Observations of vortex structure in YBa2Cu3O 7

The remnant magnetic flux distribution in a single crystal and a sintered polycrystal was examined using the magnetic particle decoration technique. The single crystal, which was heavily twinned, showed only local order in the flux lattice. This was probably due to lattice distortions caused by interaction between twin boundaries and fluxons. In the polycrystal, flux pinning effectiveness was seen to vary significantly between grains, depending on size and orientation. Grains with the c axis nearly perpendicular to the applied magnetic field were most effective at pinning flux. Some features of the decoration patterns implied that the flux distribution was influenced by more than just the grains at the sample surface