Superconductivity for other forces

[ilikescience94]

Main Question or Discussion Point

Hi, not sure if this is the right forum but I was wondering if superconductivity could theoretically be accomplished somehow with the weak and strong forces and gravity just as it could be accomplished in the electromagnetic field. Would superconductivity of the strong force be the same as cold fusion or something? Would superconductivity of the weak force disintegrate atoms? Would superconductivity of the gravitational force allow for constant zero gravity, or are there limitations to this because of the bending of space? Since superconductivity is categorized by the meisner effect, would something similar happen to a gravitational superconducter, but the matter the be expelled from space itself and enter its own universe, perhaps some black hole phenomena would happen? Interested to know what you guys think of this.

 

[Simon Bridge]

Um... no.

You are presumably talking about something analagous to the phenomenon of superconductivity with respect to different forces, so the actual answer would depend a lot on what you think the word means. i.e. what would you consider "conductivity" for an EM force ... and then what would you consider to be analogous to that for something like gravity?

 

[kloptok]

It is believed that for very high densities and low temperatures, quark matter is in a type of superconducting phase. Look up "color superconductivity" or "color-flavor locking".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_superconductivity

I don't know the details so I can't tell you how similar it actually is to normal superconductivity.

Try googling "electroweak superconductivity" and you will find some results.

 

[Demystifier]

In a sense, our universe is already in a superconducting state with respect to the weak force, because the spontaneous symmetry breaking via Higgs mechanism (for which the Nobel prize is awarded a few days ago) makes the W and Z bosons massive. See
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=4306375&postcount=12

 

[Simon Bridge]

... oh yeah: I was using a 4-force model.
But notice how each of the above rely on some interpretation of what "superconducting" means in each context?

 

[Chronos]

In the electroweak realm, you get dynamical electroweak superconductivity - http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0304036. From the strong force, you theoretically have color superconductivity - http://arxiv.org/abs/nucl-th/0410091. Gravity, of course, is the red headed step child. It is hypothesized such a state could produce anti gravity, but, is still considered highly speculative. I'm still unconvinced gravity is a 'force' in the same sense as the other fundamental forces.