GROWTH SHAPE OF MELT-TEXTURED Y-BA-CU-O CRYSTAL

A growth shape of the melt-textured YBa2Cu3Oy (1-2-3) domain was constructed with two- and three-dimensional shapes of the local parts of the 1-2-3 domain. The 1-2-3 domain has a polygonal shape with a square pyramid consisting of stepped terraces at the top and a tetragonal columnar body. X-like linear traces are observed on the surface of the 1-2-3 domains, which often meet at the corners and the center of the plane. The melt-textured 1-2-3 domain is believed to be a single-crystalline body including some microstructural defects such as microcracks, entrapped liquid phase and Y2BaCuO5 inclusions.