# Effect of electron irradiation and Pr doping on the charge transport in YBCO single crystals

## TL;DR

This study examines how electron irradiation and Pr doping affect charge transport in YBCO single crystals, revealing defect-induced changes in resistivity, superconducting transition, and phonon scattering.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into how electron irradiation creates defects that influence superconducting and transport properties in YBCO crystals.

## Key findings

- Irradiation decreases Tc and broadens the superconducting transition.
- Defects increase Debye temperature and phonon scattering.
- Excess conductivity remains unchanged after irradiation.

## Abstract

The influence of irradiation by electrons with energies of $0.5-2.5$\,MeV at temperatures of about $10$\,K on the basal-plane resistivity of the YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ single crystals is investigated in the range from $T_c$ to $300$\,K. The resistivity temperature dependence is determined by defects arising due to the irradiation. These defects directly affect the superconducting transition, decreasing $T_c$ and increasing the transition width without significant distortions of its shape. The resulting defects also lead to an increase in the Debye temperature due to a reduction of the anisotropy, and a noticeable increase in the scattering by phonons in the sample. The excess conductivity does not change with the irradiation used.