Search Results (699)

The transport properties of biased type II superconductors are strongly influenced by external magnetic fields, which play a crucial role in optimizing the stability and performance of low-noise superconducting electronic devices. A major challenge is the stochastic behavior of Abrikosov vortices, which emerge in the mixed state and lead to energy dissipation through their nucleation, motion, and annihilation. Uncontrolled vortex dynamics can introduce electronic noise in low-power systems and trigger thermal breakdown in high-power applications. This study examines the effect of a perpendicular external magnetic field on vortex pinning in biased YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ devices containing laser-written, rectangular-shaped, partially deoxygenated regions (δ ≈ 0.2). The results show that increasing the magnetic field amplitude induces an asymmetry in the concentration of vortices and antivortices, shifting the annihilation line toward a region of lower flux density and altering the flux pinning characteristics. Oxygen-deficient segments aligned parallel to the current flow act as barriers to vortex motion, enhancing the net pinning force by preventing vortex–antivortex pairs from reaching their annihilation zone. The current–voltage characteristics reveal periodic voltage steps corresponding to the onset and suppression of thermally activated flux flow and flux creep. These features indicate magnetic field–tunable transport behavior within a narrow range of temperatures from 0.94·T_c to 0.98·T_c, where T_c is the critical temperature of the superconductor. These findings offer new insights into the design of vortex-motion-controlled superconducting electronics that utilize engineered pinning structures. Full article

The persistent occurrence of antibiotics like chloramphenicol (CAP) in aquatic systems poses serious environmental and public health risks. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of CAP using cerium oxide (CeO₂), lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃), and lanthanum-doped cerium oxide (Ce_xLa_yO_2−δ), synthesized via co-precipitation. The catalysts were tested under a solar simulator, UV-A, and UV-C radiation, both with and without hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Structural characterization confirmed successful synthesis of nanometric catalysts, with La doping causing lattice expansion in CeO₂ and a reduction in crystallite size (from 27 nm in CeO₂ to ~20 nm in doped samples). Photolysis alone achieved limited CAP removal (~34–35%), while photocatalysis with La₂O₃ under UV-A and UV-C improved removal up to 58% and 55%, respectively. Complete degradation was obtained with La₂O₃ under UV-C in the presence of H₂O₂ within 15 min. Pareto analysis highlighted the dominant effect of the interaction between radiation and H₂O₂ (43%), while the catalyst type contributed minimally (0.23%). These findings confirm the potential of REE oxides, especially La₂O₃, in advanced oxidation processes and underscore the importance of light source and radical generation over catalyst selection alone. Full article

The thermophysical behavior of solids (such as oxide compounds, for example) is crucial in applied physics and engineering, with particular regard to heterogeneous catalysis, sensors, high-temperature superconductors, and solid-state batteries. Research in geometric nonlinear theory has provided insights into crystal symmetry and phase compatibility under thermal and elastic stress. High-temperature stress significantly affects phase stability, making an understanding of solid thermodynamics essential for material performance. This study focuses on the mechanical and thermal interactions in solids, analyzing variations in mechanical stress and strain under extreme conditions. We propose a theoretical approach for a thermophysical model that, based on the study of the properties of the global thermal behavior of solids, can describe the thermodynamic effects of elastic deformations. Elastomers are used as a case study to validate the proposed approach. Full article

This article examines the physical properties, performance metrics, and cooling requirements of a range of superconducting materials, with a particular focus on their compatibility with hydrogen-based cryogenic systems. It analyses recent developments and challenges in this field, and considers how hydrogen cryomagnetic could transform superconducting technologies, making them economically viable and environmentally sustainable for a variety of critical applications. The discussion aims to provide insights into the intersection of metallic and ceramic superconductors with the hydrogen economy and to chart a path towards scalable and impactful solutions in the energy sector. Full article

The growing global demand for electricity, driven by the development of electromobility, data centers, and smart technologies, necessitates innovative approaches to energy generation. Wind power, as a clean and renewable energy source, plays a pivotal role in the global transition towards low-carbon power systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of generator technologies used in wind turbine applications, ranging from conventional synchronous and asynchronous machines to advanced concepts such as low-speed direct-drive (DD) generators, axial-flux topologies, and superconducting generators utilizing low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and high-temperature superconductors (HTS). The advantages and limitations of each design are discussed in the context of efficiency, weight, reliability, scalability, and suitability for offshore deployment. Special attention is given to HTS-based generator systems, which offer superior power density and reduced losses, along with challenges related to cryogenic cooling and materials engineering. Furthermore, the paper analyzes selected modern generator designs to provide references for enhancing the performance of grid-synchronized hybrid microgrids integrating solar PV, wind, battery energy storage, and HTS-enhanced generators. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers developing next-generation wind energy technologies with improved efficiency and integration potential. Full article

Bose–Einstein condensation is an intensely studied quantum phenomenon that emerges at low temperatures. While preceding Bose–Einstein condensation models do not consider what statistics apply above the condensation temperature, we show that neglecting this question leads to inconsistencies. A mathematically rigorous calculation of Bose–Einstein condensation temperature requires evaluating the thermodynamic balance between coherent and incoherent particle populations. The first part of this work develops such an improved Bose–Einstein condensation temperature calculation, for both three-dimensional and two-dimensional scenarios. The progress over preceding Bose–Einstein condensation models is particularly apparent in the two-dimensional case, where preceding models run into mathematical divergence. In the Discussion section, we compare our mathematical model against experimental superconductivity data. A remarkable match is found between experimental data and the calculated Bose–Einstein condensation temperature formulas. Our mathematical model therefore appears applicable to superconductivity, and may facilitate a rational search for higher-temperature superconductors. Full article

Complex phase diagrams are a generic feature of quantum materials that display high-temperature superconductivity. In addition to d-wave superconductivity (or other unconventional states), these phase diagrams typically include various forms of charge-ordered phases, including charge-density waves and/or spin-density waves, as well as electronic nematic states. In most cases, these phases have critical temperatures comparable in magnitude to that of the superconducting state and appear in a “pseudo-gap” regime. In these systems, the high temperature state does not produce a good metal with well-defined quasiparticles but a ”strange metal”. These states typically arise from doping a strongly correlated Mott insulator. With my collaborators, I have identified these behaviors as a problem with “Intertwined Orders”. A pair-density wave is a type of superconducting state that embodies the physics of intertwined orders. Here, I discuss the phenomenology of intertwined orders and the quantum materials that are known to display these behaviors. Full article

Friction leads to substantial energy losses and wear in mechanical systems. This study explores the tribological potential of the high-temperature superconductor precursor Y₂BaCuO₅ (Y211), synthesized via chemical co-precipitation, as a novel additive to PAO6 base oil. A 0.3 wt.% Y211/PAO6 lubricant (CD) was formulated using ultrasonic dispersion. Tribological performance was evaluated using a custom end-face tribometer (steel-on-iron) under varying loads (100–500 N) and speeds (300–500 rpm), comparing CD to neat PAO6. The results indicate that the Y211 additive consistently reduced the coefficient of friction (COF) relative to neat PAO6, maintaining a stable value around ~0.1. However, its effectiveness was strongly load-dependent: a significant friction reduction was observed at 100 N, while the benefit diminished at higher loads (>200 N), with the COF peaking around 200 N. Rotational speed exerted minimal influence. Compared with neat PAO6, the inclusion of 0.3 wt.% Y211 resulted in a reduction in the coefficient of friction by approximately 50% under low-load conditions (100 N), with COF values decreasing from 0.1 to 0.045. Wear depth measurements also revealed a reduction of over 30%, supporting the additive’s anti-wear efficacy. Y211 demonstrates potential as a friction-reducing additive, particularly under low loads, but its high-load performance limitations warrant further optimization and mechanistic studies. This highlights a novel tribological application for Y211. The objective of this study is to evaluate the tribological effectiveness of Y₂BaCuO₅ (Y211) as a lubricant additive, investigate its load-dependent friction behavior, and explore its feasibility as a multifunctional additive leveraging its superconductive precursor structure. Full article

This study reviews key aspects of utilizing superconductors in wastewater treatment. It analyzes the interplay between magnetic fields and treatment processes, with a particular focus on the application of superconductors. The potential of MgB₂ superconductors is evaluated based on their inherent properties, alongside an exploration of the challenges and future opportunities associated with their potential implementation. A comprehensive literature review demonstrates the efficacy of magnetic fields in eliminating or drastically removing heavy metals, especially from industrial wastewater streams, through magnetic separation techniques. This review compares the efficiency of magnetic separation to conventional treatment methods, highlighting its potentials. Critical factors such as magnetization in wastewater, magnetic gradients, and magnetic memory are identified and discussed as crucial elements in optimizing magnetic separation processes. Furthermore, the study draws upon extensive research to investigate the technical considerations associated with magnetic wastewater treatment, ultimately evaluating the role of superconductors, particularly MgB₂, in advancing this technology. The feasibility and future prospects of MgB₂ superconductors within the context of wastewater treatment are also explored. Full article

Over the last decade, numerous impedance studies of the conductivity of suspensions containing colloidal (dielectric, semiconducting or metallic) particles have often led to the conclusion that the well-known Maxwell theory is insufficient to quantitatively explain the properties of these systems. We review some of the most characteristic results and show how the applicability of the Maxwell’s theory can be restored taking into account the adsorption phenomena occurring during AC impedance measurements in nanoparticle suspensions. The latter can drastically change the capacitance of the metal-electrolyte cell boundaries from the standard value, making it strongly dependent on the nanoparticle concentration. This factor significantly affects conductivity measurements through RC circuit characteristics. We present an analysis of available impedance measurement data of the dependence of conductivity on the nanoparticle concentration in this new paradigm. In order to emphasize the novelty and the acute sensitivity of ac-diagnosis to the presence of adsorption phenomena at the metal-electrolyte interface, direct adsorption determinations at such interfaces by using two modern experimental techniques are also presented. The main result of this work is the restoration of Maxwell’s theory, attributing the observed discrepancies to variations in cell conductance. Full article

LK-99, with chemical formula Pb_10−xCu_x(PO₄)₆O, was recently reported to be a room-temperature superconductor. While this claim has met with little support in a flurry of ensuing work, a variety of calculations (mostly based on density-functional theory) have demonstrated that the system possesses some unusual characteristics in the electronic structure, in particular flat bands. We have established previously that within DFT, the system is insulating with many characteristics resembling the classic cuprates, provided the structure is not constrained to the P3(143) symmetry nominally assigned to it. Here we describe the basic electronic structure of LK-99 within self-consistent many-body perturbative approach, quasiparticle self-consistent GW (QSGW) approximation and their diagrammatic extensions. QSGW predicts that pristine LK-99 is indeed a Mott/charge transfer insulator, with a bandgap gap in excess of 3 eV, whether or not constrained to the P3(143) symmetry. When Pb₉Cu(PO₄)₆O is hole-doped, the valence bands modify only slightly, and a hole pocket appears. However, two solutions emerge: a high-moment solution with the Cu local moment aligned parallel to neighbors, and a low-moment solution with Cu aligned antiparallel to its environment. In the electron-doped case the conduction band structure changes significantly: states of mostly Pb character merge with the formerly dispersionless Cu d state, and high-spin and low spin solutions once again appear. Thus we conclude that with suitable doping, the ground state of the system is not adequately described by a band picture, and that strong correlations are likely. Irrespective of whether this system class hosts superconductivity or not, the transition of Pb₁₀(PO₄)₆O from being a band insulator to Pb₉Cu(PO₄)₆O, a Mott insulator, and multi-determinantal nature of doped Mott physics make this an extremely interesting case-study for strongly correlated many-body physics. Full article

We investigate the impact of normal linear strips—both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of vortex motion—on the dynamics of fractional vortices in a two-band superconducting slab. In the absence of pinning, composite vortices dominate throughout the sample, while non-composite (dissociated) vortices appear only near the vortex entry edge, with energy dissipation primarily governed by the motion of composite structures. To modulate vortex behavior, we introduce linear regions of locally suppressed superconductivity, oriented either perpendicular or parallel to the vortex trajectory. A single perpendicular strip confines fractional vortices to the injection region, whereas two perpendicular strips stabilize composite vortices in the central domain and induce fractional vortex states near the boundaries. In contrast, parallel strips promote the dissociation of vortices across the entire sample, significantly altering the spatial configuration and dynamics of the vortex matter. Furthermore, the interband correlation coefficient serves as a direct indicator of the degree of spatial overlap between vortices in the two condensates. These findings highlight the critical role of pinning geometry in shaping vortex dynamics and energy dissipation, offering new strategies for controlling flux behavior in multiband superconductors for technological applications. Full article

We present an alternative process for production of binary Nb_1−βSn_β superconducting phases using pre- and post-treatment of arc-melted Nb + Sn ingots. This process combines sequential sintering, arc melting, and annealing procedures that provide dense, bulk samples of Nb_1−βSn_β with varying stoichiometry between 0.18 < β < 0.25 depending on annealing time and temperature. We show, through magnetization measurements of these Nb_1−βSn_β bulks, that annealing of arc-melted samples at 900 °C for 3 h significantly enhances J_c values compared with arc-melted Nb_1−βSn_β samples without annealing. Microstructural analyses show that optimum grain size and orientation are achieved by sintering and annealing at lower temperatures (i.e., 720 °C and 900 °C, respectively) with short annealing times (i.e., <10 h). Processing at higher temperatures and for longer times enhances grain growth and results in fewer pinning centres. The optimum process creates effective pinning centres that deliver a J_c = 6.16 × 10⁴ A/cm² at 10 K (and ~0.2 T), compared with J_c = 3.4 × 10⁴ A/cm² for Nb_1−βSn_β subjected to a longer annealing time at a higher temperature and J_c = 775 A/cm² for an arc-melted sample without post-annealing. We suggest that further work addressing post-treatment annealing times between 3 h < t_post < 60 h at temperatures between 900 °C and 1000 °C will provide the opportunity to control stoichiometric and microstructural imperfections in bulk Nb_1−βSn_β materials. Full article

Owing to their large size and flexibility, 2D nanostructures (e.g., graphene, graphene oxide, single-layer molybdenum disulfide, etc.) are technologically exploited in a supported form. Glass, silicon, and polymers are typical substrates. In the characterization of these 2D nanostructures, important morphological information (e.g., size, shape factor, presence of defects, etc.) can be obtained through an investigation based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, the observation of these extremely thin 2D nanostructures is characterized by poor contrast, and therefore, all morphological features are not clearly visible in SEM micrographs. Herein, it is shown that under a high sample tilting condition, SEM observations are also capable of providing images with very good contrast. Such high sample tilting can be obtained by positioning the sample vertically and then conveniently reducing this angle (90°) by tilting the sample up to achieve a well-focused image. Full article

We present a detailed mathematical description, both an analytical model and a numerical simulation, of a physical system based on a superconducting nanoelectromechanical setup that generates nanomechanical cat-states entangled with charge qubit states. The system consists of a superconducting grain in a regime of the Cooper pair box (the charge qubit) that performs mechanical vibrations between two bulk superconductors. Operation of the device is based on the AC Josephson effect, i.e., the phase difference between superconducting electrodes is controlled by a DC bias voltage following the operational switch on/off protocol. We compare an analytical idealised solution with numerical simulation using experimentally feasible parameters, different decoherence processes, as well as imperfections of experimental procedures such as time-control of the bias voltage, to get insight into how they influence the time-evolution of the realistic system, deteriorate the quantum coherence, and affect the formation of the cat-states. Full article