Effects of neutron irradiation on superconducting critical temperatures of in situ processed MgB2 superconductors

Effects of neutron irradiation on the superconducting properties of the undoped $MgB_2$ and the carbon(C)-doped $MgB_2$ bulk superconductors, prepared by an in situ reaction process using Mg and B powder, were investigated. The prepared $MgB_2$ samples were neutron-irradiated at the neutron fluence of $10^{16}-10^{18}n/cm^2$ in a Hanaro nuclear reactor of KAERI involving both fast and thermal neutron. The magnetic moment-temperature (M-T) and magnetization-magnetic field (M-H) curves before/after irradiation were obtained using magnetic property measurement system (MPMS). The superconducting critical temperature ($T_c$) and transition width were estimated from the M-T curves and critical current density ($J_c$) was estimated from the M-H curves using a Bean's critical model. The $T_cs$ of the undoped $MgB_2$ and C-doped $MgB_2$ before irradiation were 36.9-37.0 K and 36.6-36.8 K, respectively. The $T_cs$ decreased to 33.2 K and 31.6 K, respectively after irradiation at neutron fluence of $7.16{\times}10^{17}n/cm^2$, and decreased to 22.6 K and 24.0 K, respectively, at $3.13{\times}10^{18}n/cm^2$. The $J_c$ cross-over was observed at the high magnetic field of 5.2 T for the undoped $MgB_2$ irradiated at $7.16{\times}10^{17}n/cm^2$. The $T_c$ and $J_c$ variation after the neutron irradiation at various neutron fluences were explained in terms of the defect formation in the superconducting matrix by neutron irradiation.