Research Reveals Novel Strategy for Improving Anisotropic Critical Current Density of YBa2Cu3Oy Films

Researchers at Kyushu Sangyo University have developed a novel strategy for improving anisotropic critical current density of YBa2Cu3Oy films through ab-plane oriented columnar defects. This breakthrough research has significant implications for the field of applied physics, particularly in the development of superconducting materials. By introducing columnar defects using 200 MeV Xe ion irradiation at large angles, the researchers observed a significant enhancement in critical current density at B || ab.

Key Takeaways:

• The research introduced a novel strategy for improving anisotropic critical current density of YBa2Cu3Oy films through ab-plane oriented columnar defects.
• Critical current density Jc at B || ab was significantly enhanced when two families of inclined CDs crossed at theta(i) = +/- 85 degrees.
• The crossed CDs at theta(i) = +/- 85 degrees significantly changed the drop in the exponent n of the electric field vs the current density curve (E proportional to J(n)) into a broad peak for B || ab at lower temperatures.
• Critical scaling analyses of the transport properties indicated that the vortex glass phase formed by random pinning was dominant at B || ab, even in the presence of crossed CDs at theta(i) = +/- 85 degrees.
• The research was funded by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
• Additional authors for this research include Terukazu Nishizaki, Yasuya Iwanaga, Satoshi Semboshi, Toshinori Ozaki, Hitoshi Sakane, and Norito Ishikawa.

Statistics:

• The research utilized 200 MeV Xe ion irradiation at large angles (theta(i) = 75 degrees - 85 degrees from the c-axis).
• At B || ab, critical current density Jc was significantly enhanced when two families of inclined CDs crossed at theta(i) = +/- 85 degrees.
• The crossed CDs at theta(i) = +/- 85 degrees resulted in a broad peak for B || ab at lower temperatures, changing the drop in the exponent n of the electric field vs the current density curve.

Sources:

• NewsRx. Studies from Kyushu Sangyo University in the Area of Applied Physics Reported (Novel Strategy for Improving Anisotropic Critical Current Density of Yba2Cu3Oy Films Through ab-plane Oriented Columnar Defects.). Journal of Physics Research. October 21, 2025; p 719.
• Tetsuro Sueyoshi, et al. Novel Strategy for Improving Anisotropic Critical Current Density of Yba2Cu3Oy Films Through ab-plane Oriented Columnar Defects. Journal of Applied Physics, 2025;138(11).
• American Institute of Physics. Journal of Applied Physics. www.aip.org; Journal of Applied Physics - jap.aip.org