HTS wire irradiation test with 8 GeV protons

The radiation level at High Energy Particle Accelerators (HEPA) can be high enough to damage electronic devices. Any active component near the accelerator must be radiation resistant. Since High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) have great potential to be used in HEPAs (e.g., in superconducting magnets, current leads, RF cavities), it is important to understand the radiation hardness of these materials. A radiation test of HTS wire (BSCCO-2223) was performed at Fermilab. The HTS sample was irradiated with 8 GeV protons and the critical current, I/sub c/, was measured during the irradiation. The total radiation dose was 10.8/spl plusmn/1.0 Mrad. No change in I/sub c/ was observed.