Critical current measurements on extruded YBa₂Cu₃O_y wires

Abstract

The successful extrusion of short lengths of brittle wires of YBa₂Cu₃O_y that are superconducting above 77 K is reported. Detailed critical current measurements are presented on wires having undergone different physical treatments. The highest critical current obtained from V-I data is ≈90 A/cm², but this particular wire shows clear evidence of flux-pinning forces corresponding to ≈130 A/cm².