Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Epitaxial Ba2YCu3O7-δ (BYCO) films grown by the ex situ BaF2 process are comparable to single crystals both in crystalline integrity (RBS/ion channeling χmin < 3%) and the value and temperature dependence of the critical current (Jc) in an applied magnetic field in the BYCO (001) direction of Ha = 0.9T. With the appropriate dose of either 2 MeV H+ or 135Xe+, we are able to enhance Jc by a factor of 2 in H = 0.9T with little effect on Tc. The ability to change Jc by such a large factor in these films is a prerequisite for isolation and study of the induced defects and study their properties.