New Superconductor Theory May Revolutionize Electrical Engineering

An anonymous reader writes "High-temperature superconductors exhibit a frustratingly varied catalog of odd behavior, such as electrons that arrange themselves into stripes or refuse to arrange themselves symmetrically around atoms. Now two physicists propose that such behaviors – and superconductivity itself – can all be traced to a single starting point, and they explain why there are so many variations. Most subatomic particles have a tiny magnetic field – a property physicists call 'spin' – and electrical resistance happens when the fields of electrons carrying current interact with those of surrounding atoms. Two electrons can join like two bar magnets, the north pole of one clamping to the south pole of the other, and this 'Cooper pair' is magnetically neutral and can move without resistance. Lee and Davis propose that this 'antiferromagnetic' interaction is the universal cause not only for superconductivity but also for all the observed intertwined ordering. They show how their 'unified' theory can predict the phenomena observed in copper-based, iron-based and so-called 'heavy fermion' materials."

Good Stuff

[Mr D from 63]

I will go on the record as saying I am 100% in favor of superconductors. All you anti-supercondites can chomp it!

Re:the question is

[Anonymous Coward]

If you keep your room at 2 Kelvin, sure.

Toscanini

[Mister Liberty]

Now there was a superconductor. Odd behaviour and all.

Re:Good Stuff

[MightyYar]

Well, superconductors killed my dad, so I'm looking for an immediate ban. If you don't like that, you can just say that directly to distraught face of my poor widowed mother. Superconductors also stole all of the insurance money and repeatedly raped my sister. Well, she called it rape, but really there was no resistance.

Re:Good Stuff

[vmxeo]

Whoa there buddy. I'm not against "super"conductors. I just think we should suspend all research, development or mention of them until they've been proven completely and absolutely safe. We wouldn't want them accidentally polluting our good, clean, natural, organic conductors, now would we? Think of the children!

Re:Spin a magnetic field?

[Nicholas Rezmerski]

You can't fool me, young man-- it's fields ALL the way down!

Re: Good Stuff

[O('_')O_Bush]

I suggest we spend less time researching the "theory" of superconductivity and more time researching intelligent conductivity and the controversy of superconductivity.