Enhancements of the critical currents of YBaCuO single crystals by neutron (n) and proton (p) irradiation

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6952712

Vlcek, B M; Frischherz, M C; Vishwanathan, H K; Welp, U; Crabtree, G W; Kirk, M A

We present results of magnetization hysteresis and [Tc] measurements of neutron and proton irradiated YBaCuO single crystals. The crystals used for comparison were irradiated to a fluence of 2[times]10[sup 7]n/cm[sup 2] (n,E [gt] 0.1MeV) and 1[times]10[sup 16]p/cm[sup 2] (p,E=3.5MeV). The critical currents at 1T and 10K are enhanced by a factor of 5 for the neutron irradiated and a factor of 9 for the proton irradiated sample respectively. After irradiation the crystals were annealed at 100, 200 and 300C for 8h each in air. Following each annealing step the critical temperature and the magnetization hysteresis at 10 and 70K was measured. Upon annealing, we observe a decrease of the critical currents, which is more pronounced for the proton irradiated sample. This decrease is related to the removal of point defects or their small clusters. Thus, their contribution to pinning can be studied. The critical temperature decreases after both types of irradiation by about 0.5K and is fully recovered after annealing.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Materials and Components Technology Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; NSF; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6952712
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/CP-78800; CONF-920802--51; ON: DE93007892; CNN: 91-20000(UW); STC8809854(U.W.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360206 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Radiation Effects
360207* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Superconducting Properties-- (1992-)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BARIUM OXIDES
BEAMS
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
CRITICAL CURRENT
CRYSTALS
CURRENT DENSITY
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
MONOCRYSTALS
NEUTRON BEAMS
NUCLEON BEAMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PROTON BEAMS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM OXIDES