A new form of superconductivity discovered: what it means at the household level

Researchers from Emory University and Stanford University have discovered a new form of superconductivity. The material, called an oscillating superconductor, allows electrons to move through it with minimal energy loss. Moreover, this phenomenon works at room temperature.

The Emory News website reported that LK-99 has aroused the interest of scientists around the world for its fantastic capabilities and minimal temperature requirements. At the same time, many sources have been critical of the material's remarkable properties.

Be that as it may, if scientists confirm the reality of superconductivity, we will witness a powerful technological revolution.

What is oscillating superconductivity?

Oscillating superconductivity operates at room temperature, with electrons moving through it forming Cooper pairs, which avoids the loss of a significant amount of energy.

By the way, South Korean researchers were the first to report LK-99, which inspired other scientists to study this phenomenon.

According to the Emory News Center, Luiz Santos and his team discovered the superconductor by accident when they were studying Van Hove singularities.

These structures allow several electronic states to converge in energy and create singularities. As a result, the researchers found that they could promote "the right kind of physics to create oscillating superconductivity."

"As theoretical physicists, we want to be able to predict and categorize behavior to understand how nature works," Santos says, "Then we can start asking questions that have technological implications.

How did the world go about discovering superconductivity?

The publication explained the history of this discovery. In 1911, Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes showed that mercury loses its electrical resistance when cooled to 4 kelvin or negative 371 degrees Fahrenheit.

In 1957, scientists discovered that materials at ultra-low temperatures could conduct electricity without losing energy.

At normal temperatures, the electrons in them can move freely, but as they move, they lose energy. At low temperatures, however, electrons change into a new state of matter. "They form pairs that are bound together in a collective state that behaves as a whole," Santos explained, "which allows them to conduct current in a different mode.

What is the potential of a superconductor?

Our everyday devices rely on the use of conductors. Most of them have resistance, so such devices are minimally energy efficient. Moreover, they require cooling systems, such as fans, to prevent overheating. This applies to the same laptops that are known to not function without cooling.

At the same time, if superconductors become a reality, fans will probably not be needed for consumer electronics, and devices can be safely pushed beyond their performance limits.

We may also be able to create more compact versions of devices that already use superconductors, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. A superconductor operating at room temperature will allow us to create smaller and more efficient versions for hospitals.

In addition, Emory News cited the example of magnetic levitation trains, which require superconductivity to move. Their platforms and rails use opposing magnetic fields to move forward.

If such a train is built using the LK-99 superconductor, it will be faster, more reliable, and able to operate in any climate.