Flux Creep and Giant Flux Creep in High Tc Hg,Pb-based Superconductors

Dynamic behavior of the trapped flux in fields of up to 17.5 T was studied in a set of Hg-Pb based superconductors with a Tc in excess of 130 K. Depending on the experimental conditions, both creep and giant flux creep dynamics were observed. Results were analyzed using to standard models such as Anderson-Kim and giant-flux creep models (GFC). The plots of relaxation rate of remnant magnetization versus temperature show a peak below Tc. These results were compared with other Cu-O compounds. A distribution of activation energies was found from the magnetization rate. The activation energy distribution shows a peak around 50 K. The peak determines the temperature where the flux flow rate is a maximum. A universal relation of the resistive behavior was also found as a function of temperature and field. The zero-field/field-cooled results gave a reversibility curve that also obeyed a universal power relation.