Bulk Y1Ba2Cu3Oy was melt-textured without the use of seed
crystals as well as by applying
top-seeding with different seeds resulting in different orientations
of the c-axis.
Samples were examined by elastic
neutron scattering and levitation force.
The levitation force of the samples strongly
depends on the orientation of the c-axis.
The local superconducting parameters were found to be
reduced with increasing distance from the seed.
In order to study this influence,
two cubes were prepared by top-seeding, but
with seeds of Nd123 that had a parallel and perpendicular
orientation of the c-axis of the Nd123-seed
with respect to the contact area of the high-Tc superconductor.
By this, different distances of the levitating surface,
which is the surface that faces directly the magnet, from
the seed were obtained. Results are presented and discussed.