In the past few years magneto-optical flux imaging (MOI) has come to take an increasing role in the investigation and understanding of critical current densities in high-T c superconductors (HTS). This has been related to the significant progress in quantitative high-resolution magnetooptical imaging of flux distributions together with the model-independent determination of the corresponding current distributions. We review in this article the magneto-optical imaging technique and experiments on thin films, single crystals, polycrystalline bulk ceramics, tapes and melt-textured HTS materials and analyse systematically the properties determining the spatial distribution and the magnitude of the supercurrents. First of all, the current distribution is determined by the sample geometry. Due to the boundary conditions at the sample borders, the current distribution in samples of arbitrary shape splits up into domains of nearly uniform parallel current flow which are separated by current domain boundaries, where the current streamlines are sharply bent. Qualitatively, the current pattern is described by the Bean model; however, changes due to a spatially dependent electric field distribution which is induced by flux creep or flux flow have to be taken into account. For small magnetic fields, the Meissner phase coexists with pinned vortex phases and the geometry-dependent Meissner screening currents contribute to the observed current patterns. The influence of additional factors on the current domain patterns are systematically analysed: local magnetic field dependence of j c (B), current anisotropy, inhomogeneities and local transport properties of grain boundaries. We then continue to an overview of the current distribution and current-limiting factors of materials, relevant to technical applications like melt-textured samples, coated conductors and tapes. Finally, a selection of magneto-optical experiments which give direct insight into vortex pinning and depinning mechanisms are reviewed.

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We report detailed studies on ferromagnet-superconductor bilayer structures. Epitaxial bilayer structures of half metal-colossal magnetoresistive La 2/3 Ca 1/3 MnO3 (HM-CMR) and high-Tc superconducting YBa2Cu3O 7−δ (HTSC) are grown on SrTiO3 (100) single-crystalline substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Magnetization M (T) measurements show the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in these structures at low temperatures. Using the HM-CMR layer as an electrode for spin polarized electrons, we discuss the role of spin polarized self injection into the HTSC layer. The experimental results are in good agreement with a presented theoretical estimation, where the spin diffusion length ξFM is found to be in the range of ξFM ≈ 10 nm.

Anisotropic penetration of magnetic flux in MgB(2) films grown on vicinal sapphire substrates is investigated using magneto-optical imaging. Regular penetration above 10 K proceeds more easily along the substrate surface steps, the anisotropy of the critical current being 6%. At lower temperatures the penetration occurs via abrupt dendritic avalanches that preferentially propagate perpendicular to the surface steps. This inverse anisotropy in the penetration pattern becomes dramatic very close to 10 K where all flux avalanches propagate in the strongest pinning direction. The observed behavior is fully explained using a thermomagnetic model of the dendritic instability.

Dissipation-free current transport in high-temperature superconductors is one of the most crucial properties of this class of materials which is directly related to the effective inhibition of flux line movement by defect structures. In this respect epitaxially grown thin films of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (YBCO) are proving to be the strongest candidates for many widescale applications that are close to realization. We show that the relation between different defect structures and flux line pinning in these films exhibits universal features which are clearly displayed in a detailed analysis of the temperature-dependent behaviour of local critical currents. This allows us to identify different pinning mechanisms at different temperatures to be responsible for the found critical currents. Additionally, the presence of grain boundaries with very low misorientation angles affects the temperature stability of the critical currents which has important consequences for future applications.