Galvanomagnetic effect of an Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramic superconductor and its application to magnetic sensors

The galvanomagnetic effect of a ceramic superconductor Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7- x was measured. It was found that when a magnetic field of a certain small value applied, the electric resistance of this material suddenly increases very rapidly from zero with increases in the applied magnetic field. The magnetic field at which the resistance appears is controllable by changing the magnitude of a current through the material. This effect is characterized by a very high magnetic sensitivity at low magnetic field. This is quite useful as a highly sensitive magnetic sensor both in digital and analogue operations. This magnetic sensor using the ceramic superconductor has many advantages over the conventional semiconductor magnetoresistive sensor.