Role of Temperature on Flux Trap Behavior in < 100 > Pb Cylindrical Sample: Polarized Neutron Radiography Investigation

The evolution of flux trap behavior at low temperature (the intermediate state) in high purity Lead samples, both in single crystal with < 100 > orientation and polycrystalline form, is investigated using field cooled (FC) neutron tomography measurements. Reported measurements are carried out for 0∘ and 90∘ sample axis orientation with respect to the external magnetic field. For both< 100 > Pb single crystal as well as polycrystalline sample development of fringe pattern below T < Tc (at 5K) is observed. This shows magnetic field trapped within the sample. On increasing the temperature to 7.5K for T > Tc, fringe pattern inside the sample disappears, indicating that the sample attains a normal state. Further comparison of mosaic spread values for < 100 > Pb crystal and our previously reported < 110 > Pb crystal indicate the feeble role played by dislocations and / or defects [Phys. Rev. B 85 184522 (2012)]. Interestingly, not only the field cooled superconducting state appears distinct for each sample, dependent on the crystal structure - single crystal or polycrystalline, but also on the applied magnetic field orientation with respect to the crystallographic sample axis.