BlackboardSuper Class
A new class of superconductors developed by Japanese scientists earlier this year has many scientists excited about its possible use in an array of technologies, from MRIs to power generation. Scientists around the world, including a group at Florida State, are testing the new type of material-called "doped rare earth iron oxyarsenides"-to see what it can do.
Researchers at FSU's Applied Superconductivity Center partnered with colleagues at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee to test the arsenide's tolerance to a magnetic field. In addition to performing at a relatively high temperature-which other scientists had already shown the new material could do-high tolerance for strong magnetic fields contributes to a superconductor's usefulness.
When the Center's scientists, including director David Larbelestier, Frank Hunte, Alex Gurevich and Jan Jaroszynski, placed the arsenide in a powerful magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Lab, it continued to superconduct (carry electricity without losing energy) at the magnet's full strength, 45 tesla, a test that reverts many other superconductors to normal conductors. Other interesting traits also emerged in testing.
Though tantalizing, what exactly these results-published in the journal Nature in May-could mean remains to be seen.
The only other class of high-temperature superconductors, identified more than 20 years ago, are called cuprates.
"The main thing is if these arsenides turn out to have high critical currents similar to cuprates, then they will definitely be very useful," said Hunte.
As their colleagues at Oak Ridge work to improve the arsenide material itself, the team at the Applied Superconductivity Center will continue to probe its potential.
