Second Peak Effect In Smba2cu3oy

Two SmBa2Cu3Oy samples with Y211 (Sm1 and Sm2) were fabricated by the melt-textured growth method to study the effect of heat treatment and argon atmosphere on the second peak effect (SP). Magnetization-temperature (M-T) measurement at 10 G field cooling shows that the sample Sm1 has a transition temperature T-c = 80 K but the Sm2 has higher T-c (=90 K) and higher irreversibility fields than Sm1. Magnetization versus field (M-B curves) at various temperatures T in fields up to 7 T was measured. The SP of the two samples was observed and compared over a range of temperatures. Discussion of flux pinning and the effect of Ar and 211 is made. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.