Effect of compressive deformation on the martensitic transformation temperature in superconducting Nb3Sn
摘要
Superconducting Nb3Sn, which is designed for high-field magnet fabrication, offers considerable potential for applications that range from the international thermonuclear experimental reactor to demonstration power plants (DEMO). Strain effects in Nb3Sn superconductors are a critical issue for their engineering application in superconducting magnets, and the origin of anomalous low-temperature resistivity changes in strained Nb3Sn remains debated. By analyzing the phonon and electronic properties of uniaxially strained Nb3Sn during phase transitions, we develop a semianalytical trans-scale electromechanical model to characterize its low-temperature resistivity. The strain dependence of martensitic transformation temperature (Ms) is quantitatively derived from characteristic variations in normal-state resistivity under coupled thermomechanical loading. Our computation and analysis reveal the effect of compression deformation on the tetragonal-to-cubic phase transition of superconducting Nb3Sn. Below the Ms, the variation in resistivity with temperature is predominantly governed by strain-induced changes in electronic density of states (DOS). Near the Ms point, temperature-dependent resistivity arises from the competitive interplay between strain-dependent electronic and phonon DOS variations and is accompanied with elevating Ms with increasing applied strain. Our study deepens the understanding of strain effects in superconducting Nb3Sn, providing critical insights for establishing the relationship between phase structure and strain-affected resistivity and advancing material applications in future DEMO magnets.