AC Magnetic Susceptibility: Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Realization on Poly-Crystalline and...

The multifaceted inductive technique of AC magnetic susceptibility (ACMS) provides versatile and reliable means for the investigation of the respective properties of magnetic and superconducting materials. Here, we explore, both mathematically and experimentally, the ACMS set-up, based on four coaxial pick-up coils assembled in the second-derivative configuration, when employed in the investigation of differently shaped superconducting specimens of poly-crystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ and Bi_2-xPb_xSr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10+y and single-crystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ. Through the mathematical modeling of both the ACMS set-up and of linearly responding superconducting specimens, we obtain a closed-form relation for the DC voltage output signal. The latter is translated directly to the so-called extrinsic ACMS of the studied specimen. By taking into account the specific characteristics of the studied high-T_c specimens (such as the shape and dimensions for the demagnetizing effect, porosity for the estimation of the superconducting volume fraction, etc.), we eventually draw the truly intrinsic ACMS of the parent material. Importantly, this is carried out without the need for any calibration specimen. The comparison of the mathematical modeling with the experimental data of the aforementioned superconducting specimens evidences fair agreement.