28 August 2012
Research could enable next generation of superconductors
An innovative way to manipulate superconducting materials has been developed by researchers at Tel Aviv University, which could enable the next generation of efficient power production.
By manipulating different types of light, including UV and visible light, the researchers claim to be able to alter the critical temperature at which a material becomes superconducting.
The team put a thin layer, one organic molecule thick, atop a superconducting film, approximately 50nm thick. When a light was shined on these molecules, they stretched and changed shape, altering the properties of the superconducting film and altering the critical temperature at which the material acted as a superconductor.
The team says that the significance of this finding is that instead of changing the temperature of the material itself, a more complicated process, the material can remain at the same temperature when the film is altered.
One of the potential future applications might be a 'non dissipated memory,' which would be able to save data and run continuously without generating heat and wasting energy.
Author
Simon Fogg
Supporting Information
Websites
http://www.aftau.org
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