What is Superconductivity?

What is Superconductivity?

Superconductivity Definition

Superconductivity is defined as the property of certain materials to have zero electrical resistance at very low temperatures.

Critical Temperature

The critical temperature is the specific temperature below which a material becomes superconducting.

Properties of Superconductors

• Zero electric resistance (infinite conductivity)

• Meissner Effect: Expulsion of magnetic field

• Critical Temperature/transition temperature

• Critical Magnetic field

• Persistent currents

• Josephson Currents

• Critical current

Meissner Effect

Superconductors exhibit the Meissner effect, where they expel magnetic fields when cooled below their critical temperature.

Critical Current and Magnetic Field

Superconductivity is lost if the current through the material exceeds the critical current or if an external magnetic field exceeds the critical magnetic field.

Applications of Superconductivity

Superconductivity is used in medical imaging, quantum computing, maglev trains, and particle accelerators.