Simulating High Temperature Superconductors
December 5, 2017 | University of AmsterdamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Superconductivity, the effortless transport of electric charge, has many potential technological applications. Unfortunately, most materials that show superconductive behavior only do so at very low temperatures. An international group of physicists, among which UvA-Institute of Physics researcher Philippe Corboz, has now made important progress in simulating unconventional materials which are superconducting at higher temperatures. Their results were published in Science this week.
One of the grand open problems in physics is understanding high-temperature superconductivity, which was discovered more than 30 years ago in so-called cuprates. Superconductive materials are substances that completely lose their electrical resistance below a certain transition temperature. Typically, these temperatures are close to the absolute zero of the temperature scale, 273 degrees Celsius below zero. In cuprates, however, this temperature is much higher. Understanding the mechanism behind this phenomenon is the key to design new materials with an even higher transition temperature - the ultimate dream would be room temperature - which would pave the way for groundbreaking technological applications.
Computational Advances
In early attempts to gain understanding on this issue, it was proposed that a very simple model of interacting electrons moving on a two-dimensional lattice - called the Hubbard model - could capture the relevant physics of high temperature superconductivity. Despite the simplicity of the Hubbard model, it has been one of the major challenges in computational physics to accurately simulate it on a computer, in order to determine what type of ordering of the electrons is realized. However, thanks to major advances in computational methods for quantum many-body systems, the solution of the Hubbard model has recently become within reach.
By combining the latest numerical methods in large-scale simulations, the researchers have now found a definite answer on the ordering, namely a so-called "stripe" state (see image) in which the electron density is not uniform, but modulated in space. Stripes had also been found in previous studies, but not with the required level of precision to distinguish them from solutions with uniform density. The new simulations qualitatively reproduce some of the main features of the stripes observed in the cuprates. At the same time, they show that for a quantitative agreement with real materials, more realistic models beyond the simplest Hubbard model are required.
Suggested Items
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of a New Era for Newccess Industrial; The Construction of the MINGXIN Building
04/12/2024 | Newccess IndustrialOn a clear and sunny day in March, the groundbreaking ceremony for the MINGXIN Building took place in Shenzhen, China. This moment marked the official commencement of construction for a project that will reshape the semiconductor materials industry.
The Need for a Holistic Global Sustainability Standard
04/10/2024 | Michael Ford, Aegis SoftwareNo one can deny that the resources of our fragile planet are finite. The environment seems like a third party, subject to constant degradation. We’re acutely aware of the effects of pollution on our climate, and despite our “throw-away” culture, recycling and recovery of materials has remained relatively expensive, even as we use more energy just to survive.
iNEMI Publishes Four Roadmap Topics
04/04/2024 | iNEMIThe International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announces the availability of the first roadmap topics in the new iNEMI Roadmap format. Printed circuit boards, sustainable electronics, smart manufacturing, and mmWave materials and test are now available online.
Insulectro’s 'Storekeepers' Extend Their Welcome to Technology Village at IPC APEX EXPO
04/03/2024 | InsulectroInsulectro, the largest distributor of materials for use in the manufacture of PCBs and printed electronics, welcomes attendees to its TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE during this year’s IPC APEX EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 9-11, 2024.