Scientists claim that an Superconductor Levitates At Room Temperature

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As of 16 August 2023, however, the consensus is that it is an insulator in pure form, and not a superconductor at any temperature

Name

Scientists claim that an Superconductor Levitates At Room Temperature

Description

In a groundbreaking development, scientists from Korea University in Seoul have introduced LK-99, a compound that purportedly exhibits superconductivity at room temperature and normal pressure. This remarkable achievement, long regarded as a holy grail in the field of physics, has been met with cautious optimism and skepticism by the scientific community.

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Date

07

Month

/

25

Day

/

2023

Year

12

:

00

am

Evidences

Should LK99 truly prove to be a room-temperature superconductor, it would constitute a significant advancement with the capacity to bring about revolutionary transformations across various realms of science and technology.

The researchers assert that LK99 possesses the capability to facilitate electricity conduction completely devoid of resistance, maintaining this characteristic at temperatures as high as 127 °C (261 °F).

In 2023, a team of Korean researchers officially disclosed LK99 as a promising room-temperature superconductor.

Nevertheless, the statements regarding LK99 have not undergone independent verification, prompting certain experts to express reservations concerning the credibility of the research.

LK99 constitutes a polycrystalline compound composed of lead, oxygen, and phosphorus, intricately infused with copper in a process known as "doping."

Location

South Korea

Positions

As of 16 August 2023, however, the consensus is that it is an insulator in pure form, and not a superconductor at any temperature

As of August 4, 2023, the observed characteristics do not substantiate LK-99's status as a superconductor due to incomplete explanations in the provided literature. There is a lack of comprehensive detail regarding LK-99's ability to alter magnetization, showcase specific heat capacity, or exhibit a transition temperature crossing. Another plausible interpretation for LK-99's reported partial magnetic levitation could potentially arise solely from non-superconducting diamagnetism.

On August 2, 2023, The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics took steps to address the ongoing controversy and unverified assertions surrounding LK-99. To establish clear conclusions regarding these claims, a verification committee was instituted. This committee, led by Kim Chang-Young from Seoul National University, is composed of experts from Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology. Upon its establishment, the verification committee reached a consensus that the two papers published on arXiv by Lee et al. on July 22, as well as the videos publicly accessible at that time, did not provide sufficient evidence to support the assertion that LK-99 possesses superconducting properties.

Met with skepticism from materials scientists and superconductor researchers, the most advanced superconductors known prior to this situation had critical temperatures reaching 250 K (-23 °C; -10 °F) under pressures surpassing 170 gigapascals. In contrast, superconductors with the highest critical temperatures under normal atmospheric pressure (1 atm) could only reach a maximum of 150 K (-123 °C; -190 °F).

Proofs

Visual documentation provided by Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

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