“Exploring Properties of Cuprate Superconductors Through Proton Irradiation” by Joey Fogt, Trevor Harrison, Nolan Miles, and Hope Weeda, Mentor Kyuil Cho

We have studied the effects of proton irradiation on two thin-film Cuprate superconductors – YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO-1237) and Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 (TBCCO-2212). As the superconductors were irradiated, a drastic decrease in superconducting critical temperature (TC) and a corresponding increase in normal state resistivity was observed with increasing fluence. Methods for experimentation with the Hope College
Ion Beam Accelerator Laboratory will be discussed, as well as how the change in sample properties can be used to inform our understanding
of the fundamental properties of Cuprate superconductors.