Magneto-optic imaging was used for a detailed study of the flux and current distribution of a long thin strip of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7Ϫ␦ placed in a perpendicular external magnetic field. The inverse magnetic problem, i.e., that of deriving from a field map the underlying current distribution, is formulated and solved for the strip geometry. Applying the inversion to the magneto-optically found field map we find on a model-independent basis the current distribution across the strip to be in remarkable agreement with the profile predicted by the Bean model. The paper also presents results on the behavior of the Bi-doped YIG film with in-plane anisotropy which we use as field indicator, explaining why previous measurements of flux density profiles have displayed surprisingly large deviations from the expected behavior. ͓S0163-1829͑96͒02046-2͔

This paper is the result of the work of a SCENET (The European Network for Superconductivity) material working group's efforts on giving values for present and future expected performance of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wires and tapes. The purpose of the work is to give input to the design of HTS applications like power cables, motors, current leads, magnets, transformers and generators. The current status performance values are supposed to be used in the design of today's prototypes and the future values for the design of fully commercial HTS applications of the future. We focus on what is expected to be the relevant parameters for HTS application design. The most successful technique by far for making HTS tapes has been on the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (Bi-2223) material by the powder-in-tube (PIT) technique and this paper therefore focuses on giving the current status and expected future performance for Bi-2223 tapes.

An integrated dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer has been fabricated using a YBa2Cu3O7−x–SrTiO3–YBa2Cu3O7−x multilayer process. The magnetometer consists of a 8.3 mm×8.6 mm pickup coil coupled inductively to a small washer-type SQUID with 9 Ω bicrystal junctions via an integrated 101/2-turn input coil. Using simple direct-coupled read-out electronics with additional positive feedback, a noise level of 9.7 fT/√Hz at 1 kHz and 53 fT/√Hz at 1 Hz was measured inside a magnetically shielded room. Due to the low noise level biomagnetic heart and brain signals with high quality and the very weak signals of the peripheral nerve system were recorded.

Slits patterned into a YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin film were observed to obstruct Meissner sheet currents leading to an imbalance in the local Meissner screening properties. The new phenomenon was studied with magneto-optic imaging where twin lobes of opposite flux polarity were seen to form near the slits and inside the Meissner region. The lobe closest to the sample edge is always polarized opposite to the applied field. At weak fields, the anomalous flux generation is reversible. At higher fields, but still sufficiently small to keep the vortex penetration front away from the slits, the anomalous current starts nucleating flux lines which become trapped when the field is removed.

No abstract