Magnetic Measurements Question Assumptions About High-Tc Superconductors
Monday, August 3, 2009 - 14:14
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Conquering one of the biggest challenges in the study of high-temperature (high-Tc) superconductors, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy`s Brookhaven National Laboratory have grown crystals of one such material that are large enough to directly measure the material`s magnetic properties. These measurements, published online on August 2 by Nature Physics, cast considerable doubt on some assumptions commonly made in trying to understand the role magnetism plays in these materials` ability to carry current with no resistance. Such materials promise more-efficient, lower-cost energy transmission if they can be made to operate under real-world conditions.