High-temperature superconductivity

Despite its name, high-temperature superconductivity still occurs at cryogenic temperatures. The main difference from low-temperature superconductivity is usually that 'high-Tc' superconductors can use liquid nitrogen (at 77 K) as a coolant while low-temperature superconductors always need liquid helium (4.2 K) temperatures and below.

Related Topics:
Superconductivity - Cryogenic - Nitrogen - 77 K - Helium - 4.2 K

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most prominent materials in the high-Tc range are the so-called cuprates, i.e. YBCO (Yttrium-Barium-Copper-Oxide) and related substances.

Related Topics:
Cuprate - YBCO - Yttrium - Barium - Copper - Oxide

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All known high-Tc superconductors are so-called Type-II superconductors.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Type-II superconductor allows magnetic field to penerate its interior

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

in the units of flux quanta, creating 'holes' (or tubes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

of normal metallic regions in the superconducting bulk.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This property makes high-Tc superconductors capable of sustaining

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

much higher magnetic fields.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~