Dissolution and resolidification of SmBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-y/ seed during top seeded melt texturing of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-y/

During top-seeded melt growth of a YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-y/ (Y123) single-domain crystal, seed dissolution occurred while the seed was in contact with Ba-Cu-O liquid, and then the dissolved parts were resolidified during cooling. The growth mode of the Y123 crystal was directly affected by the resolidification process of the dissolved part. When the melted part of the seed was resolidified to a polycrystal, Y123 grew also as a polycrystalline form. In contrast, when the dissolved part of the seed completely recovered its mother orientation during cooling, a single-domain Y123 crystal could be obtained. The dissolution behavior of the SmBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-y/ (Sm123) seed is explained in terms of the solubility of samarium in Ba-Cu-O liquid. The resolidification mode of the melted part is discussed in terms of the Sm content within the interdiffusion layer of Sm and Y.