Articles tagged with "superconductors"
New cloaking concept shields sensitive tech from magnetic fields
Researchers at the University of Leicester, led by Dr. Harold Ruiz, have developed the first practical method to create magnetic cloaks that can shield objects of any shape from disruptive magnetic fields. Unlike previous theoretical models limited to simple geometries, their approach uses a “physics-informed design framework” combining advanced simulations and real-world parameters to produce cloaks adaptable to complex, irregular shapes. This breakthrough enables magnetic fields to be perfectly diverted around an object, leaving its magnetic environment undisturbed and effectively rendering the object "invisible" to magnetic interference. The cloak operates through a bilayer system of superconductors and soft ferromagnets. Superconductors expel magnetic fields but typically distort field lines, making cloaks detectable; the addition of soft ferromagnets with high permeability smooths and guides these lines, allowing magnetic fields to flow seamlessly around the cloaked object. This technology holds significant promise for protecting sensitive equipment in various fields, including medical devices like MRI machines, fusion reactor electronics, and quantum
materialsenergyelectromagnetic-interferencesuperconductorsmagnetic-cloakingtechnology-shieldingprecision-instrumentsUltracold atoms reveal Shapiro effect that bridges two quantum worlds
Researchers at Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University (RPTU) in Germany have successfully recreated the Josephson effect—a fundamental quantum phenomenon critical to technologies like quantum computers and voltage standards—using ultracold atoms instead of solid-state superconductors. By employing Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) separated by a thin optical barrier formed by a laser, they created an atomic analog of a Josephson junction. Modulating the barrier’s motion mimicked microwave radiation, leading to the direct observation of Shapiro steps, quantum features previously thought exclusive to superconducting systems. This experiment not only visualized excitations underlying the Shapiro effect for the first time but also demonstrated its universality across distinct quantum systems. The findings bridge the quantum behaviors of electrons and atoms, showing that Shapiro steps depend fundamentally on constants and driving frequencies rather than the nature of the particles involved. The atomic system offers a novel platform to study quantum phenomena such as dissipation and coherence with greater visibility than solid materials allow. While
materialsquantum-physicsultracold-atomsJosephson-junctionsuperconductorsquantum-simulationquantum-technologyMicrosoft-backed VEIR is bringing superconductors to data centers
Microsoft-backed startup Veir is developing superconducting electrical cables designed to address the rapidly increasing power demands of data centers, which have surged from tens to 200 kilowatts per rack and are projected to reach up to a megawatt in the near future. Traditional low-voltage copper cables become bulky and inefficient at these scales, but Veir’s superconducting cables can carry up to 3 megawatts of low-voltage electricity while occupying 20 times less space and transmitting power five times farther. These cables operate at extremely low temperatures (–196˚C) using liquid nitrogen cooling to maintain superconductivity, enabling zero energy loss. Veir has adapted its core superconducting technology, initially developed for long-distance power transmission lines, to meet the specific needs of data centers. The company has built a simulated data center in Massachusetts to demonstrate the technology and plans pilot deployments in operational data centers next year, aiming for a commercial launch in 2027. The startup acts as a systems integrator,
energysuperconductorsdata-centerspower-transmissioncooling-systemselectrical-cablesenergy-efficiencyUS Navy's new system reduces timeline for military quantum discoveries
The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has introduced a new "cluster system" designed to accelerate research into advanced quantum materials by enabling the growth and analysis of materials at the atomic level within a single, contamination-free setup. This integrated system allows researchers to grow materials one atomic layer at a time and immediately study their structure and electronic properties without transferring samples between different facilities, thus improving efficiency and reducing contamination risks. The system incorporates a robotic transfer arm and multiple chambers connected by an ultra-high vacuum interface, facilitating techniques like molecular beam epitaxy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to visualize atoms and map electronic band structures. The focus of this research is on quantum materials with unique properties governed by quantum mechanics, such as superconductors and topological insulators, which have promising applications in military and defense technologies including memory storage, sensors, and energy-efficient electronics. By enabling streamlined material growth and characterization, the cluster system is expected to significantly shorten the timeline from fundamental scientific discovery to
materialsquantum-materialsmolecular-beam-epitaxyrobotic-armelectronicssuperconductorstopological-insulatorsFormer OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science
Periodic Labs, a new startup founded by former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers Ekin Dogus Cubuk and Liam Fedus, has emerged from stealth with an unprecedented $300 million seed funding round. Backed by prominent investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, Jeff Dean, Eric Schmidt, and Jeff Bezos, the company aims to revolutionize scientific discovery by creating AI-driven autonomous laboratories. These labs will use robots to conduct physical experiments, collect data, and iteratively improve their processes, effectively building "AI scientists" that can accelerate the invention of new materials. The initial focus of Periodic Labs is to develop novel superconductors that outperform current materials and potentially require less energy. Beyond superconductors, the startup intends to discover a variety of new materials while simultaneously generating fresh physical-world data to feed back into AI models, addressing the limitations of existing models trained primarily on internet data. This approach marks a shift toward integrating AI with hands-on experimentation to push the boundaries of scientific research. Although Periodic Labs
robotAImaterials-scienceenergyautomationscientific-discoverysuperconductors3D-printed superconductors set new record in magnetic strength
Cornell researchers have developed a novel one-step 3D printing method to fabricate superconductors with record-setting magnetic performance. Using an ink composed of copolymers and inorganic nanoparticles that self-assemble during printing, followed by heat treatment, the team creates porous crystalline superconductors structured at atomic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic scales. This streamlined “one-pot” process bypasses traditional multi-step fabrication methods, enabling complex 3D shapes such as coils and helices while enhancing material properties through mesoscale confinement. A key achievement of this work is the printing of niobium nitride superconductors exhibiting an upper critical magnetic field of 40–50 Tesla—the highest confinement-induced value reported for this compound—crucial for applications like MRI magnets. The researchers established a direct correlation between polymer molar mass and superconductor performance, providing a design map for tuning properties. Graduate students and faculty from materials science and physics contributed to overcoming chemical and engineering challenges. Supported by the National Science Foundation and
3D-printingsuperconductorsmaterials-sciencenanotechnologyquantum-materialscopolymersmagnetic-strengthScientists measure quantum distance in a solid for the first time ever
Scientists have, for the first time, experimentally measured the full quantum metric tensor of electrons in a real solid crystal, using black phosphorus. Quantum distance, a theoretical concept describing how similar or different two quantum states are, had long eluded direct measurement in materials due to the difficulty of capturing the subtle quantum geometry of electrons. By employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) combined with synchrotron radiation at the Advanced Light Source, the researchers mapped the pseudospin texture of electrons in black phosphorus, enabling them to reconstruct the quantum distance and the full quantum metric tensor of Bloch electrons within the crystal. This breakthrough is significant because understanding quantum distances and the quantum metric tensor can illuminate anomalous quantum phenomena in solids, such as high-temperature superconductivity and resistance-free electrical conduction. Moreover, precise knowledge of quantum geometry is crucial for advancing quantum technologies, including the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers. While the current demonstration is limited to black phosphorus, the approach opens new avenues for exploring
materialsquantum-materialsblack-phosphorusquantum-distancesuperconductorsquantum-computingelectron-behaviorBreakthrough: Scientists spot hidden quantum states after 60-year hunt
materialsquantum-statessuperconductorssemiconductorenergy-scalesnanowiresvortex-statesScientists turn simple clay into base for quantum computer in Norway
materialsquantum-computingclaysemiconductor-propertiesenvironmental-sustainabilitysuperconductorsresearch-collaboration