Superconductors - Wonder Materials without Resistivity
Electrical devices like laptops become warm as they are running. But you did not buy them to heat your lap! The heating occurs due to electrical resistivity and, in fact, this energy is lost and wasted--not very sustainable or economic. A certain kind of materials, however, called superconductors, do not have an electrical resistance and are thus maximally power-efficient. Sounds too good to be true? Well, there is a problem. They only operate at extremely low temperatures: the best ones we found around -150 degrees Celsius, which is not too useful either. Nonetheless, physicists study the marvelous properties of superconductors resulting from the electrons inside them performing a curious dance, and already use them to create gigantic magnetic fields that could levitate a train. Furthermore, the hunt is on to find superconductors that work at room temperature. This talk will highlight the history, physics, and applications of these wonderful materials.
