Comparison of the history effects in magnetization in weakly pinned crystals of high T-c and low T-c superconductors

A comparison of the history effects in weakly pinned single crystals of a high Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ (for H || c) and a low Tc Ca3Rh4Sn13, which show anomalous variations in critical current density Jc(H), is presented via the tracings of the minor magnetization hysteresis loops using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The sample histories focussed are: (i) the field cooled (FC), (ii) the zero field cooled (ZFC) and (iii) an isothermal reversal of field from the normal state. An understanding of the results in terms of the modulation in the plastic deformation of the elastic vortex solid and supercooling across the order–disorder transitions is sought.