The team led by Van Eryn focused on optically controlling matter to achieve superconductivity at high temperatures, particularly in quantum materials such as cuprates. Their methodology involved incorporating thin K3C60 cuprate films into photoconductive switches with coplanar waveguides.

How was this achieved?

Used to activate switches laser pulsesThis allowed a pulse of electric current to pass through the material at half the speed of light. More data, including the properties of the electrical signatures of superconductivity, were recorded with a special detector switch.

An important aspect of the research was: Simultaneous irradiation of K3C60 film with light in the mid-infrared range. This allowed the researchers to observe nonlinear current changes in the optically excited material, providing insight into the behavior of the critical current and the Meissner effect, which had not been previously measured in this context.

Van Erin, leader of the research team, expressed the importance of their work as follows:

We have developed a technical platform that is ideal for the study of nonlinear transport beyond equilibrium, such as anomalous Hall effects, Andreev reflections and others.

This achievement marks a significant step forward in the field of quantum materials research and opens new possibilities for future technological advancement.