Quality Control of High Performance Superconductor Tapes

Abstract

A superconductor tape and method for manufacturing, measuring, monitoring, and controlling same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a superconductor tape which includes a superconductor film overlying a buffer layer which overlies a substrate. In one embodiment, the superconductor film is defined as having a c-axis lattice constant higher than 11.74 Angstroms. In another embodiment, the superconductor film comprises BaMO3, where M=Zr, Sn, Ta, Nb, Hf, or Ce, and which has a (101) peak of BaMO3 elongated along an axis that is between 60° to 90° from an axis of the (001) peaks of the superconductor film. These and other embodiments achieve well-aligned nanocolumnar defects and thus a high lift factor, which can result in superior critical current performance of the tape in, for example, high magnetic fields.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A superconductor tape comprising:
 a substrate;   a buffer layer overlying the substrate; and   a superconductor film overlying the buffer layer;   wherein the superconductor film comprises BaMO 3 , where M=Zr, Sn, Ta, Nb, Hf, or Ce, and which has a (101) peak of BaMO 3  located at a 2theta angle higher than 30° when measured by X-ray Diffraction using copper k alpha radiation.   
     
     
         2 . The superconductor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the superconductor film comprises 5 to 30 mol % of dopant selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn, Ta, Nb, Hf, Ce, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The superconductor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the superconductor film is defined as having a c-axis lattice constant higher than 11.74 Angstroms. 
     
     
         4 . The superconductor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the (101) peak of BaMO 3  is measured by X-ray diffraction. 
     
     
         5 . The superconductor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the superconductor film is over 10 meters in length.