Defect production rates in normal and in superconducting states

Abstract Electronic thermal conductivity of metals is different in normal (N) and superconducting (S) states. An experiment is described in which various metals (Nb, V, Pb) are irradiated with fast neutrons or with uranium fission fragments, alternatively in (N) and in (S) state at constant temperature. The damage rate is the same in both eases, showing that electronic thermal conductivity does not influence significantly the damage rate.