Critical currents in conductors - exploring the limiting mechanisms

Magnetization experiments and current-voltage transport measurements are performed to determine the factors that affect the critical current density in high temperature polycrystalline superconductors. BiSrCaCuO tape samples are used in the experiments which involve irreversible magnetization and grain texturing analyses. Results show that current distribution in the superconductors beconme non-uniform at high temperature and magnetic field levels.