Neutron Diffraction Observations on the Superconducting State

Neutron diffraction patterns for vanadium, lead, and niobium have been obtained above and below their superconducting transition temperatures. No diffraction effects either of coherent or incoherent nature were found to result from the development of superconductivity. Accurate intensity measurements of the nuclear scattering reflections indicate little or no change in the Debye characteristic temperature of the lattice upon passage through the superconducting transition.