LD

Solid State physics

Physics
Conduction Phenomena
Leaflets P7.2.6.1
Superconductivity

Determining the transition tem-

perature of a high-temperature
superconductor

Objects of the experiment

g Record the voltage drop across a superconductor with varying temperature.

1 Principles
Superconductivity was discovered in 1911, when Kamerlingh
Onnes found that the electric resistance of mercury dropped
to zero at cryogenic temperatures. The so called transition
temperature when a conductor becomes superconducting
depends on the material used. For the next 75 years, the
transition temperatures were just in the 10 to 20 K range.
In 1986 the discovery of the high-temperature superconduc-
tors with transition temperatures in excess of 90 Kelvin, and
above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K), raised the
interest in those substances.
The superconductor used consists of Yttrium-Barium-Copper-
Oxide(Y Ba2 Cu3 O7).
The Experiment kit 667 552 is used to investigate the proper-
ties of a high-temperature superconductor in liquid nitrogen.
At a temperature of approximately 93 K or –180 °C, it shows
a sharp decrease in the voltage drop across the supercon-
ductor.

Safety notes
Just as a Thermos flask can burst if hot water is poured into it,
a Dewar flask could implode when it is filled with liquid nitrogen.
For this reason, always wear safety goggles when handling
Dewar flasks. Nitrogen, the largest constituent of the air we
breathe, is completely non-toxic. In spite of this, the evaporation
of large quantities in closed spaces could pose hazards, e.g. if
a full 25 l flask explodes. Such dangers can be easily avoided
by ensuring adequate ventilation and using small Dewar flasks
when performing the experiments. Proceed with caution, in
view of the low temperatures involved. Never reach into liquid
Wie 0607

nitrogen or touch cooled objects with bare hands (wear protec-

tive gloves). Avoid skin contact.
Local regulations on hazardous materials apply otherwise.

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2 Integrated measuring module 3 Adapter for data acquisition

The measuring head to be dipped into liquid nitrogen contains Fig. 3 provides a schematic view of the adapter for data ac-
the Superconductor and a Platinum thermal resistor on board. quisition, which serves as a measuring device as well as a
The wiring of the superconductor and the Platinum resistor is voltage supply.
shown in fig. 2. A highly stable current of approx. 140 mA is
applied between points 1 and 4. The voltage drop is
measured across contact points 2 and 3.

Fig 2: Measuring module circuit diagram Fig 3: Measuring adapter

1 Output highly stable power supply
Measuring module technical specifications 2 Input voltage measurement (external superconductor)
Superconductor Type YBa2Cu3O7-x 3 Input temperature sensor (external superconductor)
Temperature sensor Platinum-Iridium resistor 4 Output temperature measurement
100 Ω at 0 °C 5 Output voltage measurement (Ua)
Connections Points 1 and 4 via copper plate 6 Gain factor
Points 2 and 3 via copper wire 7 Offset
Cable 6-core, with DIN plug 8 Input measuring module
9 On-off switch
10 Jack socket for plug-in power supply

The temperature value measured by the Platinum-Iridium

thermal resistor is linearized and converted into a voltage
signal of 0 ... 200 mV, corresponding to a temperature range
of 0 to -200 °C. Power is supplied by the plug-in power supply
unit.
The device is calibrated. If, upon attaining the transition tem-
perature, the value of the measured voltage is not exactly 0
volts, the offset voltage and the output voltage (Ua) can be
corrected.
The offset voltage can be corrected with the potentiometer 7.
For this, short-circuit the voltage measurement input 2 and
set the voltage to 0 V.
The maximum output voltage Ua can be adjusted via the gain
factor (potentiometer 6 - use a screwdriver for this purpose).
The setpoint value at T = 25 °C is approx. 190 mV

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LD Physics leaflets -3- P7.2.6.1

Technical data: adapter for data acquisition 7. Create a “new display”, with the temperature as x-axis and
the voltage UB1 as y-axis, compare to figure 4.
Output current 140 mA
8. Start recording the values.
Ua (Temperature resistor) –50 … 200 mV
9. Fill the polyurethane block with liquid nitrogen until the
-196 °C = +196 mV aluminum housing is covered. During the experiment keep
Ua (superconductor) ≤ 200 mV the liquid level constant and add liquid nitrogen as needed.
Voltage supply 12 V AC/580 mA via plug-in power 10. When the voltage drop has been attained (at approx. -180
°C, see Fig. 4), end the experiment.
supply

4 Dish for liquid nitrogen 5.2 Experiment with integrated measuring

module and x/y recorder
The plastic block serves firstly as a thermal vessel for the
liquid nitrogen and secondly to accommodate the entire ex- 1. Connect the temperature output 4 of the adapter for data
periment set-up. acquisition to the x-axis input of the recorder, and the voltage
drop output 5 to the y-axis input of the recorder.
Material: high-density polyurethane
2. As described in 5.1, insert the measuring module into the
polyurethane block and commence cooling.
5 Experiment procedure 5.3 Experiment with an external superconduc-
Either the superconductor in the integrated measuring mod- tor
ule or an external superconductor can be used as the super-
conducting sample. 1. Attach the Platinum-Iridium thermal resistor to the super-
conductor using superglue
To obtain reproducible and comparable results when perform-
ing measurements with external superconductors, always use 2. Make the connections on the superconductor and the
a temperature sensor with the same characteristics as those measuring module
in the integrated measuring module. 3. Connect terminals 1 and 4 with the power supply output 1
The measurements are recorded by means of an x/y recorder 4. Connect terminals 2 and 3 with the voltage measurement
or a PC. The CASSY interface is extremely suitable as an input 2
A/D converter. The required software functionality is con- 5. Connect the Platinum-Iridium resistor with the temperature
tained in the CASSYLab software package. measurement input 3
6. Connect the plug-in power supply with the adapter for data
5.1 Experiment with the integrated measuring acquisition: insert the jack into socket 10 until it has engaged
module and CASSY-S firmly
7. Connect the temperature 4 and voltage 5 outputs with the
additionally required:
recorder or CASSY interface (see above
Sensor-CASSY (524 010 / 524 010 USB)
8. Insert the measuring module (see above)
Software CASSYLab
9. Pour in liquid nitrogen
A PC, running windows 98SE or better
10. Record measured values

Procedure:
1. Connect the measuring module with adapter for data ac-
quisition (socket 8).
2. Connect the power supply: Insert the jack of the plug-in
power supply into the socket 10 until it engages firmly.
3. Connect the adapter for data acquisition with the CASSY
interface: Output 4 “Messwiderstand” (temperature sensing
resistor) goes into Input A, connection U (not I). Output 5
“supraleiter” (superconductor) goes to input B.
4. Place the measuring module in the polyurethane block.
Insert the module into the guide slot on the floor of the block
only so far that liquid nitrogen can still flow beneath the bot-
tom of the aluminium housing of the measuring module. Al-
ternatively, a dewar flask can be used, where the measuring
module can be inserted in step 9.
5. Start the program “CASSYLab”, activate Input A and B by
clicking at them, for both select range –0.3V … 0.3 V, “Aver-
aged values”. Set the “measurement interval” to 200 ms.
6. To display the temperature in degrees centigrade, create a
“new quantity”, being a formula “-UA1*1000” and scaled from
–200 to 30 °C.

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5.4 Experiment results 6 Liquid nitrogen storage

Fig. 4 shows the voltage drop as a function of the tempera- 25 l Dewar flasks are most suitable for storage. They can be
ture. When the transition temperature is attained, the electri- transported easily and hold the nitrogen for more than two
cal resistance breaks down, causing the voltage drop to weeks. Unfortunately, these flasks are quite expensive. 2 l
abruptly become 0. Dewar flasks are considerably cheaper. However, the evapo-
ration rate in them is relatively high, so that their contents last
less than one day.
In principle, conventional Thermos flasks can also be used for
the purpose of storage. The only disadvantage here is that
the insulating vessel of a Thermos flask is embedded in a
plastic housing which, upon coming into contact with liquid
nitrogen, becomes brittle and very susceptible to breakage.
On no account must a Thermos flask be sealed with a screw
cap, as the nitrogen vapors will cause a tightly sealed flask to
explode.

Fig. 4: Voltage drop at the transition temperature of approxi-

mately –180 °C.

Fig 5 shows the plot of temperature and voltage versus time,

at t=0 the measuring module was inserted into the liquid
nitrogen.
After nearly 600 seconds (10 minutes) the superconductor
was cold enough to become superconducting.

Fig 5: Temperature and voltage versus time

LD Didactic GmbH . Leyboldstrasse 1 . D-50354 Huerth / Germany . Phone: (02233) 604-0 . Fax: (02233) 604-222 . e-mail: info@ld-didactic.de

©by LD Didactic GmbH Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany

Technical alterations reserved