Exceptionally High Hc } Values in Alloyed Bulk Samples of Nb }Sn

Nb{}_{\text{3}}Sn is the original high-field superconductor but understanding its optimization in wire forms, which are always inhomogeneous, is compromised by a lack of basic understanding of its true property variations when it is alloyed with H c {}_{\text{2}} enhancing additions (e.g., Hf, Ta, Ti, Zr). Since improving the high-field performance of Nb{}_{\text{3}}Sn is important for many future applications in high energy physics, fusion, and medicine, we are studyingbulk binary and alloyed samples fabricated by ball milling itsconstituent powders and reacting them in a Hot Isostatic Press at pressures up to 2000 bar and temperatures up to 1800 °C. Remarkably, we found that these bulk samples, reacted to produce the A15 phase at temperatures between 1200 and 1800 °C, show minority traces of H c {}_{\text{2}} (0 K), evaluated with a 99% criterion, that reach almost 40 T, more than 27% higher than the best value previously reported for Nb{}_{\text{3}}Sn. These results are both scientifically interesting but potentially of great practical importance if they can be exploited for improving the high-field properties of Nb{}_{\text{3}}Sn wires. One caution is that these samples do not have added Cu as wires do and that the high H c {}_{{2}} reactions were all done at well above 1000 °C.