Alexandria Engineering Journal (2012) 51, 171–183

Alexandria University

Alexandria Engineering Journal

www.elsevier.com/locate/aej
www.sciencedirect.com

REVIEW

High Tc superconducting fabrication of loop antenna

Widad Mahmood Faisal *

Hadramout University of Science & Technology, Faculty of Engineering & Petroleum,

Department of Electronic & Communication, Yemen

Received 23 June 2011; accepted 22 February 2012

Available online 20 April 2012

KEYWORDS Abstract Using a solid state reaction to prepared many samples of YBa2Cu3O7d And
High Tc superconducting; (YBa2Cu3O7d)1x(Ag2O)x by mixing the appropriate ratios of constituent oxides; BaO, CuO,
Antenna and Y2O3 the mixture were ground to fine power and then calcined at 900 C without Ag2O
and 930 C for using Ag2O as impurities. The calcined black power were grounded again and
molded into pellets by applying a hydrostatic pressure from (0.3–0.6) Gpa. These pellets were
sintered at 950 C. Silver was added as impurities with the calcined powder with ratios of
0.3, 0.35 and 0.45 to increase its ductility. The transition temperature for the superconductor
samples were done using non-contact technique. It is an easy and sensitive technique compared
with four – point probe method. The maximum Tc was 110 K for YBa2Cu3O6.989. Evaporation
deposition technique to deposited a thin film, of 2200 A thickness on the surface of the samples
and then annealed to room temperature. This technical reduces the resistance to 0.2
and
makes a good ohmic contact at liquid nitrogen boiling point (77 K) metals of various conduc-
tivity such as copper, brass aluminum and iron were used to study the effect of eddy-current loss
on them and then compared with the superconducting samples, with Ag2O or without Ag2O.
The maximum power loss were obtained for the superconducting samples when they cooling
at liquid nitrogen temperature. The sintered pellets were drilled manually by 6 mm drill and a
slot was done along its radius, to fabricate a superconducting loop antenna for receiving
magnetic field signal. The best received signal was obtained when the antenna cooled to liquid
nitrogen temperature.

ª 2012 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.
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* Tel.: +967 711891908.

E-mail address: widadmf@yahoo.com.
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Production and hosting by Elsevier

1110-0168 ª 2012 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2012.02.004
172 W.M. Faisal

Contents

1. Introduction . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

2. Experimental. ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
3. Resulting and analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
4. Conclusions . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
References . . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

1. Introduction of the science of quantum mechanics. In 1972, Bardeen, Coo-

per, and Schrieffer received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their
Superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 [1] by the Dutch theory of superconductivity, which is now known as the BCS
physicist, Heike Kammerlingh Onnes. Onnes dedicated his sci- theory, after the initials of their last names. In 1986, Georg
entific career to exploring extremely cold refrigeration. On July Bednorz and Alex Müller, working at IBM in Zurich Switzer-
10, 1908, he successfully liquefied helium by cooling it to 452 land, were experimenting with a particular class of metal oxide
below zero Fahrenheit (4 Kelvin or 4K). Liquid helium en- ceramics called perovskites [8]. Bednorz and Müller surveyed
abled him to cool other materials closer to absolute zero hundreds of different oxide compounds. Working with ceram-
(0 Kelvin), the coldest temperature imaginable. Absolute zero ics of lanthanum, barium, copper, and oxygen they found indi-
is the temperature at which the energy of material becomes cations of superconductivity at 35 K, a startling 12 K above
as small as possible. Some scientists, such as William Kelvin, the old record for a superconductor. High-temperature super-
believed that electrons flowing through a conductor would conductors have been used for microwave applications and
come to a complete halt as the temperature approached abso- there has been a continuous progress in this area.
lute zero. Onnes passed a current through a very pure mercury Several high-Tc superconductors based microwave devices
wire and measured its resistance as he steadily lowered the tem- such as resonators, filters, multiplexer, receivers, delay line, an-
perature [2]. Much to his surprise there was no leveling off of tenna, and phase shifter with superior performances have been
resistance, let alone the stopping of electrons as suggested by demonstrated [9–13]. High-Tc microwave components and
Kelvin. At 4.2 K the resistance suddenly vanished. Current subsystems are currently being commercialized by several com-
was flowing through the mercury wire and nothing was stop- panies. The use of high-Tc superconductors in microwave pas-
ping it, the resistance was zero. According to Onnes, ‘‘Mercury sive devices has an advantage over normal conductors such as
has passed into a new state, which on account of its extraordi- copper and silver in terms of low insertion loss and high gain
nary electrical properties may be called the superconductive due to their lower surface resistance. Also, because of lower
state’’. The experiment left no doubt about the disappearance losses in superconductors, a reduction in size of the devices
of the resistance of a mercury wire. Kamerlingh Onnes [3] is an added advantage in using high-Tc superconductors. In re-
called this newly discovered state, Superconductivity. Onnes cent years, high-Tc superconductor-based filters and subsys-
recognized the importance of his discovery to the scientific tems have been considered for application in mobile
community as well as its commercial potential. An electrical communication as well as for satellite and some specific radio
conductor with no resistance could carry current any distance astronomy applications [11,13–20]. Microwave technology
with no losses. Whenever a new scientific discovery is made, based on high-Tc superconductors offer the potential of con-
researchers must strive to explain their theories. By 1933 Mei- siderable miniaturization of pay-load electronic equipment in
ssner and Ochsenfeld [4] discovered that superconductors are space systems, leading to an overall cost reduction and acceler-
more than a perfect conductor of electricity, they also have ating the development of small satellite systems [18]. The pro-
an interesting magnetic property of excluding a magnetic field. gress in the development of various high-Tc superconductor
A superconductor will not allow a magnetic field to penetrate microwave passive devices such as resonators, filters, antenna,
its interior. It causes currents to flow that generate a magnetic delay lines, phase shifters, tunable devices, and microwave sub-
field inside the superconductor that just balances the field that systems. Several high-Tc superconductors exhibiting supercon-
would have otherwise penetrated the material. This effect, ductivity above the liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) are
called the Meissner Effect, causes a phenomenon that is a very listed in. Two high-Tc materials frequently used for microwave
popular demonstration of superconductivity [5]. The Meissner applications are YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and TI2Ba2CaCu2O8
Effect will occur only if the magnetic field is relatively small. If (TBCCO).
the magnetic field becomes too great, it penetrates the interior In February of 1987, a perovskite ceramic material was
of the metal and the metal loses its superconductivity. found to superconductor at 90 K.
In 1935 London and London [6] introduced the first model This discovery was very significant because now it became
in superconductor, which is known as the London theory of possible to use liquid nitrogen as a coolant. Since then scien-
superconductivity. They developed several equations, that de- tists have experimented with many different forms of
pends on Maxwell equation. In 1957 scientists began to unlock perovskites.
the mysteries of superconductors [7]. John Bardeen, Leon Coo- Wu Had report superconductivity above 90 K in multi-
per, and Robert Schrieffer, developed a model that has since phase sample with nominal composition Y1.2Ba0.3Cu2O4x,
stood as a good mental picture of why superconductors behave Y0.6Ba0.4CuO [21] since then a great attention being paid on
as they do. The model is expressed in terms of advanced ideas research to achieve higher Tc. There are four main categories
High Tc superconducting fabrication of loop antenna 173

Osci
F.G

6mm sample

Figure 1

Thin film Platinum

Frequency
Generator C L hole Oscilloscope

Platinum 13%Rhodium Platinum

Antenna

Transmitter Receiver
Circuit Circuit

Figure 2 The antenna used as a receiver.

of high temperature ceramic, copper oxide, superconductor

Known, depend on the material used as La2CuO4 (Tc = 1.2cm 3mm
40 K) [22], Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O (Tc = 80 to be 110 K) [23],
YBa2Cu3O7 (Tc = 93 K) [23,24], Tl–Ba–CaCu–O (Tc = 80–
125 K) [25–27]. The YBa2Cu3O7d have received a great deal
of attention both scientific and application areas such as super-
conducting magnets, power transmission, transformer and 3.36mm
6mm
generator [28], insulator wire [29], radio communication [30]
micro strip antenna (in medical application) [31], in antenna
to offer a solution for physically small antenna [32], also it is
used as the basis for a binary switching element (cryotron)
[33]. These application are due to high critical current density
and high critical magnetic field [24]. Figure 3 The geometry of one turn YBa2Cu3O7d coil.

2. Experimental
Using a solid state reaction technique to prepared high
temperature superconductor r ceramic material in the
Y–Ba–Cu–O system (1:2:3) from high stochiometric of
Y2O3 (99.9999%) Ba (99.9999%) and CuO (99.99%) mate-
rials. These materials were dried for three hours at 60 C to
get a correct – using agate mortar and pestle. The reaction
sequence for producing the YBa2Cu3O7d superconducting
is as follows:
1. Calcination:
(a) Y2 O3 þ 4BaCO3 þ 6CuO ! 2YBa2 Cu3 O7d þ 4CO2 .
(b) 2y 2 O3 þ 8BaCO3 þ 12CuO ! 2YBa2 Cu3 O7d þ
5BaCu2 O2 þ BaO þ 8COx þ 3O2 .
174 W.M. Faisal

Ba(OH)2 Y2 O * CuO

O Impurities such as BaCuO2 and Y2 BaCuO5

Intensity (arb.unit)
*

o o
* o o o o

2 (degree)

Figure 4 X-ray diffraction patterns of starting powder YBa2Cu3O7d.

YBa2Cu3O7- * Y2 O O Impurity such as BaCuO2 and Y2 BaCuO2

Ba(OH)2 CuO
Intensity (arb.Unit)

* **
O O O O O

2 (degree)

Figure 5 X-ray diffraction patterns of final pellet of YBa2Cu3O7d.

YBa2Cu3O7- * Y2O O Impurity such as BaCuO2 and Y2BaCuO2

Ba(OH)2 CuO
Intensity (arb.Unit)

*
*
o o o *

2 (degree)

Figure 6 X-ray diffraction patterns of final pellet of YBa2Cu3O7d.

High Tc superconducting fabrication of loop antenna 175

+ ( YBa2Cu3O7- )1-x (Ag2O)x with ratio 0.35 O Impurities such as BaCuO2 and Y2 BaCuO5
Ba(OH)2 * CuO
Y2 O

Intensity (arb.unit)

o o
o o o o

86 82 78 74 70 66 62 58 54 50 48 44 40 38 34 30 26 22 18
2 degree

Figure 7 X-ray diffraction patterns of starting powder of (YBa2Cu3O7d)1x(Ag2O)x with ratio 0.35%.

25
* capacitance 2.3pf *
capacitance 0.1 f * YBCO
* Brass
20 capacitance 10 f *
(Vo/Vi)x10-3 *
(Vo/ Vi) x10-3

15 *
*
*

10
*
*
*
5 * *

0 Th (mm)
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 10 With 1 cm diameter.
Figure 8 YBCO (3.73 mm) and inductance = 1.025 MH.

15.5
A * distance=0cm * B
*Distance =0cm * distance=3.5 *
13.0
125 *
Distance =6cm *
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

*
100 10.5 *
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

75
* *
8.0
* *
50 *
5.5
25 *
*
0.0 3.
8 9 10 11 12 13 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Frequency (MHz) Frequency (MHz)

Figure 9 Represent the gain vs frequency for YBCO (3.73 mm) A. with ferrite and B. without ferrite.
176 W.M. Faisal

2. Measuring the weight of each reactants with the required 5. Putting the mixture in a programmable tubular Furnace
amount using sensitive balance with (4-digits), type using an alumina crucible and with heat treatment up
(STATON) 462AL. 850 C. The powder heated to temperature 840 C for
3. Mixing the powders together manually by using a gate 14 h by heating rate of 60 C/h and by means of pro-
mortar and pestles which are made of porcelain – grammable controller is connected with the furnace.
homogenization of the mixture, by adding sufficient 6. The temperature of the furnace was increased gradually
quantity of a 2-Propanol to form a pest during the at a rate 5 C/min to reach (900–950)C with tempera-
process of grinding for a bout (2–3) h. A better ture of ±5 C for period to get rid of all CO2 gas.
homogenized mixture is obtained where the organic 7. Cooling the furnace at rate 5 C/min to reach room tem-
liquid gradually volatilizes and repeated at least perature. This processes is called calcinations and the
twice. treatment occurs at temperature rate (950 ± 5) C car-
4. Drying the mixture in the oven for (1 h) at temperature ried out under oxygen gas flow to get high oxygen con-
(60 C) and is left to be cooled gradually. centration and high transition temperature.

O Room temperature
300
A O Liquid Nitrogen
Room Temperature 200
B Liquid nitrogen
o YBCO(2.12mm)
250 YBCO(1.72mm)

(Vo/Vi)x10-3
150
200
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

130 10

100
5
50
o
o o
o o
o o
0 0
0.8 1.8 2.8 3.8
Frequency (MHz) Frequency (MHz)

400 C Room Temperature

1500 D Room Temperature
350 Liquid Nitrogen Liquid Nitrogen
1250
YBCO(3.77mm) YBCO(3.13mm)
300
(Vo/Vi)x10-3
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

1000
250
200 750

150
500
100
250
50
0 0

Frequency (MHz) Frequency (MHz)

250
E Room Temperature
350 F
o Liquid nitrogen
200 Room Temperature
300
YBCO(0.12mm) Liquid Nitrogen
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

250 YBCO(3.75mm)
150
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

200

100 150
o

100
50
oo 50
o o o o
o o o o o
o
0 0

Frequency (MHz) Frequency (MHz)

Figure 11 (Vo/Vi) · 103 as function of frequency of YBCO with diameter 1.23 cm.
High Tc superconducting fabrication of loop antenna 177

8. The powder produced from the calcinations stage 9. The pellets was placed in alumna crucible in the hot zone
was reground a gain to get a very fine powder, and of the furnace to begin the sintering stage. This process
molded into (1–3.5) mm thickness pellets of 12–18 mm was carried out under the oxygen gas flow. starting from
diameters by applying a hydrostatic pressure from room temperature to 950 C at slow heating of rate of
(0.3–0.6) Gpa. 5 C/min.

250
A 2000 B
225
Room Temperature
200 Room Temperature
Liquid Nitrogen
175 YBCO+0.35Ag(2.35mm) 1500 Liquid Nitrogen
YBCO+0.3Ag(5.9mm)
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

(Vo/ Vi)x10-3
150

125 1000
100
75
500
50
25

0 0

(Frequency(MHz))2 Frequency (MHz)

C Room temperature
200

* Liquid nitrogen

150 YBCO+0.45Ag(3.73mm)
*
(Vo/Vi)x10-3

100

50

* *
* * * *
* *
0

(Frequency(MHz))2

Figure 12 (Vo/Vi) · 103 as function of frequency of YBCO with diameter 1.23 cm.

100 Frequency =3.135MHz

YBCO(1.9mm) frequency=1.518MHz 70
*** * YBCO(3.73mm) ,Vin=8.45V *
**** 65 * ** *
*** *
90 ** *
* * * * ** 60
* ** *
** *
*
55 * *
80 *
Vo(mV)

Vo (mV)

50 *
*
45
70
40 *
*
35 *
60
* *
30 *
* * * ** * * *
50 * 25 *

Temperature (K) Temperature (K)

Figure 13 Received signal as a function of temperature of YBCO sample.

178 W.M. Faisal

10. Preparation of (YBa2Cu3O7d)1x(Ag2O)x compound is applied to primary coil generators a magnetic field
appropriate amount of Ag2O with purity 99.99% were which traverse the sample to the secondary coil. The
mixed with calcined powder of YBa2Cu3O7d to get a induced e.m.f drops abruptly when the sample pass a
few samples of Ag2O, 123 materials mixtures. The ratio critical temperature Tc. Various materials have been
by weight Ag2O was 40%, 35%, and 30% the mixture tested in these arrangement such as YBCO (123) with
was grounded for 3 h to get a very fine powder. The or without silver, copper, brass, lead, and stainless steel
product mixture placed in an alumina crucible and calci- with thickness (1–6) mm and diameter from 1–2 cm at
nated at temperature of 930 C for (25–48) h, following room temperature and liquid nitrogen (see Fig. 2).
the preparation procedure for YBa2Cu3O7d following 12. To fabrication of antenna. The pellet of YBa2Cu3O 7d
all steps to get a sintered pallets of (YBa2Cu3O7d) where tested by X-ray diffraction and non-contact
1x(Ag2O)x. method (to identify Tc). A circular hole was made in
11. Using Non-contact method to measurement transition the sample at its center, manually by 6 mm drill. A slot
temperature Tc the sample is placed in a vacuum cham- of 1 mm width is made along the radius of the sample
ber and attached to stainless steel cold finger that is as shown in Fig. 3. Two silver electrodes where deposit
cooled by liquid nitrogen. The sample temperature was on either side of the slots. These silver spot electrodes
measured in each instant by thermocouple type T. were done using evaporation deposition technique of
Fig. 1 shows the experimental arrangement which is con- thickness 2200A. Two wires of Platinum were con-
sist of two isolated solenoid placed in series on the same nected to the electrodes using silver paste. The samples
optical axis, with an air gap of 6 mm separation. These then placed in the oven to dry the connectors. This pellet
coil are used as transmitter and receiver for the magnetic represents a coil with one turn, antenna, which is used as
field. A frequency generator (12 MHz log-linear sweep a receiver by connecting a parallel capacitor to it the
generator type POF-10) connected to the transmitter, antenna was attached to an evacuated cold finger, in
whereas an oscilloscope (Tektronix oscilloscope order to avoid water condensation since the latter inter-
250 MHz) is connected to receiver. A current sine wave act with a superconductor sample.

A B *
300 950
* * * * * * * * *

900
250

850
200
Vo(mV)

*
Vo(mV)

800
150
750
*
100
700
*
500 650
*
0 60
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -0 -6.5 -5.5 -4.5 -3.5 -2.5 -1.5
VT(mV) VT(mV)

C * *
D
150 ** * *
9.5 **
* *
** *
125 * * 8.5
*
* *
* 7.5
Vo ( mV)

* **
Vo (mV)

100 * 6.5
*
* **
* 5.5 *
75 ** *
** 4.5 *
*
3.5 *
50
* 2.5
* *
*
25 1.5
-6.3 -5.3 -4.3 -3.3 -2.3 -1.3 -0.3 -6.4 -5.6 -4.8 -4.0 -3.2 -2.4 -1.6
VT(mV) VT(mV)

Figure 14 (a) YBCO with 0.35 Ag 1.21 mm diameter and2.28 mm thickness frequency 2.38 MHz, (b) YBCO (3.73 mm) frequency
1.97 MHz, (c) YBCO + 0.45 Ag(2.35 mm) Frequency = 2.756 MHz ,Vin = 7.2 V, (d) YBCO + 0.45 Ag (3.73 mm) frequency =
2.754 MHz.
High Tc superconducting fabrication of loop antenna 179

3. Resulting and analysis
The result of preparation YBa2Cu3O6.5+d and (YBa2-
Cu3O6.5+d)1x(Ag2O)x compound strongly depended on the
preparation process. The grinding is essential for producing
fine powder that leads to better and faster sintering and higher
crystal density. As the bulk density of samples becomes high,
the amount of open porosity decreases but this weaken the
oxygen diffusion in the matrix, especially inside the specimen.
If the densities of the calcined samples are low, oxygen can be
transported through pores and diffusely into the interior of
specimen. In the dense sample, the superconducting phase is
formed only near the surface. The compound produced has
higher melting temperature of about 1025 C [34] whereas
the individual compounds like CuO melt 750 C [34]. Although
the dense sample need long annealing time and very high oxy-
gen partial pressure, but it produces a reliable and high Tc
superconductor. Also it found that the best sintering tempera-
ture for (123) material YBa2Cu3O6.5+d is (YBa2Cu3O6.5+d)
1x(Ag2O)x is 930 C is due to the lower melting point of
Ag2O contained compound. Also when the pressure used
about 0.3 Gpa. When the ideal pressure is between 0.3 and
0.6 Gpa. Annealing oxygen after sintering is required for
and (37–375)
at room temperature and liquid
1200
* Diameter 1cm
1000 Diameter 2.1cm
800
*
**
and 0.2 A
at room temperature and
Vo(mV)
(123) because of lose of oxygen at sintering temperature. The
power loss the YBCO ceramics is closely related to its granular
micro structure [35]. It is also related that the superconducting
phase is highly sensitive to water vapor [36] CO and CO2 [37]
due to non equilibrium Cu+3 ions in it hence it decomposes to
CuO, Ba(OH)2. X-ray diffraction used to determine the purity
of starting and ending material also to determine the lattice
constant (a, b, c), X-ray diffraction show that the compounds
were orthorhombic phase, the values of lattice constant a, b, c
were obtained a = 3.826 A, b = 3.8905 A, c = 11.6723 A,
V = 173.7428 A. Fig. 4 shows that the peaks due to the start-
ing material Y2O3, BaO and CuO, two superconducting pellets
were grounded to a very fine powder and tested by X-ray dif-
fraction, Figs. 5 and 6 show that the compounds were ortho-
rhombic phase. X-ray diffraction patterns of final pellet of
YBa2Cu3O7d find a = 3.833518 A, b = 3.883116 A, c =
11.68488 A, V = 173.94107 A3. However, it has been noticed
that mixing a calcinide powder of (123) material with Ag2O
and calcinating the mixture of Ag2O/YBa2Cu3O6.5+d = (35/
100), we see in Fig. 7. X-ray diffraction patterns of calcined
powder of (YBa2Cu3O7d)1x(Ag2O)x with the ratio 35%
show the lattice constant that a = 3.89801 A, b =
3.957447 A, c = 11.89909 A, V = 183.5573 A3.
Initially the probes for an ohmmeter are pushed on the
YBCO sample. The measured resistance was unstable and giv-
ing (46–53)
nitrogen temperature respectively the increase in resistance is
due to the loss constant between the probes and the supercon-
ductor. A thin film of silver was deposited, then covered by sil-
ver paste with two leads of copper wire, the prepared sample
*
then dried by the furnace with 250 C for two hours than
**
300 C for another one hour. The resistance of the latter sample
was measured to be 8

*
** liquid nitrogen respectively, the resistivity of ohmic contact is
600

*
(25.1)
cm and (0.604)
cm, respectively. The resistance of
400 * YBCO in the latter technique is reduced since because the silver
**
* contacts contain almost no oxygen which allows obtaining a
* stable low resistance. The resonance frequency of the transmit-
200 *
*
** * * * * *

0
-5.3 -4.3 -2.3 -0.3
VT (mv) 70
Brass 4.2mm thickness and 1cm diameter frequency =2.245MHz * Inductance =15.38mH

1000 60 Inductance =15.16mH *

*
* Diameter 1cm
900 Diameter 2.1cm *
* ** 50
800 * *
*
40
(G) 10-5

700 * * *
600 *
* ** *
Vo(mV)

30 **
* *
500 *
*
400 * 20 *
300 *
* 10 *
200 * * ** *
* * *
** * * ** * * *** *
100 * 0

0
-6.3 -5.5 -4.7 -3.9 -3.1 -2.3 -1.5 -0.7 Frequency (MHz)
VT (mV) Resistance =6 parallel with antenna,
Copper 4.1mm thickness and frequency =2.244MHz Capacitance =2.5pf parallel with transmitter

Figure 15 Copper 4.1 mm thickness and frequency = Figure 16 (Vo/Vi) · 105 as a function of frequency for YBCO
2.244 MHz. diameter 1.23 cm.
180 W.M. Faisal

A B
* Liquid nitrogen * * Liquid nitrogen
Air Air *
*
*
*
*
* *

Vo /Vi
*

Vo /Vi
*
* *
* *
* *
*
*
* ***
* *
* * * * * * * * * *
* ** *

Frequency (MHz) Frequency(MHz)

Figure 17 (a) Vo/Vi as a function of YBCO with thickness 3.36 mm, diameter 1.23 cm, R = 269 KX. Ci = 0 Mf, (b) Vo/Vi as a function
of YBCO with thickness 2.25 mm , diameter 1.23 cm, R = 269 KX, Ci = 0.1 Mf.

0.25 1
fo ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
* Liquid nitrogen * 2p LC
Air
0.2 lN2 A
L¼ l ¼ 4  107 permeability
‘
N ¼ number of turns; A ¼ Area of the coil inðm2 Þ;
Vo /Vi

0.15 * ‘ ¼ Length of the coilðmÞ:

In Fig. 8 shows the increasing the capacitance will decrease

*
0.1 the resonance frequency and in the same time will increase the
**
ratio of Vout/Vin of the same inductance of the transmitting cir-
** * * cuit. Also, the inductance can be increase by using ferrite core,
* * *
* * *
0 * but this reduces the resonance frequency and increasing the sig-
nal received for the same coil a sin Fig. 9 these experiment were
Frequency (MHz) carried out for a range of the capacitance from (1.2 lf to
1.26 pf), for inductance ranging from (1.2 lH to 1.26 mH) the
Figure 18 Vo/Vi as a function of YBCO with thickness 2.5 mm,
choice of the values was in such a way to receive maximum
diameter 1.23 cm.
transmitted signal at certain interested frequency. The distance
between the two coil-should be minimum to obtain maximum
ting circuit is controlled by the changing the capacitance and field flow through the secondary coil, to get maximum receiver
inductance in according to the relation where output signal. The higher gain for the smallest distance (d = 0).

70 * Ci=2.2pf
700
* Resistance=0 60 Ci=2.1pf
600 Resistance=4.8
50
500 Resistance=5.2
(Vo/Vi)x10-5
(Vo/Vi)x10-5

40
400 *
30
300 * *
200 * 20
*
100
* **
* ** * * * ** * **
* **
0 0 * * * * * * ** *

Frequency (MHz) Frequency (MHz)

Resistance of antenna=0 , C o=10mf , with antenna (2.77mm),Co=1o mf ,
Cin=2.2pf ,coil(45turns) transmitter (inductance 15.14mH)

Figure 19 (Vo/Vi) · 105 as a function of frequency for YBCO diameter 1.23 cm.
High Tc superconducting fabrication of loop antenna 181

Whereas the distance is about of the thickness of the super- 80

* Co=2.143pf
conductor disc the smaller gain for the distance is equal 6 cm. *
The inserting YBa2Cu3O6.5+d pellet between the two coils will * * Co=2.199pf
reduce the output signal received by the secondary coil because 60
the superconducting pellets of YBa2Cu3O6.5+d at room tem-

(Vo /Vi)x10-5
perature behaves as a semiconductor and causes attenuation * *
in the flowing field due to persistent currents induced in the 40 * *
* *
material and causes a magnetic field, and as a result of that *
the received signal will reduce. The amount of attenuation in * *
** *
the receiving signal depends on the thickness of the pellet as 20 ***
in Fig. 10. *
Whereas the maximum gain obtain for an air gap (thick-
ness = 0). When increasing in thickness of material will in- 0

crease the penetration depth of the magnetic field inside the

Frequency (MHz)
material in according to the relation Bout = Bine–x/k, which
Resistance = 6 parallel with antenna
shows an exponential decrease in the penetrated field as a func-
tion of Fig. 10 represents the gain Vo thickness of YBa2- 30
Cu3O6.5+d and brass increasing the diameter of the pellet
*C i =2.21pf *
will increase the total power loss when cooling the sample 25
*
C i =6.3pf
(YBa2Cu3O6.5+d) by using liquid nitrogen the sample becomes
superconductor that is resistance fell to allow value depend on 20 * * *

the purity of the specimen converted superconducting state, its
conductivity becomes very large and this will lead to very large
power loss low received signal Fig. 11a–f. At room tempera-
ture the causes for the attenuation is due to behavior as a semi-
conductor and the attenuation depends on thickness of pellets
whereas cooling the superconductor a weak magnetic field
attenuation in the transmitted signal traverse a YBCO–Ag2O
compound depends on the Ag2O/YBCO ratio Fig. 12a–c. Flux
aside the superconducting body is zero, persistent current
arises on the surface circuit late so as to cancel the flux inside,
thus the total. The This technique is extended to study the
attenuation signal through conductors such as copper, brass
aluminum, and iron at room liquid nitrogen temperature, the
obtain result were compared with superconducting compound
as shown in Fig. 10. At low temperature, the superconducting
compound shows higher eddy current loss compared with the
metals due to the high conductivity of superconducting com-
pound however, at room temperature the result is revised, this
is berceuse the compound YBCO–Ag2O behaves as a semicon-
ductor with lower conductivity coppered to the ordinary con-
ductor, the behavior of different conductor upon cooling to
determine Tc for the sample.
Fig. 13 shows the voltage out from secondary coil as a func-
tion of temperature, when the sample cooled down from room
temperature, the output start to drop very little till reaching Tc
where a sharp drop in the voltage had been noticed and after
that voltage becomes constant Tc is about 100 K and this is
agreement with Ref. [38] this is a good indication that the
material is nearly single crystal with little traces of other impu-
rities and this is confined by the X-ray diffraction. Fig. 14
shows that the transition initially with small slope compared
with Fig. 13 this is due to reduction the thickness of the sam-
ples which reduced eddy current loss and has a low sharp drop
in the transition temperature.
The pellet of YBCO–Ag2O compound shows a metallic
behavior upon cooling to 77 K. This is due to high power loss
induced in these samples because of the high conductivity of sil-
ver and the increasing in the voltage out is nearly linear as in
Fig. 14. Cooling the conductors such as copper and brass with
(Vo/Vi)x10-5
15
10 *
5*
* * * * * *
0
Frequency (MHz)
Ro=4.8 parallel with antenna , C=2.21pf
Figure 20 (Vo/Vi) · 105 as a function of frequency for YBCO
diameter 1.23 cm.
diameter 1 cm and 2.1 cm and thickness 4.1 mm shows that the
voltage out depends on the area of the pellets as in Fig. 15,
when the temperature is lowered the thermal vibration of the
atoms decrease and the conduction electrons are less frequently
scattered. The decrease of resistance is linear down to a temper-
ature equal to about one-third of the characteristic Debye tem-
perature of the materials. The result of antenna
characterization we can see in Fig. 16 shows a peak has been,
also noticed at frequency of 5 MHz, when increasing the induc-
tance of the input coil, the output from secondary coil becomes
smooth and the output voltage increased at the same resonance
frequency of 9.6 MHz as before, but with an increased width at
this stage the secondary coil is removed and replaced by a man-
ufactured high temperature YBCO superconductor antenna as
shown in Fig. 17. Also in Fig. 18 shows the ratio of the received
signal as a function of input frequency a small peaks have been
notice when the superconducting antenna at room temperature
where the mode structure due to the transmitted by cooling the
antenna a drastic increase in the received signal has been no-
ticed with the received peak coincide with the previous case this
show the antenna becomes superconductor and allows high
current to pass through the antenna body. Also study the ex-
tend by studying the effect of the capacitance, resistance and
182
inductance on the performance of the received signal, by the an-
tenna. It is noticed that the inductance would quench the low
frequency side and leaving the high frequency component to re-
ceived, when the inductance of the primary coil is increased
Fig. 19, while the effect of resistance is get better matching
impedance, which increase the received signal. In Fig. 20 the
same think being noticed on the capacitance, i.e. both resis-
tance and capacitance control the matching impedance between
the radiation and antenna.
4. Conclusions
1. The best sample gets without cooling after the sintering
stage.
2. The decomposition of Ag2O during the sintering opera-
tion supplied the oxygen necessary to maintain the
proper stoichiometry of the YBa2Cu3O7d superconduc-
tor phase where Ag are found be excellent oxygen stabi-
lizer in the ‘‘123’’ system.
3. Ag acts as a switch able ‘‘passive at ion buffer allowing
oxygen to penetrate to the YBCO interface at elevated
temperature but protecting the YBCO surface at room
temperature.
4. We can determine the Tc by non-contact method. This
technique is a sensitive tool gives a highly accuracy.
5. The high values of frequency, radius and conductivity
leads to high power loss, and lost in the received signal.
6. Maximum attenuation is due to the maximum thickness
of pellet (123).
7. High capacitance leads to a small resonance frequency
and gain.
8. High resistance leads to high gain and passing the high
frequency.
9. High radius leads to high radiation and high gain.
10. High capacitance leads to a small resonance frequency
and gain.
11. High resistance leads to a high gain and passing the high
frequency band.
12. High radius leads to high radiation resistance and high
gain.
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