Is a Room Temperature Superconductor Achievable?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ronaldoshaky
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the possibility of achieving a superconductor with a critical temperature above room temperature. Participants explore theoretical mechanisms, potential applications, and the challenges associated with material properties and usability.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants believe that it is possible to find a room temperature superconductor, suggesting unconventional mechanisms may be involved.
  • One participant references a specific approach, "Exciton-polariton mediated superconductivity," as a potential pathway to achieving this goal.
  • There is a discussion about the Meissner effect and its implications for applications of room temperature superconductors, with some expressing optimism about achieving this within the century.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the practical challenges of using high-temperature superconductors, particularly those that are ceramic, which complicate their industrial application.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that it might be more feasible to discover superconducting materials that function effectively at room temperature despite having a lower critical temperature, depending on their robustness against external perturbations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the feasibility of achieving room temperature superconductors, with some optimistic about the potential and others highlighting significant challenges. No consensus is reached on the best approach or the likelihood of success.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of the mechanisms involved and the material properties required for practical applications, indicating that many assumptions and conditions remain unresolved.

ronaldoshaky
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Do you think its possible...

to find a superconductor that will have a critical temperature above room temperature?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Yes, I think it will be possible. I suppose it will be a rather unconventional mechanism, but it should be possible. Whether it is also useful for applications is, however, a completely different subject.

See for example "Exciton-polariton mediated superconductivity" by Laussy et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., 104, 106402 (2010)) for a rather exotic approach.
The paper can also be found on Arxiv:
http://arxiv.org/abs/0907.2374"
 
Last edited by a moderator:


The Meissner effect will allow superconductors, if possible in room temperatures, to have many sorts of applications. It should be very well possible within this century to be able to have room temperature superconductor and using the Meissner effect for all sorts of applications. That is if a superconductor at room temp is even possible, but it should be. We may find out within the next few decades more about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meissner_effect
 


Fuzzystuff said:
The Meissner effect will allow superconductors, if possible in room temperatures, to have many sorts of applications. It should be very well possible within this century to be able to have room temperature superconductor and using the Meissner effect for all sorts of applications.

Well, sure, the Meissner effect has lots of application, but what really delays applications of semiconductors is the fact that almost all of the high-Tc superconductors are ceramic. It is a nightmare to bring them into a certain shape and work with them as a material for broad industrial usage. An easy-to-handle superconductor would be a major advance. Unless one such material is found, superconductors will be limited to rather specialized applications, but will not find usage as a commonly used material for applications.
 


ronaldoshaky said:
to find a superconductor that will have a critical temperature above room temperature?

Perhaps, but it might be easier to find some special superconducting material that has a critical temperature below room temperature and still works at room temperature...let's say because it's super robust against external perturbations. Ultimately it will depend on the mechanism and the substance. I think eventually we'll find the right combination.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad What happens to the temperature of a superconductor?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Alternative materials in high temperature superconductors
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
High School Why is my small Bi-2223 superconductor not levitating or locking above magnets?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad Is it theoretically even possible to operate a superconductor at 25C?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Superconductors and moving/accelerating charges
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Can Superconductors Reach Relativistic Speeds and Emit Synchrotron Photons?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad What is the Role of Superconductors in Lossless Wiring and Power Transmission?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Graduate Room temperature superconductor paper published
  • · Replies 54 ·
2
Replies
54
Views
6K
Graduate Superconductors and best conductors
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Superconductor science fair project?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K