In these lectures, electrical, magnetic and thermal properties characterization techniques of superconducting materials will be presented. In particular, the experimental procedures and problems related to the studies about current conduction, magnetization, susceptibility, thermal conductivity and specific heat dependence on environmental parameters (temperature, applied magnetic field) will be the main topics of the lectures. A brief introduction on the fundamental physics of electrical transport, dc and ac magnetization and thermodynamic of superconductors will be followed by a summary of the main measurement and analysis techniques.
The focus will be on superconducting materials recognized as relevant for applications, thus also a brief excursus will be presented. Finally, the quench in technical superconductors will be analysed.
Lectures plan:
Lecture 1: Introduction to Superconducting Materials
Lecture 2: Electrical properties characterization (I)
Lecture 3: Electrical properties characterization (II)
Lecture 4: Magnetic properties characterization
Lecture 5: Thermal properties characterization (I)
Lecture 6: Thermal properties characterization (II) & Quench