The influence of low temperature neutron irradiation on superconducting magnet systems for fusion reactors

The components (insulation, stabilization material and the superconductor) of a superconducting coil system for a fusion reactor are exposed to fast neutrons, probably with a dose of about 10
¹⁸
n/cm
²
during the lifetime of a reactor, and with an energy spectrum comparable with the one of a fission reactor. Experimental investigations were made on the influence of low temperature neutron irradiation on the stability of a superconductor and of the superconducting properties of NbTi wires with different initial jc and pre-treatment. The influence on j
c
and T
c
of Nb
3
Sn was investigated.