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Observation of proposed flux pinning sites in neutron-irradiated YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus x

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.104159· OSTI ID:6290040
; ; ; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
  2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM (USA)

Microstructure and magnetic hysteresis have been compared for two samples of the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} ({delta}{similar to}0) high-temperature superconductor, one unirradiated, and one irradiated with fast neutrons ({ital E}{gt}0.1 MeV) to a fluence of 3{times}10{sup 18} n/cm{sup 2}. Notable changes in the microstructure include strain-induced contrast from regions 2--7 nm in size. An intrinsic critical current density ({ital J}{sub {ital c}}) of 4.6{times}10{sup 6} A/cm{sup 2} in zero field at 4 K has been determined from magnetic hysteresis measurements for the irradiated sample while 1.2{times}10{sup 6} A/cm{sup 2} is noted for the unirradiated sample. We propose that the observed defect structure in the irradiated material is responsible for increased pinning and consequently higher {ital J}{sub {ital c}}'s.

OSTI ID:
6290040
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters; (USA) Vol. 57:20; ISSN APPLA; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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