Enhanced Critical Magnetization Currents due to Electron Irradiation in High-Tc Oxide Superconductors

Abstract
Three kinds of high-T c oxide superconductors were successively irradiated with 3 MeV electrons up to 1.0×1018 e/cm2 at about 370 K, and magnetization measurements were performed at 77 K in fields up to 10 kG. The critical current density in the field, estimated from the magnetization curves, was enhanced by the electron irradiation to 5.0×1017 e/cm2 in the melt-processed YBa2Cu3O7-x and Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O x compounds. In the Bi1.4Pb0.6Sr2Ca2Cu3O x compound, the critical current density was expected to be increased by electron irradiation to a dose much less than 5.0×1017 e/cm2.