Is it theoretically even possible to operate a superconductor at 25C?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 3K views
mad mathematician
Messages
151
Reaction score
26
TL;DR
celsius degree?
The question is in the title.
I'll just repeat it, is it theoretically even possible to have an operating superconductor at 25 celsius degrees?

What is the theoertical threshold temprature that beyond it the superconductor doesn't function as such?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The theory isn’t good enough. The best one can say is that it is not theoretically impossible.

For materials where Cooper pairs are the mechanism, the limit is 30-40K.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: pines-demon and mad mathematician
There is an additional condition : ordinary pressure. Get enough pressure and anything will collapse into a superconductor even at extremely high temperatures. Such pressures are not practical here on Earth though.
 
Last edited:
Hornbein said:
There is an additional condition : ordinary pressure. Get enough pressure and anything will collapse into a superconductor even at extremely high temperatures. Such pressures are not practical here on Earth though.
I guess that's why they are called superconductor.
At least one of the reasons.