What is superconductivity and what practical applications does it have Essay

What is superconductivity and what practical applications does it have (radiotelescopes, MagLevs, etc) - Essay Example Their application makes use of the properties rendered to them by electric and magnetic reactivity that is exploitable in major engineering projects. As briefly indicated in the applications segment, it is clear that superconductivity phenomenon offers a wide range of application solutions that increase efficiency and safety. According to the Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer (BCS) theory, electron pairing phenomena near the Fermi level then inside Cooper pairs occasions some rare form of interaction that stabilizes the crystal lattice of the material in question (Creswick et al, 1995). The three scientists behind the discovery were led to this discovery by the existence of a band gap on the Fermi level which was then extrapolated to the interpretation of crystal lattice phenomenon. Further research that included the isotope effect was applied in conjunction with the critical temperature observation of a physical state that exhibited superconductor features finally led to the discovery credited to Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer who won the Peace Nobel Prize in 1972 (hyperphysics.edu, n.d). This happens when the material is subjected to the temperatures specification that supports the superconductivity phenomena. Electron pairing of this phenomenon obeys quantum mechanics principles where lattice vibrations cause them to attract each other in what is referred to as phonon interaction. This happens in type I semiconductors that consist of about thirty pure metals of the periodic table. Type I superconductors obey the BSC theory and only experience superconductivity below the critical temperature (Tc). The exact temperature for which each of these superconductor materials exhibit this zero electric resistance phenomenon is referred to as critical temperature (Tc) and it varies from one material to the other. To achieve the critical temperature for any of these materials in order to acquire the near