Non Linearly Shaped Superconducting Whiskers Investigation by Synchrotron Nanoprobe

Using a solid-state reaction method, we managed to synthesize non-linear YBa2Cu3Ox whiskers, which are promising candidates for solid-state THz applications based on sequences of Josephson Junctions. Exploiting laboratory single-crystal diffraction techniques, we compared curved and straight specimens from the structural point of view. The laboratory XRD results led us to assume a structural picture for the curved crystals analogous to that of the straight ones: the cells are always aligned along the initial growth direction, and only their stacking laterally translates during the growth. In order to validate this growth mechanism we performed a space resolved XRD study along the whole whisker curvature using a 107×152 nm2 synchrotron X-ray nanoprobe. Finally the superconducting properties were also evaluated in comparison with the straight counterpart, revealing a strong functional analogy.