superconductor
Electricity flows freely
A superconductor is a material that conducts electricity with zero resistance when cooled below a critical temperature.
Most superconductors require extreme cold—near absolute zero—though some ceramic compounds superconduct at higher temperatures.
The phenomenon enables powerful electromagnets in MRI machines and particle accelerators: The maglev train floats on superconducting magnets.
Magnetic body imaging
- maglevTrackless-seeming rail technology
- particle acceleratorDevice speeding subatomic bits
- fusion reactorMachine combining atomic nuclei
- power cableElectricity-conducting wire connection
transformer · motor · generator · energy storage · quantum computer · qubit · telecommunications · magnetic levitation
Complete absence of impedance
- losslessRetaining all original information
- quenchSatisfy or extinguish
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
- power transmissionConveying mechanical energy elsewhere
Supercooled element in fluid state
- liquid nitrogenCryogenic form of air's main component
- cryostatMaintains cryogenic temperatures
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
Kelvin · thermal insulation · boil-off · heat exchanger · supercooling · operating temperature
Metallic element, atomic forty-one
- yttriumElement number thirty-nine
- high-temperatureVery great heat
- room-temperatureStandard indoor conditions
- thin filmNarrow surface coating
Quantum information unit
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
Repelled by magnetic fields
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- magnetometerInstrument measuring field strength
Separation between electronic bands
- vortexRotating fluid column
- mixed stateConcurrent mania and depression
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- condensateGas turned to liquid
MRI
Magnetic body imaging
- maglevTrackless-seeming rail technology
- particle acceleratorDevice speeding subatomic bits
- fusion reactorMachine combining atomic nuclei
power cable · transformer · motor · generator · energy storage · quantum computer · qubit · telecommunications · magnetic levitation
zero resistance
Complete absence of impedance
- losslessRetaining all original information
- quenchSatisfy or extinguish
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
liquid helium
Supercooled element in fluid state
- liquid nitrogenCryogenic form of air's main component
- cryostatMaintains cryogenic temperatures
- coolingLosing thermal energy
refrigeration · Kelvin · thermal insulation · boil-off · heat exchanger · supercooling · operating temperature
niobium
Metallic element, atomic forty-one
- yttriumElement number thirty-nine
- high-temperatureVery great heat
- room-temperatureStandard indoor conditions
qubit
Quantum information unit
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- decoherenceLoss of quantum coherence
- entanglementState of being intertwined
superposition · quantum computing · quantum tunneling · quantum state
diamagnetic
Repelled by magnetic fields
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- magnetometerInstrument measuring field strength
energy gap
Separation between electronic bands
- vortexRotating fluid column
- mixed stateConcurrent mania and depression
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- "super" wordssuperhero, superstar, superman, superwoman, superpower
- conductorscopper wire, gold wire, silver wire, aluminum, platinum
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- condensed mattercrystal, metal, insulator, ferromagnet, lattice
- cryogenicsliquid nitrogen, cryogenic, cryogenics, cryogenic storage, cryostat
- cryophysicssuperfluidity, cryogenics, liquid nitrogen, cryostat, MOT
superconductorinsulator
Substance resisting energy flow
nonconductor · electrical insulator · resistor · dielectric · semiconductor
- superconducting magnetResistance-free electromagnetic coil
superconductivity, superconductors, superconducting, superconductive