The study, titled “Oscillating Superconductivity Stimulated by Van Gove Singularities,” was published July 11 in Physical Review Letters.

The search for room-temperature superconductivity has long been viewed as one of the most challenging tasks in physics, and has intrigued scientists for decades. The dream of practical, daily application of this discovery has spurred many studies, and the latest results may finally pave the way for it to happen.

How does it work

Superconductivity is essentially the result of the movement of electrons in materials. As the temperature drops, these movements lead to interactions between the atomic nucleus and the electrons, resulting in an interesting charge change. This seemingly paradoxical interaction pulls electrons together, forming a pair called a “Cooper pair”.

Unlike single electrons, Cooper pairs behave based on quantum mechanics. By simulating particles of light, they allow an infinite number of people to occupy the same spatial point at the same time. The combination of these pairs creates a superfluid state that enables energy transfer with negligible electrical resistance.

In practice, this makes it possible to transmit energy without loss over large distances due to the heating of the conductor, which is an invariable effect under normal conditions and conductors.

Working superconductivity

The beginning of superconductivity is dated in 1911Thanks to the pioneering work of the Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (Heike Kamerlingh Onnes). But these first superconductors achieved a state of zero electrical resistance at extremely low temperatures close to absolute zero.

But the discovery of cuprate materials in 1986 changed this picture, revealing superconductivity at “high” temperatures of minus 135 degrees Celsius. This sparked hopes of creating room-temperature superconductors that would enable revolutionary energy transfer. Despite these expectations, further research revealed only fleeting glances that resulted in disappointment and controversy.

Why is everything so complicated?

The major challenge in investigating superconductors at room temperature has been to understand the theoretical conditions underlying the formation of Cooper pairs at high temperatures, even though they are still well below room temperature.

To address this problem, a recent study investigated a unique manifestation of high-temperature superconductivity associated with the arrangement of Cooper pairs, called vibrational patterns. “charge density waves”. These waves show a symbiotic relationship with superconductivity, sometimes strengthening it and sometimes weakening its effects.

Details of the study

The study revealed a critical factor in the formation of these waves: The existence of the Van Gove singularity. Usually the energy of a particle is related to its velocity. However, some material structures violate this principle, allowing electrons of different velocities to have the same energy. Such a uniform distribution of energy contributes to the strengthening of the interaction between electrons, which contributes to the formation of Cooper pairs.

Emory University physics professor Luis Santos noted the importance of these discoveries:

We discovered that structures known as Van Gove singularities can create states of modulated, oscillating superconductivity. Our work provides a new theoretical basis for understanding the emergence of such behavior, a phenomenon that has not been well studied.

It is important to note that the research is rooted in theory. Further experimental efforts will be important to confirm and extend these findings. However, the researchers hope that the link between Van Gove singularities and oscillating waves will spur future research and bring them closer to the long-awaited goal of room temperature superconductivity.

Santos, emphasizing the unexpectedness of scientific discoveries, explains the results of this research as follows:

I doubt Kamerling Onnes thought of levitation or particle accelerators when he discovered superconductivity. But everything we learn about the world has potential applications.

As physicists begin to explore more, the potential implications of this new understanding could go beyond science and impact industry and technology worldwide.