Using radiation damage to increase critical currents in high temperature superconductors

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.52477· OSTI ID:587079

Paulius, L M ^[1]; Kwok, W; Fendrich, J A ^[2]; Shamu, R E; Petrean, A M; Ferguson, S M ^[1]; Crabtree, G W ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan (United States) 49008
2. Department of Material Science and Science and Technology Center for Superconductivity, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois (United States) 60439

The vast potential for technological applications of high temperature superconductors can not yet be exploited because their low critical current densities. The critical current densities in these materials at high temperatures and in high magnetic fields are largely limited by the motion of magnetic flux vortices. This motion can be inhibited through the introduction defects into the material which can pin the vortices, thereby eliminating the electrical resistance. Radiation damage has proven to be an effective means of introducing such defects. We present the results of a study on the effects of both proton and heavy ion irradiation on single crystals of the high temperature superconductor YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}. The geometry and pinning strength of the defects varies greatly with the type of irradiation. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 587079
• Report Number(s): CONF-961110--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 392; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CRITICAL CURRENT
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
HEAVY IONS
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
MIXED STATE
PROTON BEAMS
RADIATION EFFECTS