JRC scientists co-authored a paper in Nature magazine

Brussels, Nov 2002

Karlsruhe (DE): a paper co-authored by JRC staff entitled "Plutonium-based superconductivity with a transition temperature above 18K" was published on 21 November in Nature magazine (Authors:J.L. Sarrao, L.A. Morales, J.D. Thompson, B.L. Scott, G.R. Stewart, F. Wastin, J. Rebizant, P. Boulet, E. Colineau, G.H. Lander).

The paper presents the discovery of superconductivity at 18.5 degrees Kelvin in a Plutonium-based compound. This discovery seems to point to the existence of a new, unconventional, class of superconductors. The current compound exposes a toxicity risk due to the content of Plutonium and therefore would be difficult to use in practical purposes. However, similar compounds based on other transuranic elements might combine the same superconductivity with a lower toxicity and therefore have a potential for technological applications.

Contact: margit.roedder@cec.eu.int

Url: http://itu.jrc.cec.eu.int/news/nature%20 11_02.pdf

Nature article

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