Neutron-radiation-induced flux pinning in Gd-doped YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus x and GdBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus x
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
The critical current density {ital J}{sub {ital c}} in Y{sub 0.9}Gd{sub 0.1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{ital x}} was found to increase relative to the unirradiated value following neutron irradiations in a mixed-spectrum reactor (total neutron fluences ranged between 1{times}10{sup 17} and 2{times}10{sup 18} {ital n}/cm{sup 2}). Additional neutron irradiations of structurally similar GdBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{ital x}} were carried out in either a highly thermalized or a pure fast-neutron environment (in the same reactor). This was done to determine whether enhancements in {ital J}{sub {ital c}} are to be attributed to defects arising from interactions with thermal neutrons ({ital E}{sub {ital n}}{similar to}0.025 eV) or with fast neutrons ({ital E}{sub {ital n}}{gt}0.1 MeV). Magnetic-hysteresis measurements on these samples indicate that flux pinning (and thereby {ital J}{sub {ital c}}) is enhanced by fast-neutron irradition, but not by thermal-neutron irradiation. On the other hand, the critical temperature {ital T}{sub {ital c}} is significantly altered by exposure both to thermal and fast neutrons. It is proposed that thermal neutrons induce the formation of Frenkel pair defects on the rare-earth sublattice, but that these point defects do not serve as effective flux-pinning centers.
- OSTI ID:
- 6958911
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 46:18; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BARIUM OXIDES
BARYONS
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
CRITICAL CURRENT
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
DEFECTS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
FRENKEL DEFECTS
GADOLINIUM ADDITIONS
GADOLINIUM ALLOYS
GADOLINIUM COMPOUNDS
GADOLINIUM OXIDES
HADRONS
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
IRRADIATION PROCEDURES
MAGNETIC FLUX
MINERALS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEROVSKITE
PEROVSKITES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POINT DEFECTS
RARE EARTH ADDITIONS
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SORPTION
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
THERMAL NEUTRONS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
VACANCIES
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM OXIDES