X-ray studies of field-induced orientation of small superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x particles

We have studied the texture of distributions of small (d ≤ 5 pm) YBa2Cu3O7-x particles which have been aligned in a magnetic field of 0.5 Tesla at T = 65 K < TC = 92 K. By analysis of the relative intensities of the X-ray powder patterns and/or the rocking curves of the (110) reflection we find that ∼ 60% of the particles align with their (110) axes within 12 of the applied field while 13% align with their b axes along the field. The (110) alignment indicates that both the ab and twin boundary planes carry supercurrent. © 1988 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.