Superconductors

08 Aug 2023 6 mins Download PDF

Superconductors

Why in the news?

The South Korean scientists have reported to have found a material called LK-99 capable of being a superconductor at room temperature and ambient pressure.

LK-99 Superconductor:

1. LK-99 is a copper-substituted apatite, capable of exhibiting superconducting property.
2. The material can exhibit superconductivity without the need to cool it to a very low temperature and application of very high pressure.
3. The South Korean scientists state that it can carry electric current with zero losses in transmission.
4. However, the claims need to be assessed by an Independent verification process carried out by qualified scientists to ascertain the validity of the claim.

About:

What is a Superconductor?

1. It is any material that achieves superconductivity, which is a state of matter that has no electrical resistance and does not allow magnetic fields to penetrate (Meissner effect).

Superconductor

2. Electric current in a superconductor can flow through indefinitely, meaning it offers zero resistance and no loss in the electric current can be witnessed.
3. Conditions for achieving Superconductivity- BCS (Bardeen, Cooper, Schriffer) theory:
   1. Materials have to cooled to very low temperature below which it exhibits the property of Superconductivity. This temperature is called as the Critical temperature.
   2. Application of very high pressure to the materials.
4. Types of superconductors:

What are its applications?

1. Medical applications like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners employs superconducting electromagnets that helps in generation of strong magnetic field with no dissipation of heat.
2. Super-fast maglev trains that use magnets to levitate the trains off the track to reduce friction. 
3. It finds application in experimental nuclear fusion reactors and high-energy particle accelerator laboratories.
4. Used for Quantum Computers.
5. Electric generators
6. Used as memory or storage elements.