Effect of neutron irradiation on the critical current of Nb/sub 3/Sn at high magnetic fields

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7349505

Snead, Jr, C L ^[1]; Parkin, D M

---

1. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY

The changes in the critical current I/sub c/ of multifilament Nb/sub 3/Sn following several fission-reactor-neutron irradiations at approximately 60/sup 0/C have been investigated as a function of applied transverse magnetic field up to 160 kG. Increases in I/sub c/ below 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/ (E greater than 1 MeV) show a strong field dependence, relative changes being larger as the field increases. These increases are attributed to increases in H/sub c2/ brought about by irradiation-induced increases in the normal-state resistivity of the superconductor. For doses greater than 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/, sharp decreases in I/sub c/ are observed, but the behavior of I/sub c/ is qualitatively identical for all fields from 40 to 160 kG. Therefore, data obtained at the more easily attainable lower magnetic fields are directly applicable to the high-field regions in this high-fluence regime. However, for fluences below approximately 10/sup 18/ n/cm/sup 2/, magnetic-field-dependent measurements are required to determine the response of the superconductor to the neutron irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 7349505
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 29:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
CRITICAL CURRENT
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
TIN ALLOYS
FAST NEUTRONS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
SUPERCONDUCTING WIRES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
ULTRALOW TEMPERATURE
ALLOYS
BARYONS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
WIRES
360104* - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties
700209 - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Component Development & Materials Testing
656102 - Solid State Physics- Superconductivity- Acoustic
Electronic
Magnetic
Optical
& Thermal Phenomena- (-1987)