Uranium Doping and Thermal Neutron Irradiation Flux Pinning Effects in MgB2
T. Silver (1), J. Horvat (1), M. Reinhard (2), Y. Pei (3), S., Keshavarzi (1), P. Munroe (4), and S.X. Dou (1) ((1)University of Wollongong,, (2)Australian Nuclear Science, Technology Organisation, (3) Tienjun, University, (4)University of New South Wales)
TL;DR
This study investigates the effects of uranium doping and thermal neutron irradiation on flux pinning in MgB2 superconductors, finding no observable fission tracks or performance improvements unlike in cuprate superconductors.
Contribution
The paper demonstrates that the U/n method does not produce flux pinning enhancements in MgB2, contrasting with its success in cuprate superconductors.
Findings
No fission tracks observed in TEM images.
Gamma-ray spectroscopy confirmed fission occurred.
No critical current improvement detected in MgB2.
Abstract
The U/n method is a well-established means of improving flux pinning and critical current performance in cuprate superconductors. The method involves the doping of the superconductor with 235U followed by irradiation with thermal neutrons to promote fission. The resultant columnar damage tracks produced by the energetic fission products pin flux vortices and improve critical current performance in magnetic fields. No such improvement could be observed when the U/n method was applied to MgB2 superconductor. No fission tracks could be observed in TEM, even for samples that were irradiated at the highest fluence. Gamma-ray spectroscopy indicated that fission had occurred in the expected way.
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