Enhancement of Critical Magnetization Current by the Electron Irradiation in Ba₂YCu₃O₇ Superconductor

Abstract

A single-phased Ba 2 YCu 3 O 7- y pellet was sequentially irradiated with 3 MeV electrons up to 2.25×10 22 m -2 at about 370 K, and the magnetization measurements were carried out at 77 K in fields up to a corresponding magnetic flux density of 1.0 T. The critical current density estimated from the magnetization mesurement was enhanced by the electron irradiation; the enhancement was larger in higher magnetic fields. The current density at 1.0 T of 7.4 MA·m -2 was increased to 11.3 MA·m -2 by the electron irradiation to 1.75×10 22 m -2 , and then decreased upon further irradiation.