Generation and annealing of splayed columnar defects in (Bi, Pb)2 Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox silver-sheathed tapes after 600 MeV proton irradiation

Splayed columnar defects are efficient pinning centers for magnetic vortices in High-T-c Superconductors. Irradiation with 600 MeV protons as primary projectiles generates heavy fission fragments via a pBi nuclear reaction. These secondary projectiles create randomly oriented columnar defects with important effects on the magnetic and transport critical current densities of (Bi, Pb)(2)Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox Ag-sheathed tapes.