Superconductors
Recent developments in superconductors have prov
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Recent developments in superconductors have provoked excitement among the members of the scientific community. Superconductors work on a fairly simple principle. When certain metals are cooled down to a low enough temperature, they show no resistance to the flow of electricity. Because there is no resistance, superconductors are more powerful and more efficient than normal electrical conductors. There are a number of possible applications for the use of superconductors. For example, they can be used to create power for generators, computers, satellites, medical equipment, surveillance devices, and many other things that use electrical energy (2:2). Superconductors can also be used to levitate large magnets. In this way, they can be used for the purpose of powering levitated trains. Superconductors are able to lift magnets because they create powerful magnetic fields themselves. This phenomenon is known as the Meissner Effect, named for the German physicist Walther Meissner who conducted research on superconductors in the 1930's. According to the Meissner Effect, "a permanent magnet will float, as if by magic, above a chunk of superconducting material that has been chilled to its critical temperature" (1:24). Unfortunately, all of these wonderful applications are unobtainable at this time because the technology of superconductors has not yet been perfected. Nevertheless, scientists are hopeful for the future because recent developments in the area have increased
. . .
, and thus the phonons emitted by it were also filled with positive charges. These phonons created a "sort of trough of positive charges" around the negatively-charged electrons (2:24). The positive charges were seen as having the capability of drawing the electrons along one after the other. This, in turn, enabled the negatively-charged electrons to form teams despite their normal tendency to repel one another. In the BCS Theory, these teams of electrons are known as Cooper Pairs. By being grouped together in pairs, the electrons had a higher level of energy and were thus able to overall all resistance.
According to the BCS Theory, there was a limit on the level of temperature at which superconductivity was possible. Because the linking of electrons in pairs is such an unusual phenomenon, it was assumed that such linking could only occur at extremely cold temperatures. Most scientists accepted the idea that there was an "absolute limit on critical temperature" for superconductivity which was ranked at "about 30 K, or 40 K, at the most" (5:75). However, working with such temperatures posed a number of serious problems for researchers. Obtaining extremely cold temperatures is a very difficult process, requiring speciali
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
BCS Theory, Scientific American, Meissner Effect, , Woodstock Physics, Researchers United, Heinz London, Bednorz Muller, Schrieffer According, According Kelvin, critical temperature, positive charges, scientific community, liquid helium, temperature superconductivity, superconductivity practical, magnetic fields, bednorz muller, recent developments, bcs theory, scientists accepted idea, positive charges phonons, according kelvin scale, extremely cold temperatures, filled positive charges,
Approximate Word count = 1928
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
|