LEVITATION FORCES, RELAXATION AND MAGNETIC STIFFNESS OF MELT-QUENCHED YBA2CU3OX

Measurements of levitation forces on melt-quenched and free sintered YBa2Cu3Ox superconductors show that melt-quenched samples produce forces from 96-170% higher than sintered specimens. The force increases are correlated with higher magnetization values for the melt-quenched material. Similar increases in the magnetic stiffness were also measured. Vertical levitation force relaxation showed less than 5% decrease in one hour. These results have important favorable implications for application to superconducting bearings. © 1990 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.