The effect of low-temperature neutron irradiation on the critical current of some superconducting materials

The critical current densities of pure V and Nb single crystals, single core Nb-50 wt% Ti coated with Cu and Nb3Sn were measured after fast neutron irradiation at about 5 K and during subsequent annealings. The peak effect was observed in V and Nb single cyrstals immediately after irradiation. In V, the peak effect disappeared after subsequent annealing above 200 K (in the so-called stage III recovery where vacancies are considered to anneal out in V). In contrast, in Nb the peak effect did not disappear even after annealing at 300 K (above the stage III recovery of Nb). Furthermore, in V the peak effect showed a remarkable recovery at 120 K where about 50% of the resistivity increase recovered. The elementary force of the fluxoid-defect interaction was estimated in V single crystals. (Auth.)