Irradiation defect structures in YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus x and their correlation with superconducting properties

Conference · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6411551

Kirk, M A

We review our work on irradiation effects in single crystal YBa{sub 2}CU{sub 3}O{sub 7-x}. Transmission electron microscopy has been employed to study the defect microstructures produced by irradiations with fast neutrons, MeV ions (Kr, Ne and p), and electrons. The atomic structure within defect cascades was investigated using 50 keV Kr and Xe ion irradiations to low doses. Evidence is shown for an amorphous structure with some incoherent recrystallization within individual cascades. Correlation with enhancements in critical current density produced by neutron irradiations suggest that this cascade structure effectively pins magnetic flux lines. At sufficiently high fluences of fast neutrons or MeV Kr and Ne ions, a cellular microstructure is found. This structure consists of cells or microcrystallites of good cystalline and superconducting material (in the case of neutron irradiation), with cell walls of amorphous material. Full amorphization proceeds with the growth of cell wall volume. The formation of this microstructure coincides with a decrease in critical transport current, but is not observed by magnetization measurements. Increases in critical current density under proton irradiation, comparable to those produced by neutron irradiation, have been reported. The defect structure produced by proton irradiations is examined here and found to differ from that of neutron irradiations. Our most recent measurements of changes in critical temperature and current density, and defect microstructure following electron irradiations will be described. 20 refs., 6 figs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6411551
• Report Number(s): CONF-901105-70; ON: DE91006420; TRN: 91-002242
• Resource Relation: Conference: Fall meeting of the Materials Research Society, Boston, MA (USA), 24 Nov - 1 Dec 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BARIUM OXIDES
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
COPPER OXIDES
YTTRIUM OXIDES
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
CURRENT DENSITY
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
IRRADIATION
NEUTRON FLUENCE
RECRYSTALLIZATION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER COMPOUNDS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
360206* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Radiation Effects
360202 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Structure & Phase Studies
656100 - Condensed Matter Physics- Superconductivity