Viktor Struzhkin - The Quest for Room Temperature Superconductivity

Superconductivity is a rare physical state in which matter is able to conduct electricity without any resistance. It can only be found in certain materials, and even then it can only be achieved under specific temperature and pressure conditions. Although superconductivity has many practical applications for electronics, medical engineering, power transmission and storage, the difficulty of creating superconducting materials prevents it from being used to its full potential. Traditionally superconductors were made only in extremely low temperatures. But over time scientists discovered that applying pressure could create superconductors at somewhat higher temperatures. Here at the Geophysical Lab, we have developed very sensitive techniques capable of creating and detecting superconductivity under very high pressures. Viktor Struzhkin will detail our efforts in finding higher-temperature superconductivity.