INVESTIGATION OF SUPERCONDUCTING CRYSTALS BY NEUTRON-SCATTERING AND NUCLEAR MICROANALYSIS

A combination of nuclear microanalysis (ion x-ray spectral analysis, R utherford backscattering, and nuclear reactions) with low-angle neutro n diffraction in the bulk of a Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramic rod, recrystallized b y zone refining, was used to determine the elemental and phase composi tion of the initial ceramic, the crystal, and the transition sections. The degree of: local homogeneity of the medium was also determined at scales of similar to 10(1)-10(2) nm. (C) 1998 American Institute of P hysics. [S1063-7850(98)02602-0].