Scientists Conduct Studies to Understand Neutron Stars and Superconductors

A research team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) headed by Martin Zwierlein is carrying out experiments to study high temperature superconductors and superconductivity of electrons in metals since they have the potential to greatly impact the energy efficiency.

The research team used a lithium isotope which contained an odd number of neutrons, electrons and protons. Particles that have such combinations are called fermions. Fermions combine with each other in pairs in order to become superfluid and to enable movement without friction. In superconductors too, electrons form cooper pairs to move without any friction.

Any transition from superfluid state to gaseous state should be characterised by a substantial change in energy, density and pressure. To measure the change in all these parameters the research team trapped the gas in an atom trap and cooled it to ultralow temperatures. The team expected to see superfluid which had pairs of atoms at the centre of the trap which was surrounded by unpaired atoms. Earlier researchers faced issues in formulating an ideal thermometer which could measure the energy, pressure and intensity accurately. This research team eliminated such issues by defining the properties of the atom trap. This experiment could also greatly help scientists in understanding highly dense neutron stars which though measuring a diameter of only 12 km weigh more than the sun.