Establishing of peak effect in YBCO by Nd substitution

Y0.75Nd0.25Ba2Cu3O7−d superconductor has the peak effect with pronounced fishtail feature on magnetization hysteresis. The magnetic field of the peak effect maximum is in ~4 times higher than one of NdBa2Cu3O7−d. The magnetization hysteresis is tilted anticlockwise due to paramagnetic Nd3+ ions occurred on the surface of grains and in the vortex cores.