Destruction of superconductivity inNd2−xCexCuO4−δthin films by ion irradiation

We have measured the resistivity and Hall coefficient of ${\mathrm{Nd}}_{2-x}{\mathrm{Ce}}_x{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4-\delta }$ (NCCO) thin films sequentially damaged by ion irradiation. The $T_c$ of the NCCO decreases linearly with residual resistivity and extrapolates to zero at $R_{\square }/\left(\mathrm{unit}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cell}\right)\approx 5-10\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{k}\Omega ,$ results similar to Y-Ba-Cu-O. We suggest that the physical basis for this behavior in NCCO may be disorder effects in a homogeneous two-dimensional superconductor. Unusual behavior of the Hall coefficient gives further evidence that NCCO may be a two-carrier conductor.