Radio frequency behaviour of PIT-processed Bi(2223) tapes

We have studied the response of long superconducting (Bi,Pb)(2)Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 based conductors fabricated by the Oxide Powder In Tube method when exposed to a radiofrequency magnetic field excitation. In particular, we have characterized their properties when employed as a part of L-C resonators typical of pick-up coil devices in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In these conditions, Bi(2223) conductors cooled down to 77 K have shown superior properties compared to already optimized copper based devices: tri-dimensional superconducting pick-up coils conceived for a resonance frequency between 6 and 9 MHz present an improvement of the quality factor Q by more than an order of magnitude, and an increase of the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor larger than three. This promising result opens new perspectives for Bi-based conductors in the field of the detection of weak high frequency signals.