superconductivity

[soo-per-kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

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.

superconductivity

/ 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

superconductivity

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).

superconductivity

¹

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.

superconductivity

²

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.

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of superconductivity¹

First recorded in 1915–20; super- + conductivity

Example Sentences

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.

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"There are many different mechanisms that can lead to superconductivity in materials," explains co-lead author Shuwen Sun, a graduate student in MIT's Department of Physics.

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

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In a new study published in Nature Nanotechnology, they report creating a form of germanium that exhibits superconductivity.

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When arranged in just the right ways, two-dimensional materials can display unusual and valuable quantum effects such as superconductivity and exotic types of magnetism.

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