Preparation of Zone-melted NdBaCuO under Low Oxygen Pressure

The NdBaCuO superconductor samples were Zone-melted in low oxygen partial pressure (1% O$_2$+99% Ar). The Zone-melting temperature was decreased about 120$^{\circ}C$ from 1060$^{\circ}C$ the zone-melting temperature in air. Thus the loss of liquid phase (BaCuO$_2$ and CuO) was reduced during the zone-melting process. The content of non-superconducting phase Nd422 in zone-melted NdBaCuO samples was clearly decreased, so was the substitution of Nd for Ba. The superconductivity of zone-melted Nd$\sub$1+x/Ba$\sub$2-x/Cu$_3$O$\sub$y/ prepared under low oxygen partial pressure was distinctively improved.