Effect of controlled disorder on thermal conductivity of Bi2212

In-plane thermal conductivity of optimally-doped Bi2212 single crystals wer e studied before and after irradiation by high-energy electrons. Introducti on of point defects by this procedure decreases the quasi-particle mean-fre e-path and weakens the superconductivity due to pair-breaking effects. We r eport on thermal conductivity data on a wide temperature range (100 mK to 1 00 K) performed in parallel with resistivity and thermpower at higher tempe ratures. The introduction of disorder leads to a decrease in thermal conduc tivity in the whole explored range but leaves the zero-temperature linear t erm, associated with nodal quasiparticles, virtually unchanged.