Insensitivity of YBa2Cu3O7−x to ionizing radiation

Abstract
The high‐temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−x has been irradiated in a transmission electron microscope to investigate the effect of high doses of ionizing energy on the microstructure of this material. Electrons of energies low enough to avoid knock‐on displacement damage (80 and 100 keV) were used to achieve radiation doses of 1×1012 Gy at 115 K and 2×1013 Gy at room temperature. Using the criteria of twin fading and formation of extended defects, no microstructural damage was observed. These results indicate that YBa2Cu3O7−x is extremely resistant to damage by radiolytic processes.