Doubling the Critical Current Density of High Temperature Superconducting Coated Conductors through Proton Irradiation

TL;DR

Proton irradiation significantly enhances the in-field critical current of high-temperature superconducting coated conductors, potentially improving their performance in applications like rotating machinery.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that proton irradiation can nearly double the critical current in YBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors, revealing a new method to improve superconductor performance.

Findings

Critical current doubled at 6 T and 27 K after irradiation.

Irradiation creates a mixed pinning landscape improving vortex pinning.

Significant potential for further enhancements exists.

Abstract

The in-field critical current of commercial YBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors can be substantially enhanced by post-fabrication irradiation with 4 MeV protons. Irradiation to a fluence of 8x10^16 p/cm^2 induces a near doubling of the critical current in fields of 6 T || c at a temperature of 27 K, a field and temperature range of interest for applications such as rotating machinery. A mixed pinning landscape of preexisting precipitates and twin boundaries and small, finely dispersed irradiation induced defects may account for the improved vortex pinning in high magnetic fields. Our data indicate that there is significant head-room for further enhancements.