IMPACT OF ELECTRON RADIATION ON RESISTIVITY IN YBCO AND GdBCO HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING TAPES

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of electron radiation on the resistivity and structural properties of second-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTSC) tapes based on YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) and GdBa2Cu3O7-x (GdBCO). The tapes were subjected to 5 MeV electron irradiation, with doses ranging from 1014 to 1015 electrons/cm2. Structural changes were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), while resistivity measurements were conducted using the Hall effect method. Results indicate that electron irradiation introduces defects such as oxygen vacancies and dislocations, fragmenting crystallites and influencing superconducting properties. GdBCO exhibited higher radiation resistance compared to YBCO, attributed to gadolinium's local magnetic moments, which affect defect formation. The study highlights the potential of radiation-induced defects to enhance vortex pinning and critical current density (Jc) in high magnetic fields, making these materials suitable for applications in fusion reactors, accelerators, and high-field magnets.