superconducts

Superconductors are materials that exhibit superconductivity, a state characterized by zero electrical resistance and the expulsion of magnetic fields, known as the Meissner effect. This phenomenon occurs when a material is cooled below a critical temperature. Above this temperature, the material behaves like a normal conductor or insulator. The critical temperature varies significantly between different superconducting materials.

The discovery of superconductivity was made by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911 while studying the properties of solid mercury at very low temperatures. Initially, superconductivity was observed only in certain metallic elements and alloys at extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero. However, the discovery of high-temperature superconductors in the late 1980s, which operate at significantly higher, albeit still very cold, temperatures, opened up new possibilities for applications.

The absence of electrical resistance means that current can flow indefinitely in a superconductor without energy loss. This property, combined with their ability to expel magnetic fields, makes superconductors highly valuable for various technological applications. These include powerful electromagnets used in MRI machines and particle accelerators, magnetic levitation for high-speed trains, and highly sensitive magnetic field detectors. Research continues to explore new superconducting materials and to find ways to achieve superconductivity at room temperature, which would revolutionize many areas of technology.