A Torsion Balance for Studying Anisotropic Magnetic Properties of Superconducting Materials

A low-temperature torsion balance for studying magnetic properties of superconductors is described. The device can operate in the modes of the rotation or vibration of an axisymmetric superconducting sample in an external magnetic field. The balance provides for the measurement of a torque τ of 10–8 –1 N·m applied to the sample. The device is highly sensitive to frozen magnetic fluxes even of the order of magnitude of the geomagnetic field (H ≤ 0.5 Oe). To eliminate the effect of frozen magnetic fluxes, two-layer Permalloy shields providing for the cooling of the sample in the field H < 10–3 Oe are used. The capabilities of the developed method for studying critical parameters and the anisotropic magnetic properties of superconductors are described.