Superconductivity and its applications for society

Europe/Zurich
80-1-001 (CERN)

80-1-001

CERN

Globe of Science and Innovation
Amalia Ballarino (CERN)
Description
In this talk, the second in CERN’s International Year of Light series, senior CERN scientist, Amalia Ballarino explains the potential of superconductivity for accelerators and for society. Superconductivity was discovered just over 100 years ago. It refers to certain materials that change their properties when cooled to, normally, below 20 K (- 253.15°C) to offer no resistance to the passage of electrical current. Particle physics has been a major driving force in developing superconductivity, and, here at CERN, the magnets of the Large Hadron Collider use superconducting coils to allow high currents to flow without losing any energy to electrical resistance. The material Niobium-Titanium is the workhorse for accelerators, as well as MRI scanners and fusion systems, and research is ongoing for Niobium-Tin superconductors in high field magnets. Most applications are based on low temperature superconducting materials, needing large cryogenic systems to keep them cold. With the discovery of High Temperature Superconductivity, a new class of materials emerged that could offer solutions to fundamental challenges of the 21st century such as global energy production, storage, and distribution.
Webcast
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    • Superconductivity and its applications for society

      High-energy physics has been a major driving force in the development of applied superconductivity, the two fields becoming an example of exceptional merging between fundamental physics research and technological development. The discovery of High Temperature Superconductivity has generated great enthusiasm in a new class of materials that could enlarge the variety of applications. These materials could offer solutions to fundamental challenges of the 21st century, in particular the storage of energy and distribution of electric power.
      The talk discusses superconductivity and its potential applications that could transform our economy and daily life.

      Convener: Dr Amalia Ballarino (CERN)
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      ballarino
      Speaker: Amalia Ballarino (CERN)