Influence of shock-wave pressure up to 65 GPa on the crystal structure and superconducting properties of MgB₂

Abstract

The influence of shock-wave pressure treatment up to 65 GPa on the crystal structure and the superconducting transition temperature of a polycrystalline MgB₂ sample has been investigated. X-ray diffraction measurements have revealed that the shock-wave pressure does not result in any irreversible structural phase transitions in the MgB₂, except for microdistortions formed in the crystal structure of the shock-wave pressure-treated MgB₂ sample. This conclusion is in agreement with the results of superconducting transition temperature measurements of a MgB₂ sample performed before and after its shock-wave pressure treatment.

Keywords:

• shock-wave pressure
• MgB₂
• X-ray diffraction
• superconductivity

Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by an RFBR grant, no. 08-02-00870-a, and by the RAS Presidium Programs “Quantum physics of condensed matter” and “Thermal physics and mechanics of extreme energy impacts and physics of strongly compressed matter”.