Anomalous behavior in the atomic structure of Nb3Sn under high pressure

DOI: 10.3390/cryst11040331

Authors: Irene Schiesaro (Università Roma Tre) , Simone Anzellini (Diamond Light Source) , Rita Loria (Università Roma Tre) , Raffaella Torchio (ESRF—European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) , Tiziana Spina (Fermilab) , René Flükiger (University of Geneva) , Tetsuo Irifune (Ehime University) , Enrico Silva (Università Roma Tre) , Carlo Meneghini (Università Roma Tre)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Crystals , VOL 11

State: Published (Approved)
Published: March 2021

Abstract: In the present study, the local atomic structure of a Nb3Sn superconductor sample has been probed by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) as a function of hydrostatic pressure (from ambient up to 26 GPa) using a diamond anvil cell set-up. The analysis of the Nb-K edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data was carried out combining standard multi shell structural refinement and reverse Monte Carlo method to provide detailed in situ characterization of the pressure-induced evolution of the Nb local structure in Nb3Sn. The results highlight a complex evolution of Nb chains at the local atomic scale, with a peculiar correlated displacement of Nb–Nb and Nb–Nb–Nb configurations. Such a local effect appears related to anomalies evidenced by X-ray diffraction in other superconductors belonging to the same A15 crystallographic structure.

Journal Keywords: Nb3Sn; local atomic structure; high pressure; XAFS

Subject Areas: Materials, Physics

Facility: BM23 at ESRF

Added On: 30/03/2021 09:30

Documents:
crystals-11-00331-v2.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Materials Science Quantum Materials Superconductors

Technical Tags: