By Kim McDonald -
Physicists at UC San Diego have developed a new way to control the transport of electrical currents through high-temperature superconductors—materials discovered nearly 30 years ago that lose all resistance to electricity at commercially attainable low temperatures.
Their achievement, detailed in two separate scientific publications, paves the way for the development of sophisticated electronic devices capable of allowing scientists or clinicians to non-invasively measure the tiny magnetic fields in the heart or brain, and improve satellite communications.
“We believe this new approach will have a significant and far-reaching impact in medicine, physics, materials science and satellite communications,” said Robert Dynes, a professor of physics and former Chancellor of UC San Diego.
READ MORE ON UC SAN DIEGO
Ref: YBa2Cu3O7− δ superconducting quantum interference devices with metallic to insulating barriers written with a focused helium ion beam. Applied Physics Letters (2015) | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4922640
Physicists advance high temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for many potential applications
