Laser technologies applied to the fabrication and characterization of bulk Bi-2212 superconducting materials for power application

Lasers are adequate tools in the processing and characterization of materials. The Applied Superconductivity group at the Aragon Materials Science Institute has been applying different laser techniques in the processing, machining and characterization of bulk high temperature superconductors for high power applications. Textured bulk Bi-2212 superconductors have been obtained using laser melting zone techniques. We have produced thin bars, monoliths and coatings on metallic and ceramic substrates. Ablation techniques have been used to machine the samples with the required shape for technological applications. And finally, optical techniques have been used as non-destructive experiments to detect the location of hot-spots and the positions where environmental degradation starts. (c) 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.