The performance of high-temperature superconductors in space radiation environments

Space applications of high-temperature superconductors hold great promise for increasing the performance of a variety of platforms and components. One major concern for the operation of superconductors in space is their response to the specific radiation environments. These environments can be low-Earth orbits, deep space, or even radiation from on-board reactors. The influences from high-energy electrons, protons, and neutrons, as well as heavy-ion recoils, must all be considered. There exists from previous studies an extensive collection of data regarding the response of various types of superconductors to many different particles and energies. This work is a review of these data assessing changes in superconductor properties or other life-limiting factors for superconducting components in various mission profiles.