The University of Illinois research team has recently unveiled a new discovery, a unique particle called the “demon particle,” found in a metal known as strontium ruthenate. This ground-breaking finding could bring about a revolution in the creation of superconductors, achieving a level of performance at room temperature.
The Discovery of the “Demon Particle”
The “demon particle” is a nomenclature attributed to a type of quasiparticle, an entity that isn’t an actual individual particle, but rather a collective vibration or excitation of multiple electrons within a solid object. Quasiparticles function as instrumental tools for explaining complex electron behaviors within solids like metals and semiconductors.
David Pines, a theoretical physicist, first predicted the existence of this demon particle back in 1956. He had a hypothesis that electrons would exhibit unusual characteristics when they pass through a solid due to electric interactions that cause electrons to form collective units, causing them to lose their individuality.
Yet, large mass entities like plasmons (groups of electrons oscillating collectively within metals) can’t form with the energy levels available at room temperature. In contrast to these, demon particles, which do not possess mass, are capable of forming with any amount of energy and even at room temperature. This makes them invaluable for numerous applications in various sectors such as computing, medical imaging, transportation, and energy field.
Demystifying Superconductors
A superconductor is a material that possesses the extraordinary ability to conduct electricity or move electrons from one atom to another seamlessly, with no resistance whatsoever. Once it reaches its critical temperature (Tc), no heat, sound, or any other form of energy is released from the material.
This critical temperature for superconductors marks the point wherein the electrical resistivity of the metal drops to zero. One noteworthy characteristic of superconductors is their exhibition of the Meissner effect. This refers to a material’s ability to expel a magnetic field from its interior during its transition into a superconductive state.
Typical examples of superconductors include metals such as aluminium, niobium, and compounds like magnesium diboride.
Superconductor Applications and Limitations
Superconductors contribute significantly in operations involving levitating trains, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines exhibiting high accuracy, among many other applications. Despite these impressive capabilities, the usage of superconductors is constrained by the need for large-scale cryogenics production.
This is because most superconductors work at atmospheric pressures but require extremely low temperatures to maintain their superconductive abilities. Even advanced ones, such as copper oxide-based ceramic materials, only function below -140°C. Therefore, the need to maintain such cold conditions has limited their widespread use. The research and development of room temperature superconductors would definitely revolutionize the field of electronics and magnetic systems.
