A pseudogap in the normal-state quasiparticle density of states of $high-T_c$ superconductors has been revealed in many different kinds of experiments. The existence of the pseudogap and the superconducting gap, and the correlation between them has attracted considerable attention because they are believed to be a key to understanding the mechanism of the $high-T_c$ superconductivity. The interlayer tunneling spectroscopy, excluding the surface-dependent effect, is one of the most accurate means to examine the electron spectral characteristics both in the superconducting and the normal states. In this study, a new constant-temperature intrinsic tunneling spectroscopic technique, excluding the overheating effect using the in-situ temperature monitoring combined with the digital proportional-integral-derivative control, is introduced. The implication on the $high-T_c$ superconductivity of the detailed temperature dependencies of the observed spectral weight in $Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+x}\;high-T_c$ material for overdoped and underdoped levels is discussed.

We have studied feasibility of single-layer second-order $high-T_c$ SQUID gradiometers in magnetocardiography. We have measured human cardiomagnetic signals using a short-baseline (5.8 mm) single-layer second-order YBCO gradiometer in partially shielded environments. The gradiometer has an overall size of $17.6\;mm{\times}6\;mm$ and contains three parallel-connected pickup coils which are directly coupled to a step-edge junction SQUID. The gradiometer showed an unshielded gradient noise of $0.84\;pT/cm^2/Hz^{1/2}$ at 1 Hz, which corresponds to an equivalent field noise of $280\;fT/Hz^{1/2}$. The balancing factor was $10^3$. Based on the same design rules as the short-baseline devices, we have studied fabrication of 30 mm-long baseline gradiometers. The devices had an overall size of $70.2\;mm{\times}10.6\;mm$ with each pickup coil of $10\;mm{\times}10\;mm$ in outer size. As Josephson elements we made two types of submicron bridges, which are variable thickness bridge (VTB) and constant thickness bridge (CTB), from $3\;{\mu}m-wide$ and 300 nm-thick YBCO lines with a thin layer of Au on top by using a focused ion beam (FIB) patterning method. VTB was 300 nm wide, 200 nm thick, 30 nm long with Au removed and CTB 100 nm wide and 30 nm long. In temperature-dependent critical currents, $I_c(T)$, VTB showed an nonmetallic barrier-type behavior and CTB an SNS behavior. We believe that those characteristics are ascribed to naturally formed grain boundaries crossing the bridges.

Coupling of non-linear oscillators have long been an interesting problem for physicists. The coupling phenomena have been frequently observed in Josephson junction series array, which have been used for Josephson voltage standard. Interestingly pronounced self-generation effect has been found during recent development of Josephson arrays for programmable Josephson voltage standard. But the coupling effect between the self-generations is not fully understood yet. We present harmonically approximated analytical solutions for coupled self-generations in the Josephson arrays, i.e., Superconductor-Insulator-Normal metal-Insulator-Superconductor (SINIS) array, externally shunted Superconductor-Insulator-Supercondctor (es-SIS) array, Superconductor-Normal metal-Superconductor (SNS) array. We find that the coupling between the self-generated Josephson oscillations through microwave transmission line plays critical role in microwave property of the Josephson array.

We report the oscillation of the Josephson vortex-flow resistance in the rectangular stacks of $Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+x}$(Bi-2212) intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs). Apiece of Bi-2212 single crystal containing a few tens of IJJs was sandwiched between two gold electrodes and fabricated into a rectangular shape with the typical lateral size of about $1.5{\times}10\;{\mu}m^2$, using e-beam lithography and focused ion-beam etching techniques. In a tesla-range magnetic field applied in parallel with the junction planes, the oscillation of the Josephson vortex flow resistance was observed at temperatures near 60 K. The oscillation results from the interplay between the triangular Josephson vortex lattice and the potential barrier at the boundary of a single crystal. The oscillatory magnetoresistance for different bias currents, external magnetic fields, and the tilt-angles provides useful information on the dynamics of the coupled Josephson-vortex lattice system.

We have studied the standardization of critical temperature measurements by using an ac susceptometer. Wire forms of NbTi, $Nb_{3}Sn$, and Bi-2223 superconductors were prepared to measure the temperature dependences of the magnetization. In order to study the optimum ac magnetic field and frequency, various amplitudes from 2 Oe to 10 Oe with frequencies from 11.3 Hz to 1033 Hz were applied to three specimens. Analytical comparison of the magnetic curves with the resistive curves was accomplished to investigate validity of using the new method.

We propose a method to measure atrial arrhythmias (AA) such as atrial fibrillation (Afb) and atrial flutter (Afl) with a SQUID magnetocardiograph (MCG) system. To detect AA is one of challenging topics in MCG. As the AA generally have irregular rhythm and atrio-ventricular conduction, the MCG signal cannot be improved by QRS averaging; therefore a SQUID MCG system having a high SNR is required to measure informative atrial excitation with a single scan. In the case of Afb, diminished f waves are much smaller than normal P waves because the sources are usually located on the posterior wall of the heart. In this study, we utilize an MCG system measuring tangential field components, which is known to be more sensitive to a deeper current source. The average noise spectral density of the whole system in a magnetic shielded room was $10\;fT/{\surd}Hz(a)\;1\;Hz\;and\;5\;fT/{\surd}Hz\;(a)\;100\;Hz$. We measured the MCG signals of patients with chronic Afb and Afl. Before the AA measurement, the comparison between the measurements in supine and prone positions for P waves has been conducted and the experiment gave a result that the supine position is more suitable to measure the atrial excitation. Therefore, the AA was measured in subject's supine position. Clinical potential of AA measurement in MCG is to find an aspect of a reentry circuit and to localize the abnormal stimulation noninvasively. To give useful information about the abnormal excitation, we have developed a method, separative synthetic aperture magnetometry (sSAM). The basic idea of sSAM is to visualize current source distribution corresponding to the atrial excitation, which are separated from the ventricular excitation and the Gaussian sensor noises. By using sSAM, we localized the source of an Afl successfully.

The problem of fluctuation-induced digital errors in a rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) circuit has been a very important issue. In this work, we calculated the bit error rate of an RSFQ switch used in superconductive arithmetic logic unit (ALU). RSFQ switch should have a very low error rate in the optimal bias. Theoretical estimates of the RSFQ error rate are on the order of $10^{-50}$ per bit operation. In this experiment, we prepared two identical circuits placed in parallel. Each circuit was composed of 10 Josephson transmission lines (JTLs) connected in series with an RSFQ switch placed in the middle of the 10 JTLs. We used a splitter to feed the same input signal to both circuits. The outputs of the two circuits were compared with an RSFQ exclusive OR (XOR) to measure the bit error rate of the RSFQ switch. By using a computerized bit-error-rate test setup, we measured the bit error rate of $2.18{\times}10^{-12}$ when the bias to the RSFQ switch was 0.398 mA that was quite off from the optimum bias of 0.6 mA.

The diagnostic management of patients with chest pain remains a clinical challenge. Magnetocardiography (MCG) has been proposed as a new non-invasive method for detection of myocardial ischemia. To date, however, MCG technique is not intensively introduced for clinical use. One of the main reasons might be the absence of statistically valid and diagnostically clean criteria, which can determine the presence of certain heart disease. In this work, we suggested a new method to classify the diagnostic value of MCG for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with chest pain. MCG was recorded for three groups (healthy subjects and patients without and with CAD) by means of the 64 channel SQUID gradiometer system installed at a hospital. Using four parameters, which were found to be significantly different between groups, we evaluated a probability, in which parameters can be classified into each group based on the distribution function of the parameter in each group. For all parameters, sum of probabilities was compared between groups to determine the presence of CAD. Our classification method shows that the MCG can be a useful tool to predict the presence of CAD with sensitivity and specificity of higher than $80\%$ each.

We have developed control electronics to operate flux-locked loop (FLL), and analog signal filters to process FLL outputs for 64-channel Double Relaxation Oscillation SQUID (DROS) magnetocardiography (MCG) system. Control electronics consisting of a preamplifier, an integrator, and a feedback, is compact and low-cost due to larger swing voltage and flux-to-voltage transfer coefficients of DROS than those of dc SQUIDs. Analog signal filter (ASF) serially chained with a high-pass filter having a cut-off frequency of 0.1 Hz, an amplifier having a gain of 100, a low-pass filter of 100 Hz, and a notch filter of 60 Hz makes FLL output suitable for MCG. The noise of a preamplifier in FLL control electronics is $7\;nV/{\surd}\;Hz$ at 1 Hz, $1.5\;nV/{\surd}\;Hz$ at 100 Hz that contributes $6\;fT/{\surd}\;Hz$ at 1 Hz, $1.3\;fT/{\surd}\;Hz$ at 100 Hz in readout electronics, and the noise of ASF electronics is $150\;{\mu}V/{\surd}\;Hz$ equivalent to $0.13\;fT/{\surd}\;Hz$ within the range of $1{\sim}100\;Hz$. When DROSs are connected to readout electronics inside a magnetically shielded room, the noise of 64-channel DROS system is $10\;fT/{\surd}\;Hz$ at 1 Hz, $5\;fT/{\surd}\;Hz$ at 100 Hz on the average, low enough to measure human MCG.

[ $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_y$ ] superconducting films were prepared on $LaAlO_3$(100) single crystal substrate by spray pyrolysis method. The precursor solution was prepared by dissolving nitrate powders in de-ionized water. Both of ultrasonic and concentric nebulizers were used in order to generate fine droplets of precursor solution. C-axis oriented films were obtained at deposition temperature of $750\~850^{\circ}C$ and working pressure of 100 Torr and 500 Torr. In case of ultrasonic nebulizer, films showed rough and porous surface morphology due to formation of enormous droplets, while smooth and dense films were obtained for concentric nebulizer. A transport $J_c$ value of $0.43\;MA/cm^2$ at 77 K and self field was achieved on $LaAlO_3$(100) single crystal substrate.

We investigated the surface oxidation behavior of cube-textured polycrystalline nickel at various oxidation conditions. Cube-textured NiO film was formed on a cube-textured polycrystalline nickel regardless of oxidation conditions but different growth behavior of NiO crystals was observed depending on the oxidation conditions. The introduction of water vapor into $O_2$ did not affect the texture evolution, but rough and porous microstructure was developed. Microstructure of NiO film tends to be denser as the oxygen partial pressure increases. It is interesting that (111) peak of theta - two theta diffraction pattern started to get stronger in air atmosphere and (111) plane became the major texture in the substrate oxidized in high purity argon gas. Small amount of high index crystallographic plane NiO peak crystal was observed when $N_{2}O$ was used as an oxidant while only (200) plane crystal was formed in dry $O_2$ atmosphere. Flat and smooth surface was changed into rough faceted one when ramping rate to oxidation temperature was faster. The grain size of NiO was decreased when the oxygen partial pressure was low. It was also observed that the modification of nickel surface suppressed the development of (200) texture.

We fabricated Ni-based alloy substrates for YBCO coated conductor using powder metallurgy. Tungsten and copper were selected as alloy elements due to their mutual solubility to the base element of nickel. The alloying elements were mixed with nickel using ball milling and dried in air. The powder mixtures were packed in a rubber mold, cold isostatic pressed 200 MPa and made into rods. The compacted rods were sintered at $1150^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours for densification. It was confirmed by neutron diffraction experiment that W and Cu atoms made complete solid solution with Ni. Lattice constant of nickel alloy increased by $0.004{\AA}$ for 1at. $\%$ W in Ni-W alloy, $0.0006{\AA}$ for 1 at. $\%$ Cu in Ni-W-Cu alloy.

Complex single buffer composed of yttrium and samarium oxide was deposited on the metallic substrates by MOCVD (metal organic chemical vapor deposition) method using single liquid source. Two different types of the substrates with in-plane textures of about $8{\sim}10$ degree of Ni and $3at.\%W-Ni$ alloy were used. Y(tmhd: 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptane dionate)$_3$:Sm(tmhd)$_3$ of liquid source was adjusted to 0.4:0.6 to minimize the lattice mismatch between the complex single buffer and the YBCO. The epitaxial growth of $(Y_{x}Sm_{1-x})_{2}O_3$ was achieved at the temperature higher than $500^{\circ}C$ in $O_2$ atmosphere. However, it was found that the formation of NiO accelerated with increasing deposition temperature. By supplying $H_{2}O$ vapor, this oxidation of the substrate could be suppressed throughout the deposition temperatures. We could get the epitaxial growth on pure Ni substrate without the formation of NiO. The competitive (222) and (400) growths were observed at the deposition temperatures of $650\~750^{\circ}C$, but the (400) growth became dominant above $800^{\circ}C$. The $(Y_{x}Sm_{1-x})_{2}O_3$-buffered metallic substrates can be used as the buffer for YBCO coated conductor.

We report a successful fabrication of high-quality $SmBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-{\delta}}$ (SmBCO) thin films on $LaAlO_3$(LAO)(100) single crystalline substrates by a modified TFA-MOD method. After the pyrolysis heat treatment of spin-coated films up to $400^{\circ}C$, SmBCO films were fired at various temperatures ranging from 810 to $850^{\circ}C$ in a reduced oxygen atmosphere (10 ppm $O_2$ in Ar). Optimally processed SmBCO films exhibited the zero-resistance temperature ($T_{c,zero}$) of 90.2 K and the critical current density ($J_c$) of $0.8\;MA/cm^2$ at 77K in self-field. Compared with the $J_c$ values (normally, > $2\;MA/cm^2$ at 77 K) of MOD-TFA processed YBCO films, rather depressed $J_c$ values in SmBCO films are most probably attributed to the existence of ${\alpha}$-axis oriented grains.

The High-Tc superconducting power cable consists of a multi-layer high-Tc superconducting cable core and a stabilizer which is used to bypass the current at fault time. Eddy current loss is generated in the stabilizer in normal operating condition and affects the whole system. In this paper, the eddy current losses are analyzed with respect to various structure of stabilizer by using opera-3d. Moreover, optimal conditions of the stabilizer are derived to minimize the eddy current losses from the analyzed results. The obtained results could be applied to the design and manufacture of the high-Tc superconducting power cable system.

[ $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-x}$ ] thin films were fabricated on $LaAlO_3$(100) substrate by TFA-MOD process. Yttrium-excess (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 $at\%$) coating solution was prepared by adding extra amount of yttrium into a stoichiometric(Y:Ba:Cu=1:2:3) TFA precursor solution. Results are presented concerning the influence of excess yttrium additions on the microstructure development and superconducting properties of $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-x}$ film. Large sized CuO particles was observed by SEM EDS investigation. The addition of excess yttrium affected little on $T_c$ of $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-x}$ film. $J_c$ of YBCO film was enhanced with excess yttrium addition. Jc maximum of $2.21\;MA/cm^2$ (77 K, self field) appeared with the $15\;at\%$ addition of excess yttrium. With further yttrium addition up to $20\;at\%$, Jc decreased down to $0.9\;MA/cm^2$.

YBCO thin films on metal substrates were prepared by the metal-organic deposition using trifluoroacetates (TFA-MOD). To compensate the loss of Ba element from the precursor films due to the reaction with $CeO_2$ cap layer, we have employed Ba-excessive precursor solutions of $YBa_{2+x}Cu_{3}O_{7-{\delta}}$ ($0{\le}x{\le}0.1$). The precursor solutions were dip-coated on the metal substrates with $CeO_2$ cap layer, initially heated up to $400^{\circ}C$, and finally fired at the various high temperatures for 2 h in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. With this approach, YBCO films possessing critical temperature over 85 K could be successfully prepared on the metal substrates. The highest $T_{c,zero}$ value of 86 K was obtained from the Ba-excessive YBCO film of x=0.005 in $YBa_{2+x}Cu_{3}O_{7-{\delta}}$ fired at $750^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. However, unexpected $T_c$ suppression even in Ba-excessive YBCO samples requires further identification.

Bi-22l2 tubes for fault current limiter (FCL) were fabricated by centrifugal melting process. $SrSO_4$ ($10\;wt.\;\%$) was added to Bi-2212 powder to lower the melting point of Bi-22l2 and to improve the mechanical properties. The BSCCO powder was completely melted at $1300\;^{\circ}C$ using the RF furnace and then poured into rotating steel mold. The steel mold, preheated at $450\;{\circ}C{\sim}550^{\circ}C$ for 2 hour was rotated at $1020{\sim}2520\;RPM$. The solidified BSCCO tube was cooled down to room temperature in the furnace for 48 hours and separated from the mold between Bi-2212 and the mold. $ZrO_2$ solution was used to separate it easily from the mold and Ag tape was attached in the mold inner wall of the mold to analysis electrical property. Bi-22l2 tube was often cracked when the cooling rate was high. BSCCO tubes with $70{\Phi}{\times}100\;mm,\;50{\Phi}{\times}100\;mm$ and $30{\Phi}{\times}150\;mm$ size were fabricated by centrifugal melting process. The $J_{c}s$ of tubes with $50{\Phi}{\times}100\;mm{\times}4.0\;t$ and $50{\Phi}{\times}100\;mm{\times}4.l\;t$ were 178 and $74.2\;A/cm^2$ at 77K, respectively. The processing condition for Bi-2212 tube fabrication was investigated using XRD and SEM analyses.