Definition

superconductivity

Part of the Electronics glossary:

Superconductivity is the ability of certain materials to conduct electric current with practically zero resistance . This produces interesting and potentially useful effects. For a material to behave as a superconductor, low temperatures are required.

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Superconductivity was first observed in 1911 by H. K. Onnes, a Dutch physicist. His experiment was conducted with elemental mercury at 4 degrees kelvin (approximately -452 degrees Fahrenheit), the temperature of liquid helium. Since then, some substances have been made to act as superconductors at higher temperatures, although the ideal -- a material that can superconduct at room temperature -- remains elusive.

Superconductors have been employed in, or proposed for use in, an enormous variety of applications. Examples include high-speed magnetic-levitation trains, magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) equipment, ultra-high-speed computer chips, high-capacity digital memory chips, alternative energy storage systems, radio-frequency ( RF ) filters, radio-frequency amplifiers, sensitive visible-light and infrared detectors, miniaturized wireless transmitting antennas, systems to detect submarines and underwater mines, and gyroscopes for earth-orbiting satellite s. The Josephson junction and the superconducting quantum interference device use superconductors.

This was last updated in September 2005
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Related Terms

Definitions

  • Josephson junction

    - A Josephson junction is a type of electronic circuit capable of switching at very high speeds when operated at temperatures approaching absolute zero. (SearchCIO-Midmarket.com)

  • superconducting quantum interference device

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  • conductor

    - ln electronics, a conductor is a substance in which electrical charge carriers move easily from atom to atom with the application of voltage. A substance that does not conduct electricity is called... (WhatIs.com)

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