Diminished equilibrium magnetization in Hg-1223 and Tl-2212 superconductors with fission-generated columnar defects

When randomly oriented columnar defects (CDs) are added to Hg-1223 and Tl-2212 superconductors, their vortex state equilibrium magnetization Meq decreases substantially. Meq progressively deviates from the usual London ln(B) dependence and the curves become S-shaped. Vortex-defect interactions quantitatively account for this behavior. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.