Abstract: A high critical temperature and high critical current density superconductor is disclosed which contains a metal oxide expressed by the following formula (I):(R.sup.1.sub.1-x, Ba.sub.x)Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.d (I)wherein R.sup.1 stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd, x is a number greater than 0 but not greater than 0.5 and d is a number between 6.2 and 7.2. Fine phases of RE211, RE422 and/or a metal oxide expressed by the formula (R.sup.2.sub.1-z, Ba.sub.z) (Ba.sub.1-y, R.sup.2.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.p (R.sup.2 =La, Nd, Sm, Eu or Gd) may be dispersed in a matrix of the matrix phase of the formula (I). The above superconductor may be obtained by cooling a melt having a temperature of 1,000.degree.-1,300.degree. C. and containing R.sup.1, Ba, Cu and O at a cooling rate of 5.degree. C./hour or less under a partial pressure of oxygen of between 0.00001 and 0.05 atm, followed by annealing at 250.degree.-600.degree. C. in an oxygen atmosphere.

Abstract: A superconducting bearing device comprises an annular permanent magnetic portion 2 disposed concentrically with a rotary body 1 in the form of a vertical shaft, and superconductors 8 opposed to the lower end face of the magnet portion 2 and vertically spaced apart therefrom. The permanent magnet portion 2 comprises a disk 4 fixedly mounted on the rotary body 1, and annular permanent magnets 6a, 6b arranged on the disk 4 at a spacing radially of the rotary body 1. Each of the magnets 6a, 6b has upper and lower ends magnetized to polarities opposite to each other, and the adjacent magnets 6a, 6b are magnetized to polarities opposite to each other at the upper ends, as well as at the lower ends. The radial spacing between the magnets 6a, 6b is optimized in accordance with the radial dimension (width) of the magnets 6a, 6b.

Abstract: A superconducting bearing device comprises an annular permanent magnet portion disposed concentrically with a rotary body in the form of a vertical shaft, and superconductors opposed to the lower end face of the magnet portion and vertically spaced apart therefrom. The permanent magnet portion comprises a disk fixedly mounted on the rotary body, and annular permanent magnets embedded in the disk at a spacing radially of the rotary body. Each of the magnets has upper and lower ends magnetized to polarities opposite to each other, and the adjacent magnets are magnetized to polarities opposite to each other at the upper ends, as well as at the lower ends. The radial spacing between the magnets is optimized in accordance with the radial dimension (width) of the magnets. This improves the device in load capacity and rigidity and prevents the deflection of axis of the rotary body, enabling the bearing device to support the rotary body in a noncontact state with good stability.

Abstract: A composite magnet comprising a core of R-Ba-Cu-O type bulk superconductor (R denotes rare-earth elements) made by melt process, enclosed around it with normal conductive or superconductive coil, or a composite magnet including a center of normal conductive or superconductive coil, enclosed around it with ring-shaped R-Ba-Cu-O type bulk superconductor (R denotes rare-earth elements) made by melt process is disclosed, which allows easy control of generating magnetic field and gives a relatively strong magnetic field even at a temperature as high as that of liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: A high critical temperature and high critical current density superconductor is disclosed which contains a metal oxide expressed by the following formula (I):(R.sup.1.sub.1-x,Ba.sub.x)Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.d (I)wherein R.sup.1 stands for at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd, x is a number greater than 0 but not greater than 0.5 and d is a number between 6.2 and 7.2. Fine phases of RE211, RE422 and/or a metal oxide expressed by the formula (R.sup.2.sub.1-z, Ba.sub.z) (Ba.sub.1-y, R.sup.2.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.p (R.sup.2 =La, Nd, Sm, Eu or Gd) may be dispersed in a matrix of the matrix phase of the formula (I). The above superconductor may be obtained by cooling a melt having a temperature of 1,000.degree.-1,300.degree. C. and containing R.sup.1, Ba, Cu and O at a cooling rate of 5.degree. C./hour or less under a partial pressure of oxygen of between 0.00001 and 0.05 atm, followed by annealing at 250.degree.-600.degree. C. in an oxygen atmosphere.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of joining Y-based oxide superconductors on joining two or more Y-based oxide superconductors made by melting process under pressure, characterized by incorporating REBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. (RE=Y, Ho, Er, Tm or Yb), Ag and BaCuO.sub.2 -CuO type composition to the joining interface as an adhesive phase for joining. It becomes possible to easily make a joined material that does not deteriorate the superconductive characteristic at joined interface.

Abstract: A method for producing an REBaCuO oxide superconductor having large magnetic levitation force, where RE is a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb, involves the steps of using a raw material mixture as the starting feed, heating the raw material mixture for partial melting, followed by cooling and solidification, pulverizing and mixing the resulting solid, shaping the resulting mixture into a given shape, placing or embedding nucleates on or in the resulting shape, followed by heating for partial melting, and cooling the resulting partial melt to a substantial temperature at which a superconducting phase starts to form, followed by slow cooling, whereby the superconducting phase is preferentially formed and grown from a nucleation site.

Abstract: To ensure a well-oriented crystal structure, there is provided a process of producing an oxide superconductor of a Y--Ba--Cu--O system with a composition having an atomic ratio Y:Ba:Cu of 1.0-2.0:2.0-2.5:3.0-3.5, the process comprising the steps of: preparing a semimelt including solid and liquid phases and consisting of Y, Ba, Cu and O in the atomic ratio; and solidifying the semimelt to form the oxide superconductor by so controlling a moving speed of a solidification front to have two components of different values in two perpendicularly intersecting directions.

Abstract: A superconducting bearing unit compring a permanent magnet mounted to a rotating shaft and a superconducting body mounted on the inner periphery of a housing surrounding the shaft, the superconducting member being adapted to be cooled with the rotating shaft moved upwards until it attains a superconducting condition, so that the rotating shaft is supported in use in a balanced condition between the weight of the rotating shaft, etc. and a pinning force caused by the permanent magnet and the superconducting member.