Suprajohtavan

Suprajohtavan is the genitive singular form of the Finnish word suprajohtava, which translates to "superconducting" in English. In physics and materials science, superconductivity is a phenomenon where certain materials exhibit zero electrical resistance and expel magnetic fields when cooled below a characteristic critical temperature. This state allows for the unimpeded flow of electric current.

The concept of superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes. Since then, research has focused on identifying and developing materials that can achieve superconductivity at higher temperatures, making the phenomenon more practical for various applications. These applications include powerful electromagnets used in MRI machines and particle accelerators, as well as potential uses in energy transmission and high-speed transportation like maglev trains.

The study of suprajohtavan materials, or superconducting materials, involves understanding the quantum mechanical principles behind this state. The Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory, developed in 1957, provides a microscopic explanation for superconductivity in conventional materials, describing how electrons form pairs that can move through the material's lattice without resistance. Research continues into high-temperature superconductors and novel superconducting phenomena.