IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROPERTIES OF CUPRATE SUPERCONDUCTORS BY CREATING CONTROLLED COLUMNAR DEFECTS

Interaction of swift heavy ion beam with copper oxide based high tempe rature superconducting (HTS) materials is discussed. The thin films an d crystals of HTS are irradiated by swift heavy ion beam in a vacuum c hamber to produce the columnar defects as per our requirements. These controlled columnar defects serve as pinning centers for vortices. Thi s phenomenon is of interest in increasing critical current density in moderate magnetic field and producing a shift in the irreversibility l ine towards higher temperatures. These make the materials better devic e-worthy. The results of the modifications of the properties in some o f the HTS materials after introduction of these defects at NSC are pre sented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.