Absolute value of the intragranular harmonic susceptibility

Abstract

Harmonic susceptibilities χ_n' and χ_n" (n = 2 to 7) as a function of temperature exhibit varying features such as upright and inverted peaks as well as single oscillations. These various shapes of χ_n' and χ_n" are related in such a way that the absolute value of harmonic susceptibility |χ_n| for all n exhibits an upright peak. It is then easier to perform a quantitative analysis of a superconductor's nonlinear behavior by looking at |χ_n| instead of individually fitting χ_n' and χ_n" which are more complicated in shape. Finally, the temperature behavior of |χ_n| in this study deviates from those in literature. Such difference can be accounted for by noting that our harmonic response cannot be attributed to some vortex dynamics unlike in other studies.