Comparison of Levitation Forces of Bulk MgB2 Superconductors Produced by Nano Boron and Carbon-Doped Nano Boron

Abstract

MgB2 bulk superconductors were prepared by hot press plus furnace heating method. Two types of boron powders were used, one is amorphous nano boron and the other is C-doped boron. Characteristics of superconductors were determined by XRD and resistance measurements. Systematic levitation force measurements were performed by using a modular system at low temperatures. These bulk superconductors showed around 9 N repulsive and 4 N attractive forces in the z-axis at 20 K at closest point to the cryostat lid which contains the MgB2 superconductor. These values slightly decreased by increasing temperature to 24 and 28 K for both samples. Comparing two samples, nano boron MgB2 showed slightly higher levitation force than C-doped MgB2 although C-doped MgB2 has higher attractive force value at the closest point. This situation points out that C-doped MgB2 is much proper for attractive force applications (as guidance force) while the nanoboron MgB2 sample is much appropriate for repulsive force (as levitation). © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.