Alteration in the superconducting properties of Bi/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/O/sub 8/ crystals due to proton irradiation

Abstract

The effects of proton irradiation on the superconducting properties of single crystal Bi2Sr2CaCu208 are reported. Proton irradiation results in a lower transition temperature and increased transition width. Low temperature critical currents are found to increase with increasing fluence. The irreversibility line moves significantly in both the low and high field regimes. Optimal movement of the line in the high field regime is found to occur at a fluence corresponding to nearly one defect per vortex core disk. Implications on materials applications are discussed.