order gradiometer in vacuum to improve the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and the boil-off rate of liquid helium(LHe). The axial type first-order gradiometer was fabricated with a double relaxation oscillation SQUID(DROS) sensor which was directly connected with a pickup coil. The neck space of LHe dewar was made to be smaller than that of a conventional dewar, but the LHe boil-off ratio appeared to increase. To reduce the temperature of low Tc SQUID sensor and pickup coil to 9 K, a metal shield made of, such as copper, brass or aluminum, have been usually used for thermal transmission. But the metal shield exhibited high thermal noise and eddy current fluctuation. We quantified the thermal noise and the eddy current fluctuation of metal. In this experiment, we used the bobbin which was made of an alumina to wind Nb superconductive wire for pickup coil and the average noise of coil-in-vacuum type MEG system was $3.5fT/Hz^{1/2}$. Finally, we measured the auditory evoked signal to prove the reliability of coil-in-vacuum type MEG system.