Microstructure and levitation properties of floating zone melted YBCO samples

Radiation zone melting has been used to produce texture in sintered YBCO cylindrical samples. Microstructural analysis by electron microscopy and pole figure measurements reveals that the production process gives rise to a preferential orientation within large domains. DC transport measurements show that changes in alignment orientation can result in the inability to carry a transport current. Both AC magnetic field shielding and levitation properties are substantially improved by the floating zone melting, the levitation force being increased with the textured domain size growth.< >