Study the effect of gamma radiation on superconducting properties of T0.5Pb0.5Ba2Ca2Cu3O9-δ compound

Two samples of the superconducting compound Tl0.5Pb0.5Ba2Ca2Cu3O9-δ were prepared by solid-state reactions. One sample was exposed to a Cesium-137 radiation source at a dose of 200 MR to study the electrical and structural properties of the superconducting transition temperature, while the other was left unexposed. The effect of gamma radiation on the electrical (transition temperature and resistivity) and structural properties was studied. The results showed that the normal-state resistivity increased with increasing gamma dose, while the transition temperature decreased with the same gamma dose. The structural properties were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the results showed no significant change in the diffraction angles or peak widths. The intensity of the XRD peaks of the sample decreased with increasing gamma dose. No significant lattice expansion occurred, although the Tl0.5Pb0.5Ba2Ca2Cu3O9-δ superconductor was strongly affected by gamma radiation, as both samples were found to have a tetragonal crystal structure.