Why can some materials become superconductors?
Quick Answer
Some materials become superconductors when they are cooled enough that electrons pair up and move without resistance. In that state, electric current can flow indefinitely in a closed loop.
The Full Story
Superconductivity is a quantum state in which electrical resistance drops to zero below a critical temperature. In many conventional superconductors, electrons form bound pairs called Cooper pairs that move through the lattice without the usual scattering losses. The phenomenon was discovered in 1911 by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in mercury cooled near 4 kelvin. Superconductors are important for MRI machines, particle accelerators, and some high-field magnets, though many require very low temperatures.
Key Facts
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