Magneto-optical study of Ba(Fe1xMx)2As2 (M=Co and Ni) single crystals irradiated with heavy ions

R. Prozorov, M. A. Tanatar, B. Roy, N. Ni, S. L. Bud’ko, P. C. Canfield, J. Hua, U. Welp, and W. K. Kwok
Phys. Rev. B 81, 094509 – Published 9 March 2010

Abstract

Optimally doped single crystals of Ba(Fe1xMx)2As2 (M=Co,Ni) were irradiated with 1.4 GeV P208b56+ ions at fluences corresponding to matching fields of Bϕ=0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 T. Magneto-optical imaging has been used to map the distribution of the magnetic induction in the irradiated samples. The imaging is complemented by the magnetization measurements. The results show a substantial enhancement of the apparent critical current densities as revealed by the much larger Bean penetration fields and an increase in the hysteretic magnetization. However, the effect depends on the compound, temperature, and applied magnetic field. In Ba(Fe0.926Co0.074)2As2 crystals, at 15 K and low fields, the enhancement appears to scale with the irradiation dose at a rate of about 0.27MAcm2T1, whereas in Ba(Fe0.954Ni0.046)2As2 crystals, higher irradiation doses are less effective. Our results suggest that moderate irradiation with heavy ions is an effective way to homogeneously enhance the current-currying capabilities of pnictide superconductors.

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  • Received 19 January 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.094509

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. Prozorov*, M. A. Tanatar, B. Roy, N. Ni, S. L. Bud’ko, and P. C. Canfield

  • Ames Laboratory and Department of Physics & Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA

J. Hua, U. Welp, and W. K. Kwok

  • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA

  • *Corresponding author; prozorov@ameslab.gov

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Vol. 81, Iss. 9 — 1 March 2010

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