Superconductivity is characterized as a material with zero electrical resistance at low temperatures.

Discovery of superconductivity

Superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes. He observed the sudden disappearance of electrical resistance when he cooled mercury to 4.2K, a discovery that attracted widespread attention in the scientific community.

Zero-resistance properties and energy conservation

The most remarkable feature of superconductors is that they have zero resistance below a critical temperature. When current passes through a superconductor, the electrons do not encounter any obstruction and the resistance is close to zero, so the current can flow unimpeded. This property is due to the fact that the pairing of electrons in a superconductor and the canceling interaction of Coulomb repulsive forces allow the electrons to flow in a vacuum state, which allows for complete conservation of energy.

Superconducting critical temperature and material type

Superconducting critical temperature is the temperature at which the phenomenon of superconductivity occurs, and it varies from material to material. The first superconductors discovered were low-temperature superconductors, such as lead and aluminum, whose critical temperatures were usually below a few kelvins. As science progressed, high-temperature superconductors were also discovered, and their critical temperatures can be as high as liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K) or more. These high-temperature superconductors are mainly composite materials, such as copper oxides and iron-based superconductors.

Toward zero resistance applications

Superconductivity technology has a wide range of applications in many fields. One of the most prominent applications is superconducting electromagnets, which are used in the manufacture of strong magnetic field devices, such as MRI scanners and nuclear magnetic **** vibrometers. In addition, superconducting materials can be used in high-speed maglev trains, energy transmission and storage systems, particle gas pedals and other fields.

Limitations and Challenges of Superconductivity

Despite the many advantages and application prospects of superconducting materials, their practical applications still face some limitations and challenges. First, most superconducting materials require low-temperature environments to exhibit superconducting properties, which increases the complexity and cost of equipment. Second, the preparation of high-temperature superconductors is relatively difficult and requires high purity and crystallization quality of the materials. In addition, superconductors are easily damaged under strong magnetic fields, requiring further research and solutions for certain application scenarios.