Room-Temp #Superconductors Aim of #Brookhaven Probe

Superconductivity--electricity flow without resistance--could revolutionize electronics, if only someone could figure out how to do it at room temperature, but wait: Brookhaven National Lab believes it may have found the key to superconductivity without the need to cool devices to cryogenic temperatures. Look for renewed attempts to conquer superconductivity using Brookhaven's new insight over the next few years. R.C.J.


Phase pattern of oxygen atoms show tunneling potential is strong (bright yellow) in north-south direction but weaker (less intense yellow) in the east-west direction, an asymmetry that may help scientists better understand high-temperature superconductors.

Here is what EETimes says about Brookhaven National Labs superconductivity breakthrough: The discovery of asymmetries in the formation of liquid crystals eventually led to their control. The result was the liquid-crystal display. Now, researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory believe they have found similar asymmetries in the formation of superconductors, potentially leading to their control and subsequent room-temperature operation. At super low temperatures, many materials behave as superconductors, conducting electricity without resistance. As their temperature rises the unrestricted flow of electricity fades. Researchers at Brookhaven Labs (Upton, N.Y.) have cataloged asymmetries that simultaneously arise when superconductivity fades, potentially explaining the behavior in a way that engineers could harness to raise their temperature while maintaining superconducting property...
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