Inhomogeneous distribution of the pinning force in superconductor results in a magnetization asymmetry. A model considering the field distribution in superconductor was developed and symmetric and asymmetric magnetization loops of porous and textured
Bi_{1.8}Pb_{0.3}Sr_{1.9}Ca_{2}Cu_{3}O_{x} were fitted. It is found that the thermal equilibrium magnetization realizes in crystals smaller than some size depending on temperature and magnetic field.
(abridged) In this paper we derive observed and modelled shape parameters (apparent ellipticity and orientation of the ellipse) of 650 Galactic open clusters identified in the ASCC-2.5 catalogue. We provide the observed shape parameters of Galactic o
pen clusters, computed with the help of a multi-component analysis. For the vast majority of clusters these parameters are determined for the first time. High resolution (star by star) N-body simulations are carried out with the specially developed $phi$GRAPE code providing models of clusters of different initial masses, Galactocentric distances and rotation velocities. The comparison of models and observations of about 150 clusters reveals ellipticities of observed clusters which are too low (0.2 vs. 0.3), and offers the basis to find the main reason for this discrepancy. The models predict that after $approx 50$ Myr clusters reach an oblate shape with an axes ratio of $1.65:1.35:1$, and with the major axis tilted by an angle of $q_{XY} approx 30^circ$ with respect to the Galactocentric radius due to differential rotation of the Galaxy. Unbiased estimates of cluster shape parameters require reliable membership determination in large cluster areas up to 2-3 tidal radii where the density of cluster stars is considerably lower than the background. Although dynamically bound stars outside the tidal radius contribute insignificantly to the cluster mass, their distribution is essential for a correct determination of cluster shape parameters. In contrast, a restricted mass range of cluster stars does not play such a dramatic role, though deep surveys allow to identify more cluster members and, therefore, to increase the accuracy of the observed shape parameters.
The intragrain pinning in high-$T_c$ superconductor compounds Y$_{1-x}$RE$_{x}$Ba$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-delta}$ with low concentration of RE (La, Ce, Pr) was investigated. Magnetic and transport measurements reveal that the pinning is maximal for the co
ncentration of heterovalent RE such that the average distance between the impurity ions in the plane of rare-earth elements close to the diameter of Abrikosov vortices in YBCO.
