The overarching objective of the Collaborative is to understand neutron-irradiation effects in REBCO tapes and develop tapes particularly customized for high-field compact fusion magnets. Our goal is to customize REBCO tapes that would lead to 3.3x increase in the threshold of neutron irradiation (1  1023 n/m2) before Ic degradation below the unirradiated level. Such an ambitious goal is best addressed through a centrally-managed, well-integrated team because of the varied expertise and resources needed from many institutions. In fact, because of the lack of such a collaborative effort, the problem of neutron irradiation damage in REBCO tapes has not been well addressed so far.

Neutron irradiation damage studies require several years because of the time required to accumulate sufficient fluence before Ic degradation. Irradiation work is best conducted under operating conditions of fusion magnet i.e. at cryogenic temperatures. It is also appropriate that the change in Ic after cryogenic irradiation is measured in situ to avoid annealing effects. While fast neutrons from fission sources can approximate radiation damage in fusion reactors, irradiation studies using 14.1 MeV neutrons from Deuterium (D) + Tritium (T) source is important to obtain a comprehensive understanding of damage that the superconductors will experience in a fusion reactor. Efficient and expedited optimization of REBCO tape composition and microstructure for superior irradiation resilience requires guidance from high-throughput modeling of radiation damage. Assessment of actual radiation damage requires atomic-scale microstructural analysis and detailed electromagnetic testing which could then be used to refine the predictive models. Optimized REBCO tapes need to be manu facturable and compatible with cabling and magnet winding techniques currently used for commercial REBCO tapes. These tapes have to be evaluated for mechanical robustness and in magnet windings and re-confirmed for neutron irradiation resilience.