Developments to date in the field of high critical temperature (Tc) superconductors have been very exciting. However, practical materials and devices are still far from a reality. The ceramic superconductors are heterogeneous multiphase materials, and their superconducting properties appear to be sensitively dependent on the local microscopic nature of the material. It would be of considerable value both to the theoretical understanding of this new phenomenon and to the development of better superconductor materials if more were known about the relationship between the local superconducting properties and the local structural and chemical parameters. A novel method of detecting the onset of superconductivity on a microscopic scale will employ a laser-based thermal wave technique. Phase I of this project will demonstrate the capability of the method to detect the onset of superconductivity in high Tc superconductors in a non contact , nondamaging fashion with micronscale resolution.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Phase II will develop a prototype thermal wave system to characterize the superconductive properties of high Tc materials on a microscopic scale. A thermal wave imaging system operating at cryogenic temperatures will be able to rapidly detect and image local microscopic regions in high Tc materials going through their respective superconductive transitions. The noncontact, nondamaging aspect of this characterization will allow subsequent examination of the same microscopic regions with other microprobe techniques to determine the relationship between local superconducting properties and local structural and chemical properties. Such a system will be a valuable analytical and characterization tool for a new superconductor industry that may be of great importance to the nation's defense and commercial competitiveness.Topic 8: Material Sciences