Relation between texture and critical current density of textured YBa sub(2)Cu sub(3)O sub(x) plates

Textured YBa sub(2)Cu sub(3)O sub(x) plates show a significant spread in the critical current density up to 12.000 A/cm super(2) measured by direct transport current at 77K. This spread is related to the crystalline texture of the material. Optical polarization microscopy is used for initial examination of crystal alignment and texture. We use synchrotron radiation at 100keV to perform x-ray diffraction measurements to obtain quantitative information about the texture. The crystallographic (110)-direction is found to be preferentially along the slab and the c-axis is parallel to the largest face. DC-magnetization is used to measure the magnetization critical current density of pieces cut around each x-ray measurement point. The results from x-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and magnetization critical current density are compared to the transport critical current density. The magnetization critical current is found to decrease exponentially with the in-plane texture.