Superconductors and moving/accelerating charges

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the behavior of electrons within superconductors, specifically addressing the movement and acceleration of charge carriers, which are Cooper pairs. The Meissner effect is highlighted as a phenomenon where superconductors repel magnetic fields, indicating that charges are already in motion. It is established that applying force to accelerate charges in a superconductor can disrupt the superconducting state, and classical descriptions of charge behavior are inadequate due to the quantum mechanical nature of Cooper pairs.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of superconductivity and the Meissner effect
  • Familiarity with quantum mechanics, particularly regarding Cooper pairs
  • Knowledge of charge carrier dynamics in superconductors
  • Basic principles of electromagnetism and photon emission
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the quantum mechanics of Cooper pairs in superconductors
  • Explore the implications of the Meissner effect on superconducting materials
  • Study the effects of external forces on superconducting states
  • Investigate literature on photon emission from accelerating charges in quantum systems
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, materials scientists, and electrical engineers interested in superconductivity, quantum mechanics, and the behavior of charge carriers in advanced materials.

sol47739
Messages
38
Reaction score
3
TL;DR
I have some questions about the charges within the superconductor and how they is set in motion and whether or not the charges within a superconductor can accelerate, and if not why not? Because I suppose that would mean applied force and destruction of the superconducting state. But if yes why? And does that acceleration emit photons? I assume no because the superconductor is a condensate(collective ground state, and the ground state can't emit photons).
How do one get the electrons to move inside a superconductor? Since I have understood superconductors repel magnetic fields due to the Meissner effect, or is that when the charges already are moving within the superconductor? If so how did we get them o move from the beginning?

Can you make charges accelerate within a superconductor? If yes how? Or will the applied force to make the charges accelerate destroy the superconducting state of the system? And if they can accelerate will they then emit photons, as normal accelerating charges?

If you know some good literature for these topics, please attach it, I would appreciate it!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Classical "charges" is the wrong way to thinking about it, The charge carriers are Cooper pairs, which are fundamentally non-classical objects. Discussing classical trajectories will hinder rather than help understanding.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Classical "charges" is the wrong way to thinking about it, The charge carriers are Cooper pairs, which are fundamentally non-classical objects. Discussing classical trajectories will hinder rather than help understanding.
Thanks for clarifying! From a perspective of Cooper pairs how would you answer my questions?
 
The same way - they don't have classical trajectories either. (And you can't easily say "that electron over there makes a Cooper pair with this electron right here". QM isn't like that)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
6K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
11K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K