Atomic disorder and the transition temperature of cuprate superconductors

Particle-induced shifts in the transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ of cuprate superconductors are much larger than expected for the number of defects expected to be produced, and suggest that oxygen displacements in ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ planes are about an order of magnitude more effective in reducing ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ than oxygen displacements in the intercalating layers.