Sintered samples were irradiated in a fission reactor. Defects in the bulk microstructure were produced during this process, mainly by the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction, while collisions of fast neutrons with the lattice atoms induced much less damage. Self-shielding effects were very important and led to a highly inhomogeneous defect distribution within the irradiated samples. The resultant disorder enhanced the normal state resistivity and the upper critical field. The irreversibility line shifted to higher fields at low temperatures, and the measured critical current densities increased following irradiation.

Neutron Irradiation of MgB2 Bulk Superconductors. M.Eisterer, M.Zehetmayer, S.Tönies, H.W.Weber, M.Kambara, N.H.Babu, D.A.Cardwell, L.R.Greenwood: Superconductor Science and Technology, 2002, 15, L9-12