The effects of neutron irradiation damage on the superconducting properties of Nb3Sn

✍ Scribed by R. Bett

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 484 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-2275(74)90074-5

✦ Synopsis

Specimens of Nb3Sn have been irradiated by fast neutrons at 70°C to doses in the range 3 x 1021 neutrons m -2 to 9 x 1023 neutrons m -2. Their critical temperatures were depressed linearly with dose, to less than 4.2 K after about 3 x 1023 neutrons m "2. The critical temperature recovered to their initial values in anneals of 2 hours at 900°C, and in 64 hours at 750°C.

The critical current can be enhanced by low neutron doses, particularly at high fields, but is always depressed by higher doses

The observations are shown to be consistent with a qualitative model, and in the light of this the likely consequences of irradiation at operating temperature are considered.

The effects of neutron irradiation damage on the superconducting properties of Nb3Sn R. Bett