MgB2 Brittle? Superconductor q's & Experiments

In summary, MgB2 is a brittle material that cannot be drawn into a wire, but it can still be made into wires using a fine powder compacted inside a thin tube. Liquid nitrogen, which has a boiling point of 77K and freezing point of 63K, is commonly used for experiments with high-temperature superconductors. However, for materials with a Tc below 77K, such as MgB2 with a Tc of 38K, liquid helium is used instead. The temperature range used for superconductor experiments and applications depends on the desired properties and sensitivity needed.
  • #1
sniffer
112
0
1. is MgB2 brittle? can we draw it like wire and wind it up make a coil/electromagnet with it?

2. liquid nitrogen boils at 77K and freezes at 63K. most superconductor experiments use liquid nitrogen, so does it mean most applications use this temperature range (eg. for squid)? what about those people using liquid nitrogen for mgb2 experiment? use liquid helium?

thanks.
 
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  • #2
This is Zz's area, but so far the questions look pretty straightforward.

1. Yes, I believe MgB2 is fairly brittle. It can not be drawn (forged) into a wire. However, this does not prevent the making of MgB2 wires - the trick is to use a fine powder of MgB2 which is compacted inside a thin tube.

2. Since many of the Cuprate based (eg : YBCO, BSCCO, etc.) HTSCs have Tc above 77K, they are used/studied under liq. nitrogen. MgB2 has its higher Tc at about 45K, and IS hence cooled by liq. Helium, as you guessed.
 
  • #3
sniffer said:
2. liquid nitrogen boils at 77K and freezes at 63K. most superconductor experiments use liquid nitrogen, so does it mean most applications use this temperature range (eg. for squid)? what about those people using liquid nitrogen for mgb2 experiment? use liquid helium?

thanks.

Er... MgB2 has a Tc of 38K. Why would anyone use LN2 for this?

Even for high Tc cuprates, which would have Tc above LN2 temperature, it depends on what you want to use it for. The higher the temperature, the larger the "thermal noise". So for squid application especially, where you may have to detect up to 1 unit flux, you do this at as low of a temperature as you can. But if all one wants is any kind of superconductivity, then using LN2 would be sufficient.

Zz.
 

1. What is MgB2 brittle superconductor?

MgB2, or magnesium diboride, is a type of superconductor that exhibits superconductivity at relatively high temperatures. It is called brittle because it is a ceramic material and can break easily under stress.

2. How is MgB2 brittle superconductor used in experiments?

MgB2 brittle superconductor is often used in experiments to study various properties of superconductors, such as critical temperature, critical current density, and magnetic field response. It is also used in the development of new technologies, such as high-speed trains and MRI machines.

3. What makes MgB2 brittle superconductor a promising material?

MgB2 brittle superconductor has a relatively high transition temperature (Tc) of around 39K, which is close to the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, making it easier and cheaper to cool compared to other superconductors. It also has a high critical current density and can carry high current densities at high magnetic fields.

4. How is MgB2 brittle superconductor different from other superconductors?

MgB2 brittle superconductor is different from other superconductors in terms of its crystal structure and the bonding between its atoms. It has a layered structure, with boron atoms forming hexagonal sheets between layers of magnesium atoms. This unique structure allows for high critical current densities and makes it relatively easy to produce in large quantities.

5. What are the challenges in working with MgB2 brittle superconductor?

One of the challenges in working with MgB2 brittle superconductor is its brittleness, which can make it difficult to handle and fabricate into desired shapes. Another challenge is maintaining its superconducting properties at high temperatures and in the presence of high magnetic fields. Researchers are also still working on understanding the mechanisms behind its superconductivity to improve its performance even further.

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