Measurement of superconductor stoichiometry by prompt and delayed neutron activation

Compositional analysis provides essential information for understanding the physics of high-temperature superconductors and in developing the production processes that will be required for their industrial application. Knowledge of the stoichiometry of sample materials, especially the oxygen content, is particularly important. Although oxygen is difficult to measure by activation with reactor neutrons, it may be determined by difference if the concentrations of the other elements are known. Prompt and delayed neutron activation analysis has been applied to the measurement of the metals in YBa2Cu3O7 superconductors, starting materials, and intermediate products. These measurements show that neutron activation can deliver accurate and timely nondestructive determinations of the stoichiometry of high-temperature superconductor materials