Effect of controlled disorder on thermal conductivity of Bi2212

In-plane thermal conductivity of optimally-doped B12212 single crystals were studied before and after irradiation by high-energy electrons . Introduction of point defects by this procedure decreases the quasi-particle mean-free-path and weakens the superconductivity due to pair-breaking effects. We report on thermal conductivity data on a wide temperature range (100 mK to 100 K) performed in parallel with resistivity and thermpower at higher temperatures. The introduction of disorder leads to a decrease in thermal conductivity in the whole explored range but leaves the zero-temperature linear term, associated with nodal quasiparticles, virtually unchanged.