Name: Nischay

Roll Number: 19209

Experiment 1 & 2:
PQMS (Physical Quantities Measurement System)
Aim:
(1) Identification of Magnetic Transition Temperature using AC Susceptibility
Measurements.
(2) Superconductivity using Resistivity Measurements (Characterization of DC Electrical
Resistance of YBCO)

Apparatus used: PQMS consisting of

(1) Liquid N2 chamber
(2) Vacuum Rotary pump
(3) Lock-in Amplifier
(4) Temperature Controller Module
(5) I-V Module
(6) Cryo chambers
(7) YBCO pellet
(8) I-V source and measurement module:

It consists of a microprocessor controlled electronic unit and its associated driver and utility
software. The electronics are as one output channel which can be configured to supply
either a constant DC voltage or a constant DC current. This module is used to study current
vs voltage characteristics of various materials and device using two and four probe
connections topology. IT can also be used to record current voltage and resistance as a
function of time.
(9) Lock-In amplifier module:

The lock-in amplifier can lock the measurement signal with the reference signal and
measure the in-phase component and quadrature component simultaneously. IT measures
amplitude and phase of a signal at a frequency exploiting the orthogonal nature of sin and
cos function.

Theory:
Magnetic susceptibility is the ratio of the intensity of magnetism induced (M) in a substance
to the magnetizing force of intensity of field (B). It reflects a material’s degree of sensitivity
to magnetic fields.
M
χ=
B
Magnetic Transition Temperature (Curie temperature):
The temperature above which certain materials lose their permanent magnetic properties
which can be replaced by induced magnetism. Curie temperature is the critical point at
which a material’s intrinsic magnetic moments change direction.
Susceptometer:
The susceptometer probe includes a primary (excitation) solenoid coil which produce a near
uniform AC magnetic field when driven by AC source. Inside the primary coil is the
secondary coils consist of two pickup coils which are wound in opposite directions and
electrically connected in series. Sample is placed one of secondary coil. AC voltage V across
secondary coils is due to Faraday induction:
−d ϕ
V=
dt

Where ϕ = net flux due to both secondary coils

Sample used: Gd (Gadolinium) and YBCO (Yttrium barium copper oxide)
Observations:
(A) Gd:

Chi vs position for Gd

4.00E-03

3.00E-03

2.00E-03

1.00E-03

0.00E+00
0.00E+00 1.00E-02 2.00E-02 3.00E-02 4.00E-02 5.00E-02 6.00E-02 7.00E-02
Chi

-1.00E-03

-2.00E-03

-3.00E-03

-4.00E-03

-5.00E-03

Probe Position (mm)

 Chi vs T for Gd
8.00E-03

7.00E-03

6.00E-03

5.00E-03

4.00E-03
Chi

3.00E-03

2.00E-03

1.00E-03

0.00E+00
2.60E+02 2.70E+02 2.80E+02 2.90E+02 3.00E+02 3.10E+02 3.20E+02 3.30E+02

Temperature (K)

(B) YBCO:

Chi vs position for YBCO

1.00E-04

0.00E+00
0.00E+00 1.00E-02 2.00E-02 3.00E-02 4.00E-02 5.00E-02 6.00E-02 7.00E-02

-1.00E-04
Chi

-2.00E-04

-3.00E-04

-4.00E-04

-5.00E-04

Probe position (mm)

 Chi vs T for YBCO
1.00E-04

0.00E+00
7.50E+01 8.00E+01 8.50E+01 9.00E+01 9.50E+01 1.00E+02 1.05E+02 1.10E+02

-1.00E-04
Chi

-2.00E-04

-3.00E-04

-4.00E-04

-5.00E-04

Temperature (K)

Results:
(a) Transition temperature of Gadolinium is about 294 K.
(b) Transition temperature of YBCO is about 92 K.
Observations:
(1) In χ vs L for YBCO sample, as we can see that reference point χ ' behaves abnormally
due to impurities in the sample.
(2) In χ vs T for Gd sample, at around 295 K, it was ferromagnetic but after passing 294
K, it behaves like a paramagnetic material.
(3) We can see that χ of YBCO increased initially as the temperature increases and then
just flattened after reaching a point and that indicated transition temperature around
92 K because at this temperature, YBCO starts showing superconductivity leading to
no field lines inside it leading to negative susceptibility.

Precautions:
(1) We have to make sure that entire setup should be grounded, otherwise that would
lead to shock at surface.
(2) Be careful with liquid nitrogen and helium.
(3) Make sure the temperature controller is properly calibrated.
(4) Purging must be done multiple times to make it more effective.