Superconductors
Uploaded by colakid on Oct 30, 2004
A superconductor is an element, inter-metallic alloy, or compound that will conduct electricity without resistance below a certain temperature. When it comes to the uses of superconductors, there are several different ways for them to be used. Magnetic-levitation is an application where superconductors perform extremely well. Transport vehicles such as trains can be made to “float” on strong superconductors magnets, virtually eliminating friction between the train and its tracks.
An area where superconductors can perform a life-saving function is in the field of biomagnetism. Doctors need a non-invasive means of determining what’s going on inside the human body. By impinging a strong superconductor-derived magnetic field into the body, hydrogen atoms that exist in the body’s water and fat molecules are forced to accept energy from the magnetic field. They then release this energy at a frequency that can be detected and displayed graphically by a computer. An example of this could be a MRI, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This type of test was actually discovered in the mid 1940’s.
Probably the one event, more than any other, that has been responsible for putting “superconductors” into the American lexicon was the Superconducting Super-Collider project planned for construction in Ellis county, Texas. Though congress cancelled the multi-billion dollar effort in 1993, the concept of such a large, high-energy collider would never have been viable without superconductors. High-energy particle research hinges on being able to accelerate sub-atomic particles to nearly the speed of light. Superconductor magnets make this possible.
Another use of superconductors is in electric generators made with superconducting wire are far more effeicient than conventional generators wound with copper wire. In fact, their efficiency is above 99% and their size is about half that of conventional generators. General Electric has estimated the potential worldwide market for superconducting generators in the next decade at around $20-30 billion dollars. Other commercial power projects in the works that employ superconductor technology include energy storage to enhance power stability. An idealized application for superconductors is to employ them in the transmission of commercial power to cities. However, due to the high cost and impracticality of cooling miles of superconducting wire to cryogenic temperatures, this has only happened with short “test runs.”
The most ignominious military use of superconductors may come with the deployment of “E-bombs.” These...