superconductivity

American  

[soo-per-kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee] / ˌsu pərˌkɒn dəkˈtɪv ɪ ti /

noun

Physics.

1. the phenomenon of almost perfect conductivity shown by certain substances at temperatures approaching absolute zero. The recent discovery of materials that are superconductive at temperatures hundreds of degrees above absolute zero raises the possibility of revolutionary developments in the production and transmission of electrical energy.

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superconductivity British  

/ ˌsuːpəˌkɒndʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ, ˌsuːpəkənˈdʌkʃən /

noun

1. physics the property of certain substances that have no electrical resistance. In metals it occurs at very low temperatures, but higher temperature superconductivity occurs in some ceramic materials

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superconductivity Scientific  

/ so̅o̅′pər-kŏn′dŭk-tĭv′ĭ-tē /

1. The ability of certain metals or alloys to conduct an electric current with almost no resistance. Superconductivity usually occurs close to absolute zero, at temperatures approaching −459.67°F (−273.15°C), but has also been observed at temperatures as high as −200°F (−128.88°C).

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superconductivity ¹ Cultural  

1. A property of materials by which their electrical resistance goes to zero, and they acquire the ability to carry electric current (see also current) with no losses whatsoever.

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superconductivity ² Cultural  

1. A property of some materials in which their electrical resistance drops to zero, and they acquire the ability to carry electric current (see also current) with no loss of energy whatsoever. Formerly, materials developed superconductivity only at temperatures near absolute zero, but new materials have been found that remain superconductive at temperatures above those of liquid nitrogen. The goal of current research is to find a material that remains superconductive at room temperature.

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Discover More

Formerly, materials showed superconductivity only near absolute zero, but new materials have been found that are superconducting at much higher temperatures.

Other Word Forms

• superconducting adjective
• superconduction noun
• superconductive adjective
• superconductor noun

Etymology

Origin of superconductivity

First recorded in 1915–20; super- + conductivity

Example Sentences

Only a small number of materials are believed to host intrinsic topological superconductivity.

From Science Daily

The challenge is that superconductivity usually occurs only at very low temperatures, far below everyday conditions.

From Science Daily

At this point, university economics departments had mostly been spared of the scandals that have hit other fields, including materials science, where a blockbuster finding on room-temperature superconductivity was invalidated in 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This allows us to both identify and study the underlying electronic structures of superconductivity and other quantum phases as they happen, within the same sample," Park explains.

From Science Daily

Predicting superconductivity -- especially in materials that could operate at higher temperatures -- has remained an unsolved challenge.

From Science Daily