Extrinsic defect implantation in sintered YBCO slabs: Magnetic and transport properties

This paper deals with proton irradiation effects on the intragrain and intergrain magnetic and transport properties of sintered YBCO. We have irradiated slab-shaped samples with beams at different fluences and energies, aiming at checking the possibility to modify in a planned way critical currents by means of proton implantation. Magnetic characterizations show enhanced intragrain pinning. Emphasis is given to the possibility to modulate intergrain magnetic properties by irradiation, determining critical current enhancement in optimal field and temperature ranges. Resistive measurements were performed in order to investigate the complex transport phenomena in polycrystalline materials, where superconducting and normal conduction mechanisms coexist. Irradiation-induced effects on both superconducting and normal state resistivity are studied. The addition of extrinsic defects leads to enhanced transport properties, emerging especially when a magnetic field is applied.