Increased pinning energies and critical current densities in heavy-ion-irradiated Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 single crystals

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 759 - 761
• Main Authors: CUTRO, J. A, RUDMAN, D. A, ORLANDO, T. P, VAN DOVER, R. B, SCHNEEMEYER, L. F, WHITE, A. E, GYORGY, E. M, WASZCZAK, J. V, FELDER, R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville, NY American Institute of Physics 15-02-1993
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Physics; Properties of type I and type II superconductors; Superconductivity; Temperature; Transition metal Compounds; Heavy ion; Bismuth Calcium Copper Strontium Oxides Mixed; Experimental study; Single crystal; Inorganic compound; Flux pinning; Critical current; Irradiation; Magnetic field; High temperature superconductor; Superconducting transition; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.108570

We report a significant increase in the pinning energy of vortices in single-crystal Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 when irradiated with heavy ions such as Ar+. This is in contrast with the results of light ion (H+, He+) irradiations which give pinning energies comparable with those of unirradiated crystals. The stronger pinning is attributed to defects larger than point defects, e.g., clusters or amorphized regions. As a result of higher pinning energies, critical currents persist at markedly higher temperatures and fields.