RADIATION-DAMAGE EFFECTS IN ND2-XCEXCUO4-Y THIN-FILMS

We report on the effect of 4 MeV alpha-irradiation on the transition t emperature T-c and critical current density j(c) of Nd2-xCexCuO4-y (NC CO) thin films. The same dependence of T-c and j(c) on the defect ener gy deposition is found for NCCO as for other irradiated cuprates, and is independent of large differences in the maximum T-c. The results st rongly suggest that apical oxygen atom displacements do not contribute to the strong reduction of T-c, and that the main mechanism for T-c r eduction is a depairing-like variation.