Neutron irradiation of Nb$sub 3$Sn and NbTi multifilamentary composites

Conference · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · IEEE Trans. Magn., v. MAG-11, no. 2, pp. 166-169

OSTI ID:4113960

Parkin, D M; Sweedler, A R

NbTi and Nb$sub 3$Sn multifilamentary composites were irradiated with fast neutrons at 60 +- 5$sup 0$C to fluences of 1.2 x 10$sup 20$ n/cm$sup 2$ (E greater than 1 MeV). The NbTi samples show only a moderate reduction of I/sub c/ as a function of neutron fluence in an applied field of 40 kG. Reductions in I/ sub c/ were observed for fluences greater than 3 x 10$sup 17$ n/cm$sup 2$ and saturate at 18 percent for fluences greater than 3-4 x 10$sup 19$ n/cm$sup 2$. The Nb$sub 3$Sn composites showed large neutron radiation-induced changes in T/ sub c/, I/sub c/, and H/sub c2/. Reductions in T/sub c/ were observed for fluences greater than 7 x 10$sup 17$ n/cm$sup 2$. No measurable changes in I/sub c/(40 kG) were observed below 10$sup 18$ n/cm$sup 2$. Between 2 and 3 x 10$sup 18$ n/cm$sup 2$, however, there is an apparent threshold where a very rapid reduction in I/sub c/(40 kG) is initiated. At the threshold the decrease in T/ sub c/ is 13 percent. Between the threshold and 1.1 x 10$sup 19$ n/cm$sup 2$, I/ sub c/(40 kG) was reduced to 4 percent of the unirradiated value. These changes in superconducting properties in NbTi and Nb$sub 3$Sn are analyzed in terms of the radiation-induced defects. The impact of the response to irradiation of both materials on their applications in fusion reactor magnets is discussed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY
• NSA Number: NSA-33-017856
• OSTI ID: 4113960
• Conference Information: Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Magn., v. MAG-11, no. 2, pp. 166-169
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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