Superconnductivity

Topic: High Temperatures and Superconductors [EC01]

A SUPER FUTURE AHEAD WITH SUPER

CONDUCTIVITY

ABSTRACT

The discovery of superconductivity brings a tremendous change in the field of
Science and Engineering from twentieth century onwards. The zero receptivity (or

infinite conductivity) of a metal is known as superconductivity and this property of
metal can be observed only at very low temperatures. Researchers are being carried

out to develop superconductors for high temperatures. If it is made possible

superconductors will bring
 New revolutions in the field of miniaturization.
 The traditional wheel will largely disappear with the introduction of magnetic
levitation trains and vehicles.
 The use of superconducting cables will almost eliminate electrical transmission

losses.
 The heat generation in microelectronic circuits will be almost eliminated and

more powerful computers will come into existence. Finally development of
superconductors may take the present world in to new dimensions.

INTRODUCTION

The discovery of superconductivity started from the findings of the Dutch
physicist Heike Kammerlingh Onnes in 1911 that the resistance of mercury has an

abrupt drop at a temperature of 4.1K and has practically a zero dc resistance value at

temperature below 4.1K.This new phenomenon of zero resistance at low temperatures
was soon found in many other metals and alloys. The temperature at which

superconductivity first occurs in a material is termed as critical or transition
temperature (Tc ).

A new era in the study of superconductivity began in 1986 with the discovery of

high critical temperature superconductors.

This discovery has opened a new subject matter called the “High temperature
superconductivity”.

Efforts are also being made to develop “Organic Superconducting materials”.

PROPERTIES OF SUPERCONDUCTORS

CRITICAL FIELD: In superconductors their normal resistance may be restored
if a...