Calculations on the flux pinning action of ferroelectric crystals inside a ceramic superconductor

Taking as an example the case of BaTiO3 ferroelectric crystals inside an Y1Ba2Cu3Ox matrix (1-2-3 compound) it is shown that the ferroelectric properties of such crystals can generate an extra flux pinning effect, in addition to the expected pinning due to the normal character of such inclusions. The calculations show that the additional pinning force attainable depends strongly on the spontaneous polarization and the piezoelectric strain tensor components of the ferroelectric material.