Scientists have found evidence that a fairly mysterious condition that prevents materials such as supergeleiders able to function at high temperatures. This so-called pseudogap seems electrons to “steal” that are necessary for superconductivity.
The study was conducted by Stanford University and the Department of Energy in the United States. In the lab, was cuprous oxide, at relatively high temperatures capable of functioning as a superconductor, subject to a series of experiments. By looking at the position of the electrons that are necessary for superconductivity they tried to investigate if there is a phenomenon that superconductivity at high temperatures prevents.
With a technique that the name angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy bears were electrons from their position in the copper oxide is removed after which the scientists watched where they went. It is well known that superconductivity elektronenparen be formed which are more or less without resistance through the material can move, so electricity to conduct.
The scientists observed in their experiments that electrons in copper oxide at higher temperatures will be used not only for superconductivity but also be ‘swallowed up’ by a phenomenon that the pseudogap is called. In this mysterious state of the material, the electrons no longer available for superconductivity. In spite of the occurrence of the phenomenon is still not clear where the fault is.
Because the phenomenon of the pseudogap occurs mainly at relatively higher temperatures, this seems to be a limiting factor for the use of superconducting materials. Being supergeleiders be cooled far below zero degrees Celsius for efficient electricity to conduct: only then can electrons without resistance through a material move. Many scientists are doing research on superconductivity at room temperature. Two years ago, claimed German scientists had made a breakthrough with graphite, but these findings have not yet been verified.
According to the scientists from Stanford University provide the experiments leads for follow-up research. Or the findings eventually lead to the setting up of supergeleiders at room temperature, however, will still need to prove. There are other physical phenomena that is possible superconductivity at higher temperatures to prevent.