Hysteresis in transport critical-current measurements of oxide superconductors

We have investigated magnetic hysteresis in transport critical-current (I c) measurements of Ag-matrix (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10- x (Bi-2223) and AgMg-matrix Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ x (Bi-2212) tapes. The effect of magnetic hysteresis on the measured critical current of high temperature superconductors is a very important consideration for every measurement procedure that involves more than one sweep of magnetic field, changes in field angle, or changes in temperature at a given field. The existence of this hysteresis is well known; however, the implications for a measurement standard or interlaboratory comparisons are often ignored and the measurements are often made in the most expedient way. A key finding is that I c at a given angle, determined by sweeping the angles in a given magnetic field, can be 17 % different from the I c determined after the angle was fixed in zero field and the magnet then ramped to the given field. Which value is correct is addressed in the context that the proper sequence of measurement conditions reflects the application conditions. The hysteresis in angle-sweep and temperature-sweep data is related to the hysteresis observed when the field is swept up and down at constant angle and temperature. The necessity of heating a specimen to near its transition temperature to reset it to an initial state between measurements at different angles and temperatures is discussed.