Högtemperatursuperledarna

Högtemperatursuperledarna, often abbreviated as HTS, represent a class of superconducting materials that exhibit superconductivity at temperatures significantly higher than conventional superconductors. Conventional superconductors typically require cooling to extremely low temperatures, often near absolute zero (0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius), using costly liquid helium. HTS materials, in contrast, can superconduct at temperatures that are still very cold but can be achieved with less expensive and more readily available coolants like liquid nitrogen (77 Kelvin or -196.15 degrees Celsius).

The discovery of HTS materials in the mid-1980s, particularly the cuprates, was a major breakthrough in condensed matter physics. These materials, often complex ceramic oxides, opened up new possibilities for applications that were previously impractical due to the extreme cooling requirements of conventional superconductors. While "high temperature" in the context of HTS is still well below room temperature, the ability to operate with liquid nitrogen instead of liquid helium has dramatically reduced the cost and complexity associated with their use.

Despite the significant progress, the fundamental mechanisms behind high-temperature superconductivity remain an active area of research and debate. Unlike the well-understood BCS theory that explains conventional superconductivity, the pairing mechanism in HTS materials is not fully elucidated. Ongoing research aims to understand these mechanisms better, which could lead to the development of even higher-temperature superconductors, potentially even approaching room-temperature superconductivity. Applications of HTS materials are found in areas such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), high-field magnets for particle accelerators and fusion reactors, fault current limiters, and superconducting magnetic energy storage.