About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Physica C: Superconductivity and its Applications
Paper
Current decay from quantum tunneling of vortices in Bi-2212 superconductors
Abstract
We have created randomly oriented columnar defects in textured Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox/Ag superconducting tapes and Tl-2212 materials, using a fission process driven by irradiation with 0.8 GeV protons. Vortex pinning was significantly improved, leading to increased persistent current density J. The thermally activated decay of current with time was greatly decreased, compared with unirradiated materials. Nonetheless, temperature-independent vortex motion from quantum tunneling limits J and its stability in time. Analysis of the time-dependent studies provides estimates for the elementary vortex attempt time τ, for both as-formed and ion-processed materials.