Influence of gamma irradiation on conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7

We report a study on influence of gamma irradiation on conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7. We have measured the mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number, electron density and electrical conductivity for various gamma sources of energy ranging from 0.084 MeV to 1.330 MeV (Tm-170, Co-57, Ce-141, Hg-203, Cr-51, Sn-113, Na-22, Cs-137, Co-60, Na-22 and Co-60). The measured values agree with the theoretical values. The values of these parameters have been found to change with energy and interaction of gamma. We find evidence for a variation of the electrical conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7 with the irradiated photon energy and this variation is shown in figures up to 10(5) MeV. The variations of effective atomic number and electron density with energy are shown graphically for all photon interactions. Conductivity found to vary with the energy of the irradiated gamma radiation and interaction process of gamma. This kind of studies is important in the field of superconductivity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.