Structural and high-frequency (0–110 MHz) resistive characteristics of MgB2 in the temperature range 5–300 K

The structure and resistivity of polycrystalline MgB2 and its impedance at frequencies of 9–110 MHz are determined in the temperature range 5–300 K. It is shown that the lattice type and symmetry of the superconducting phase of MgB2 remain unchanged over this temperature range. At the superconducting transition temperature Tc=39.5 K a structural instability is observed which is accompanied by an overshoot of the measured lattice parameters. It is concluded that the strain of the crystals upon a change in temperature is of a substantially anisotropic character. Measurements of the temperature and frequency dependence of the surface resistance Rs(T,f ) in the superconducting state reveal a transition from the Pippard nonlocal limit at T≪Tc to the London local limit near Tc. At T/Tc