Effects of crossed flux on magnetization dynamics and magnetic relaxation of melt-textured Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x

We report magnetization measurements of melt-textured Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x in a crossed-flux configuration (CFC), i.e. in the presence of two mutually perpendicular flux components. We have measured the M(H) loops of the a-b planes and their dependence on the field sweep rate in the presence of various remnant fluxes along the c axis. Furthermore, we have carried out magnetic relaxation studies of the a - b plane moment in the CFC, and compared the results with those obtained in the single-flux configuration (SFC), i.e. when there is no c-axis remanence. Our results in three different experiments show enhanced flux entry along the a-b planes in the CFC. We interpret this in terms of a suppression of the shielding currents and discuss flux cutting as a possible mechanism which can lead to it. (author)