New View of SuperconductivityCategory: Science & Technology
Posted: May 31, 2012 05:22PM The ultimate goal for many
materials scientists and the field of electronics is the
creation of room-temperature superconductors. These, thus far,
undiscovered material are able to carry electric currents with
no resistance and no energy loss, like their low temperature
brethren. The key to this ability is the formation of Cooper
pairs, which scientists do not fully understand at the moment.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have recently done an interesting
experiment to see how Cooper pairs form, and this research may
lead to a new understanding of the pairs. Cooper pairs are,
essentially, electrons that have overcome their usual
electromagnetic repulsion so they may travel together. In this
coupled state the electrons have less energy than they would
separately, but this energy they keep as they travel, which is
what makes a material a superconductor. To understand how the
Cooper pairs form, the researchers decided to break