Superconductivity research

Paul.Lee.1971

Hi all,
I posted this on sci.physics, but I didn't get a reply. Basically, how
is it determined, before a chemical compound is manufactured, whether
a material will be superconductive? Is it trial and error?

TIA

Paul
--
http://www.paullee.com

Uncle Al

"Paul.Lee.1971" wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> I posted this on sci.physics, but I didn't get a reply. Basically, how
> is it determined, before a chemical compound is manufactured, whether
> a material will be superconductive? Is it trial and error?

Electron count and structure criteria for good low temp BCS supercons
are well known. Empirical parameters for high temp ceramic supercons
are also known. *No* supercon can be predicted - it is strictly trial
and error without exception once you are in the sweet spot...

...or not. Magnesium boride, the highest Tc BCS supercon by almost 10
degrees (an impossibly high temp by strong theory), was discovered by
an undergrad doing scut work. All the high-powered brain work
thereafter could not understand it better or improve upon it. Perhaps
they should get that undergrad back doing busywork. Discovery does
not have a PERT chart.

--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/lajos.htm#a2