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This is an attention-grabbing headline, at best. As described in the article, the scientists found highly transient evidence of superconductive behavior in a ti

by eykanal 14y ago

This is an attention-grabbing headline, at best. As described in the article, the scientists found highly transient evidence of superconductive behavior in a tiny subset of graphite grains. While that is incredible, it's not the same as "room temperature superconductivity found!!!".

ZoFreX 14y ago
I think it is the same, if (and correct me if I'm wrong here) this is the first time we've observed room temperature superconductivity of any kind? It would mean that a hypothesized phenomenon has been confirmed as possible, and more importantly would mean we could start to understand the conditions under which it occurs and see if we can apply that to anything on a slightly larger scale.
- jcfrei 14y ago
  The overall results indicate that room temperature superconductivity appears to be reachable The paper goes into more detail: The observed magnetic characteristics as a function of temperature, magnetic field and time, provide evidence for weakly coupled grains through Josephson interaction, revealing the existence of superconducting vortices. [0] My layman interpretation is that they've observed a property of superconduction, however their graphite flakes didn't demonstrate any actual superconductivity. [0] http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1209/1209.1938.pdf http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1209/1209.1938.pdf
  - jpdoctor 14y ago
    1. Thanks for the arxiv link, (OP: it belongs at the top) 2. Magnetic characteristics of perfect diamagnetism are indeed "actual superconductivity." If there were some residual resistance, the magnetic field would not be completely expelled from that part of the material. Wikipedia's entry serves as a nice intro to diamagnetism, which is the underlying principle for the measurement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism
    - jcfrei 14y ago
      thanks for clearing that up for me!
- vannevar 14y ago
  Room temperature superconductivity has been claimed several times, but never corroborated as fas I know. And neither has this claim, yet.
dllthomas 14y ago
I disagree. They did find superconductivity in graphite grains at room temperature, and it is freakin' amazing. Next, someone will figure out why it happens, and figure out a way to make it happen more, happen in different stuff, or whatever. There's obviously a big leap between "we found superconductivity at room-temperature" and "we found a practical room-temperature superconductor", but it's also obviously a good step along the path.
jpdoctor 14y ago
> This is an attention-grabbing headline, at best. Absolutely incorrect. Superconductivity occurs because two electrons pair off. This transforms fermion behavior into boson behavior: Fermions obey the exclusion principle; bosons do not. As bosons, they fall into approximately the same low energy state, which allows them to flow without resistance. The question is how on earth the electron coupling is occuring: At room temp, normally vibrations would overwhelm all of the known mechanisms of superconductivity.
- eykanal 14y ago
  I'm aware of the definition of superconductivity. My point is that these researchers have no definitely found superconductivity, they have found evidence that under controlled conditions they can possibly achieve short-term high-temp superconductivity. This is a huge accomplishment, to be sure, but it's not as simple as "room-temperature superconductivity."
ChuckMcM 14y ago
Of course it is, but the paper doesn't over state the claim. Basically they have detected magnetic effects which are consistent with superconductivity. It is a tantalizing hint, no more, that there may be a carbon structure which is superconductive at room temperature. This isn't a particularly surprising find as the folks who are working with graphene have been documenting its conductive properties for a while. It was that work which has inspired people to look further to find out more. So this might be better titled 'the investigation of conductivity in carbon structures continues, with hints of room temperature superconductivity' but it wouldn't get nearly the attention :-). I remember how mind numbingly boring materials science was to me in school and now all this cool stuff is going on, so the whole carbon revolution thing is pretty amazing.

by eykanal 14y ago

ZoFreX 14y ago

I think it is the same, if (and correct me if I'm wrong here) this is the first time we've observed room temperature superconductivity of any kind? It would mean that a hypothesized phenomenon has been confirmed as possible, and more importantly would mean we could start to understand the conditions under which it occurs and see if we can apply that to anything on a slightly larger scale.

jcfrei 14y ago
The overall results indicate that room temperature superconductivity appears to be reachable The paper goes into more detail: The observed magnetic characteristics as a function of temperature, magnetic field and time, provide evidence for weakly coupled grains through Josephson interaction, revealing the existence of superconducting vortices. [0] My layman interpretation is that they've observed a property of superconduction, however their graphite flakes didn't demonstrate any actual superconductivity. [0] http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1209/1209.1938.pdf http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1209/1209.1938.pdf
- jpdoctor 14y ago
  1. Thanks for the arxiv link, (OP: it belongs at the top) 2. Magnetic characteristics of perfect diamagnetism are indeed "actual superconductivity." If there were some residual resistance, the magnetic field would not be completely expelled from that part of the material. Wikipedia's entry serves as a nice intro to diamagnetism, which is the underlying principle for the measurement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism
  - jcfrei 14y ago
    thanks for clearing that up for me!
vannevar 14y ago
Room temperature superconductivity has been claimed several times, but never corroborated as fas I know. And neither has this claim, yet.

dllthomas 14y ago

I disagree. They did find superconductivity in graphite grains at room temperature, and it is freakin' amazing. Next, someone will figure out why it happens, and figure out a way to make it happen more, happen in different stuff, or whatever. There's obviously a big leap between "we found superconductivity at room-temperature" and "we found a practical room-temperature superconductor", but it's also obviously a good step along the path.

jpdoctor 14y ago

> This is an attention-grabbing headline, at best. Absolutely incorrect. Superconductivity occurs because two electrons pair off. This transforms fermion behavior into boson behavior: Fermions obey the exclusion principle; bosons do not. As bosons, they fall into approximately the same low energy state, which allows them to flow without resistance. The question is how on earth the electron coupling is occuring: At room temp, normally vibrations would overwhelm all of the known mechanisms of superconductivity.

eykanal 14y ago
I'm aware of the definition of superconductivity. My point is that these researchers have no definitely found superconductivity, they have found evidence that under controlled conditions they can possibly achieve short-term high-temp superconductivity. This is a huge accomplishment, to be sure, but it's not as simple as "room-temperature superconductivity."

ChuckMcM 14y ago

Of course it is, but the paper doesn't over state the claim. Basically they have detected magnetic effects which are consistent with superconductivity. It is a tantalizing hint, no more, that there may be a carbon structure which is superconductive at room temperature. This isn't a particularly surprising find as the folks who are working with graphene have been documenting its conductive properties for a while. It was that work which has inspired people to look further to find out more. So this might be better titled 'the investigation of conductivity in carbon structures continues, with hints of room temperature superconductivity' but it wouldn't get nearly the attention :-). I remember how mind numbingly boring materials science was to me in school and now all this cool stuff is going on, so the whole carbon revolution thing is pretty amazing.