Gamma irradiation effect on a Bi1.5Pb0.5Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 superconductor

A Bi1.5Pb0.5Sr2Ca2Cu3O10-y ceramic was sequentially irradiated with 60Co γ-rays of 1.5 MR·h-1 in dose rate up to a dose of about 50 MR at ambient temperature, and the electrical resistivity was measured as a function of temperature. The critical superconducting transition temperature of 103.4 K increased to 104.1 K at 20.25 MR, and then decreased at a rate of 2.0 x 10-2 K/MR on further irradiation. Concurrently, the electrical resistivity at 300 K increased almost linearly with a rate of 0.1 μΩ·m/MR in the dose range of about 2 to 20 MR, and the resistivity was little changed by the irradiation to about 37 MR. (author)