Resistivity anisotropy in YBCO single crystals irradiated with fast electrons

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Vol. 566; pp. 121 - 124
• Main Authors: Khadzhai, Georgij Ya, Vovk, Ruslan V., Dobrovolskiy, Oleksandr V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-08-2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Conductivity; Conductivity anisotropy; Crystal defects; Electrical resistivity; Electron irradiation; Electrons; Hopping conduction; Hopping conductivity; Longitude; Single crystals; Temperature dependence; Temperature effects; YBCO single crystals; YBCO superconductors; Hopping conductivity; Electron irradiation; YBCO single crystals; Conductivity anisotropy
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2019.05.004

Temperature dependences of the longitudinal and transverse resistivity of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals irradiated with fast electrons are investigated. It is revealed that the ratio of the normal-state resistivity along the c-axis and in the ab-plane, ρc∕ρab, markedly decreases with increase of the number of structural defects induced by the electron irradiation. Importantly, the temperature dependence of the ratio ρc∕ρab can be described well by both, the universal “law of 1/2” for the variable-range hopping conductivity as well as the conventional exponential expression for the thermally activated conductivity.
•YBCO single crystals have been irradiated with fast electrons.•A marked decrease of the resistance anisotropy has been observed.•Temperature dependences of the resistance ratio are fitted to theoretical models.