Effects of fast neutron irradiation at low temperature on the properties of Nb-Ti superconductor wires

Abstract

The object of this work was to estimate the effects of neutron irradiation at 77K on commercial stabilized superconductor wires. Irradiation doses of 1018to 1019fast neutrons per cm2were explored and the critical current measured in magnetic fields extending from 2 to 8 Teslas. A reduction in the critical Current density, depending on the type of the conductor was observed and for the single core wire a decrease of the take off voltage indicates a loss of stability.