Heavy-ion irradiation of UBe13 superconductors

Abstract

We irradiate the heavy fermion superconductors (U,Th)Be_13 with high-energy heavy ions. Damage from the ions affects both heat capacity and magnetization measurements, although much less dramatically than in other superconductors. From these data and from direct imaging, we conclude that the irradiation does not create the amorphous columnar defects observed in high-temperature superconductors and other materials. We also find that the damage suppresses the two superconducting transitions of U_0.97Th_0.03Be_13 by comparable amounts, unlike their response to other types of defects.