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Investigations in Superconductivity. Lulu Liu Partner: Chris Chronopoulos. 8.14 Experiment 4 May 12, 2008. Theory of Superconductivity. Electron-phonon interactions Electron-Electron Attraction. At Low T, overcomes Coulomb Repulsion Coupling of remote electron pairs Boson pairs.
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Investigations in Superconductivity Lulu Liu Partner: Chris Chronopoulos 8.14 Experiment 4 May 12, 2008
Theory of Superconductivity • Electron-phonon interactions Electron-Electron Attraction • At Low T, overcomes Coulomb Repulsion Coupling of remote electron pairs Boson pairs • Binding Energy ~ kTc • Bosons tend to occupy same state: at T < Tc all Cooper pairs condense into single state Crux of BCS Theory
Consequences • Zero resistivity: • Resistance: loss of momentum from interactions of charge carriers w/ environment • Superconductor – presence of large energy gap, boson pairs cannot be excited into higher state flow together • Meisner Effect • instead of as perfect conductor • Beyond L, excludes all magnetic field from interior F. & H. London Theory • Combined Effect: • Persistent Currents in superconducting state
Critical Temperature and Field • Tc measure of binding energy, T > Tc breaking of Cooper Pairs, return to normal conductivity • External magnetic field B similar energetic effect: • Critical Field Bc, NC transition for B > Bc • Strongly correlated w/ Tc and Band Gap
Outline • Equipment & Calibration (Probes) • Meisner & Hysteresis Effect (Tc of Vanadium) • Persistent Current (Tc of Lead) • Critical Field Curve (Bc of Lead) • High Tc (YBCo) Superconductor Properties: • Evidence of Superconducting Behavior (DC) • Non-Zero AC Impedance at high frequency • Errors • Conclusions
Equipment (Probe 1) • Mutual Inductance of Nested Solenoids pass current through one, measure EMF in other • Superconductor (Vanadium) in center • Voltage drop across Silicon Diode Temperature • Helium (4.2K) Cooled: Oscilloscope shows change in EMF over Tc transition • Broke on Day 2
Probe 1 Method • Perfect Conductor Vs. Superconductor Marten Sjostrom
Probe 1 Calibration • 10 A current through Diode/ ~30mV AC through outer Solenoid EMF = - N d/dt reduced when material goes SC EMF drop 0 imperfect filling Vanadium 27.1 19.3 mV from Lakeshore Spec Sheets
Vanadium Data (Probe 1) • Hysteresis Effect evident Data points used in average Tc = 5.42 § 0.06 K Established: Tc = 5.4 K azom.com
Probe 2 Equipment & Setup • Hollow Lead Tube – persistent current measures B-field CRT calibration for T(Resistance) -- imprecise
Carbon Resistance Thermometer Calibration (X-axis) Empirically determined: R.E. Bedford “Techniques...” Three points: LN2 – 77K LH (?) – 4.2K RT – 24.6K
Generating a Persistent Current • Phenomenon peculiar to Superconductors • SC transition excludes field (B < Bc) from interior current on outer and inner surface • B-field switched OFF: Outer current disappears, inner persists detected via Hall Probe (mV) • Bring out of SC phase persistent current dissipates (heat) from Feynman
Results (Lead – Probe 2) Imperfect Geometry – marks Tc
Critical Field Measurements • Hold Temperature Constant - increase/decrease external field Enter SC state w/ zero field increasing external field from zero
Conclusions • Existence of Superconductors distinct from perfect conductors