A New Inductive Furnace Based on Microwave Irradiation for Growing Long YBa2Cu3O7-δ Single-Domain Bars

Growing long YBa2Cu3O7–δ single domain bars requires new designs of inductive furnaces based on microwave irradiation. In this paper the authors present a new susceptor design using inductive heating to obtain a positive radial thermal gradient from the heating source. With this system textured YBa2Cu3O7–δ (Y123) ceramics are produced and compared with the conventional microwave melt textured growth process. No regulation system is needed and thermal radiation from the sample placed inside the tube is totally eliminated, which may normally cause parasitic nucleations at the periphery of the Y123 bars.