X-ray, resistivity and AC susceptibility studies of 100 MeV oxygen ion irradiated polycrystalline Bi-2223

Changes in the physical properties of Pb-doped and Pb-Sn doped polycrystall ine Bi-2223 high temperature superconductors irradiated by 100 MeV O7+ were studied. All the samples irradiated were prepared by usual solid state rea ctions. The parent compound was single phase with a T-c (0) value of 106 K for the Pb-doped batch and 107 K for the Pb-Sn batch. The samples mere irra diated at various fluences in the range of 10(12)-10(14) ions/cm(2). For bo th the cases it was observed that maximum damage has been produced at an op timal fluence value varying between 10(13) and 5x10(13) ions/cm(2). The pha se transitions probably due to oxygen disordering are evident from X-ray an alysis which is supported by rho-T measurements. AC susceptibility studies show changes in the real part of chi. A shift in the peak temperature in th e imaginary part of the AC susceptibility with various fluences is also obs erved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.