Flux Dynamics in High-Temperature Superconductors With Microscale Irradiation-Modified Regions

In this paper, we investigate the electrodynamical properties of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-chi strip-shaped films, which were locally modified by confined heavy-ion irradiation. The irradiations were made by means of 4.2 GeV gold ions. Quantitative magneto-optical imaging as well as in-field transport characterizations show how the irradiated regions locally react to an external electromagnetic perturbation, thus allowing its localization and measurement. Aiming at future applications, the main issues about the detector sensitivity, such as the role of interfaces between irradiated and pristine regions, are addressed.