Susie Speller

The Superconducting Materials research group focusses on relationships between processing, microstructure and properties of a wide variety of superconducting materials. A major part of our current research activity is associated with the Oxford Centre for Applied Superconductivity (CfAS) and  involves working closely with local industrial partners to address materials challenges in the superconducting magnet industry, such as superconducting joints and MgB2 bulk materials.  We have a growing activity in studying radiation damage in high temperature superconductors for nuclear fusion magnets.  In addition, we specialise in the processing and characterisation of thin films, and have a new research interest in novel superconducting materials for quantum device applications .  On the more fundamental side, we use advanced microstructural characterisation techniques including High-Resolution Electron Backscatter Diffraction (HR-EBSD), Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) and synchrotron microscopy (e.g nanoARPES, PEEM) to study homogeneity and phase separation in single crystals of novel Fe-based superconductors.  Understanding the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in these materials is thought to be of crucial importance for discovering the elusive mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity.