Characterisation of the magnetic shielding properties of YBaCuO thick films prepared by electrophoretic deposition on silver substrates

This communication reports experimental results on the superconducting properties of YBaCuO thick films prepared by electrophoretic deposition on silver substrates. The magnetic shielding properties of the coatings were characterised by various methods. First, the electrical resistance and the transport critical current density, J_c, were determined. Our coatings exhibit a superconducting transition at a temperature of 90 K. Next, shielding characterisations were carried out at 77 K for samples having either a slab or a cylindrical geometry. In both cases, the frequency of the applied magnetic field was 103 Hz; the field behind the shielding wall was measured by a pick-up coil connected to a lock-in amplifier. In the case of cylindrical samples and for an applied induction lower than 1 G, the field inside the shielding enclosure is reduced by a factor greater than 10⁶ (i.e. 120 dB) with respect to the applied field.