Columnar defect-induced strain and superconductivity in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox observed by LT-STS/STM

Superconductivity and crystalline structure around columnar defects in Bi2S r2CaCu2Ox have been studied by low temperature scanning tunneling spectrosc opy and microscopy (LT-STS/STM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Columnar defects have been generated by irradiation with 3.5 GeV Xe-135(31 -) ions, 3.8 GeV Ta-181(37-) ions and 3.1 GeV Bi-209(37-) ions and the colu mnar defects-induced strain has been observed by TEM and LT-STM. The magnit ude of the strain has been estimated to be 0.1-0.01% in the region of 6 run from a columnar defect. The strain induced by a columnar defect does not b ring about a remarkable change in the superconductivity in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.