Temperature and magnetic field dependence of the n-values of MgB2 superconductors.

We analyse the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the power-law n-values characterizing the electric field-current density (E-J) curves of MgB2, superconducting samples. This is done by means of magnetic relaxation measurements, using the normalized relaxation rate of irreversible magnetization M-irr, S = -dlnM(irr)/dlnt, which directly relates to the E-J curve E alpha J(n) with the n-exponent approximately equal to I + 1/S. The study has been done at temperatures and fields ranging from (T = 5 K, B = 1 T) and up to (T, B) near the irreversibility line. Different samples such as undoped and SiC-doped bulk samples and wires have been analysed. We have observed a strong decrease in the n-values when increasing temperature and magnetic field with some differences among the analysed samples. We found correlation between critical current density (J(c)) and n-values. The J(c) (T, B) and n (T, B) dependences show striking similarities and the high n-values (n > 30) are always related to the high critical current densities (J(c) > 108 A/m(2)).