Superconductivity's third side unmasked
Friday, June 17, 2011 - 12:31
in Physics & Chemistry
The debate over the mechanism that causes superconductivity in a class of materials called the pnictides has been settled by a research team from Japan and China. Superconductivity was discovered in the pnictides only recently, and they belong to the class of so-called 'high-temperature superconductors'. Despite their name, the temperature at which they function as superconductors is still well below room temperature. Realizing superconductivity at room temperature remains a key challenge in physics; it would revolutionize electronics since electrical devices could operate without losing energy.