Observation of proposed flux pinning sites in neutron‐irradiated YBa2Cu3O7−x

Microstructure and magnetic hysteresis have been compared for two samples of the YBa2Cu3O7−δ (δ∼0) high‐temperature superconductor, one unirradiated, and one irradiated with fast neutrons (E≳0.1 MeV) to a fluence of 3×1018 n/cm2. Notable changes in the microstructure include strain‐induced contrast from regions 2–7 nm in size. An intrinsic critical current density (Jc) of 4.6×106 A/cm2 in zero field at 4 K has been determined from magnetic hysteresis measurements for the irradiated sample while 1.2×106 A/cm2 is noted for the unirradiated sample. We propose that the observed defect structure in the irradiated material is responsible for increased pinning and consequently higher Jc’s.