This document discusses the topic of superconductivity. It begins by introducing superconductivity as a phenomenon where certain materials conduct electricity without resistance below a critical temperature. It then describes the general properties of superconductors such as critical temperature, magnetic field effect, and persistent current. The document goes on to classify superconductors into two types and discusses their different behaviors in magnetic fields. It concludes by outlining several applications that utilize the unique properties of superconductors, such as Maglev trains, SQUIDs, and efficient power transmission.
2. MAIN CONTENT
Superconductivity
General properties of superconductors
Types of superconductors
High temperature superconductors
Application : Magnets , Josephson effect , SQUID, Maglev,
other.
3. INTRODUCTION
SUPECONDUCTIVITY :- It is a phenomenon in which certain metals , alloys and
ceramics conduct electricity without resistance when it is cooled below a
certain temperature called the critical temperature.
Superconductivity was discovered by a Dutch physicist , Heike Kammerlingh
Onnes in 1911 and it is still an exciting field o discovery and technological
application.
This new state was discovered in mercury when cooled below 4.2 K.
4. SUPERCONDUCTORS
Superconductor :- A superconductor is a material which loses all its
resistance to the flow o electric current when it is cooled below a
certain temperature or transition temperature.
Examples :-
1. mercury
2. zinc
3. vanadium
4. tin , etc..
5. GENERAL PROPERTIES OF SUPERCONDUCTORS
Critical temperature :- The temperature at which a material’s electricity
resistivity drops to absolute zero is called the critical temperature or transition
temperature Tc.
Magnetic field effect :-This minimum magnetic field required to destroy the
superconducting state is called critical magnetic field Hc.
Critical current :- The maximum amount o current that can flow in a
superconductor is called critical current Ic.
6. Critical current density :- The critical current density can be
defined as the maximum current that can be permitted in a
superconducting material without destroying its superconductivity
state.
Persistent current :- This steady flow of current in a
superconducting ring without any potential deriving it is called the
persistent current.
Meissner effect :- The complete expulsion of all the magnetic field
by a superconducting material is called the “Meissner effect”.
8. TYPES OF SUPERCONDUCTOR
Based on the behavior of superconducting material
in an applied magnetic field , the superconductors
are classified into :-
1. Type 1
2. Type 2
9. TYPE 1 SUPERCONDUCTORS
Type 1 superconductors exhibit complete Meissner effect that is
they are completely diamagnetic.
The value of Hc of type 1 superconducting materials are always too
low.
The magnetization curve shows that the transition o Hc is
reversible.
Type 1 superconductors are also called soft conductors.
11. TYPE 2 SUPERCONDUCTOR
Type 2 superconductors behave differently in an increasing field.
For an applied field below Hc1 , the material is perfectly
diamagnetic and hence the field is completely excluded.
Hc1 is called the critical magnetic field and the Hc2 is called the
upper magnetic critical field.
Type 2 superconductors are called hard superconductors.
14. APPLICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTORS
Maglev (Magnetic levitation) :- Magnetic levitation or maglev
is the process by which an object is suspended above another
object with no other support but magnetic field. The
phenomena of magnetic levitation is based on Meissner
effect.
15. JOSEPHSONS EFFECT
Josephson effect :- Two superconductors separated by a
very thin strip of an insulator forms a Josephson's junction.
As a consequence o the tunneling o electrons across the
insulators , there is a net current across the junction. This is
called D.C. Josephson effect.
If a potential difference V is a applied between the two side
o the junction there will be a tunneling current with angular
frequency. This is called A.C. Josephson's effect.
16. Superconductors can be used to transmit electrical power
over long distance without any power loss or any voltage
drop
Superconducting generators has the benefit of small size
and low energy consumption than the conventional
generators
Superconducting coils are used in N.M.R. imaging
equipment which are used in hospital or scanning the
whole body to diagnose medical problem.
17. Very strong magnetic fields can be generated
with coils made o high Tc superconducting
materials.
Very fast and accurate computer can be
constructed using superconducting and the
power consumption is also very low.
Ore separation can be done efficiently using
superconducting magnets