We have found that explosive compression similar to that used to create A15 ${\mathrm{Nb}}_3$Si seriously degrades superconductivity in A15 ${\mathrm{V}}_3$Si which, before compression, was typical of well-ordered material. Specifically, the midpoint of the bulk superconducting transition is depressed by 1.8 K, the bulk transition width is increased by a factor of 3, and the specific heat γ is decreased by more than 20% compared to the starting material. Implications of these results for the ultimate achievable transition temperature in A15 ${\mathrm{Nb}}_3$Si are discussed.

• Received 12 November 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.31.2704