Superconductor For Efficiency Abdul qoyyim1*, Aburizal Yusuf1, Rifki Cikita NZ1, Horna Yosi1, and Satria A R1 1 * Department

of Engineering Physics, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta Author to whom correspondence sensor2k10@gmail.com should be addressed; E-mail:

Abstract: As we know that the needs of electronic equipments is increasing today, it makes us need more energy to be used. Unfortunately, all of those electronic equipments cant use all of their energy because of the wasted energy, so we need a conductor material that can conduct electricity close to 100%, so the energy can be used efficiently. Scientists have finally discovered a new concept, a new material called superconductor, but it is still under research and development. The purpose of this topic is to introduce a new concept to the general public especially for the engineerings, to achieve a better life. Keyword: superconductor, efficiency, electronic parts

Introduction: Superconductor is a material that has no barriers below a certain temperature value. A superconductor could be a conductor, semiconductor or an insulator on the room condition. The temperature where there is a change of characteristic of conductivity material become a superconductor is called critical temperature (Tc). Scientists have known for a long time that the electrical resistance of a material is proportional to its temperature. So, we can conclude that when the temperature of a material is lowered, then the electrical resistance will be reduced. Because these materials have no electrical resistance, the electrons can move freely, it means they can bring great energy without losing energy in the form of heat.

Electrical resistance in the metal is caused by scattered electrons resulting from conductor irregularities and electron vibration. History and Development: Superconductors was first discovered by a Dutch physicist, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes,from Leiden University in 1911. On July 10, 1908, Onnes managed to liquefy helium by cooling to 4 K or 269 C. Then in 1911, Onnes began to study the electrical properties of metals at very cold temperatures. At the time it was known that a metal barrier will come down when cooled below room temperature, but no one know the limit of barriers that is achieved when the metal temperature near 0 K or absolute zero. Some expert scientists at that time such as William Kelvin predicted that electrons flowing in a conductor will stop when the temperature reaches absolute zero. On the other hand, other scientists including Onnes estimate that the barriers will disappear in these circumstances. To find out the truth, then Onnes makes the electricity flowing in a very pure mercury wire and then measure the resistance while lowering the temperature. At a temperature of 4.2 K, Onnes was surprised to find that the resistance suddenly disappears. electricity flows through a wire mercury continuously. Onnes observed yield curve depicted in Figure 1.

With no barriers, then the electricity can flow without losing energy. Onnes experiment with electricity flowing in a superconducting coil in a closed circuit and then unplug the electrical source and measure the current one year later, electricity was still flowing. This phenomenon was named Onnes Superconductivity . thanks to the findings, Onnes was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1913. Other findings related to superconducting occurred in 1933. Walter Meissner and Robert Ochsenfeld found that a superconductor would resist the magnetic field. As known, if a conductor is moved in a magnetic field, an induced current will flow in the conductor. The principle is then applied in the generator. However, in superconductors, the resulting flow is exactly opposite to the field so that field can not penetrate the superconducting material. This will cause the magnet was rejected. This phenomenon is known as the diamagnetism and this effect became known as the Meissner effect. Meissner effect is so strong that a magnet could float being rejected by the superconductor, figure 2. This magnetic field also should not be too large. If the magnetic field is too large, the Meissner effect will be lost and their materials will lose the characteristic of superconductivity. With the passage of time, it was also found other superconductorsuperconductor. In addition to mercury, it appeared that some other elements also indicate the characteristic of superconductors with different Tc prices. For example, carbon also are superconductors with Tc 15 K. the ironic is that the gold, copper and silver which is the best conductor metal is not a superconductor. In 1986 there was a new breakthrough in the field of superconductivity. Alex Mller and Georg Bednorz, researchers at IBM Research Laboratory in Rschlikon, Switzerland managed to make a ceramic consisting of lanthanum, barium, copper, and oxygen that are superconducting at the highest temperature at the time, 30 K. This discovery became spectacular because ceramics are known as insulators. Ceramic does not conduct electricity at all at room temperature. This led the researchers did not consider that ceramics can be a superconductor. This discovery makes both awarded the Nobel prize a year later. Discoveries in the field of superconductors is still done by researchers in the world. Another discovery was made a successful organic materials that are superconductors, namely (TMTSF) 2PF6. The critical point of organic compounds is still very low at 1.2 K.

In February 1987, a ceramic which is a superconductor was found at 90 K. This discovery is important because then you can use liquid nitrogen as coolant. Because the temperature is quite high compared to other superconducting materials, the materials was named high-temperature superconductorsThe highest temperature of a material becomes superconducting up to now is 138 K, which is a material which has the formula Hg0.8Tl0.2Ba2Ca2Cu3O8.33. In further development, superconducting materials are subdivided into two groups. The division of the two groups based on Cooper pair phase of the material. Cooper pair is the pair formed by the electrons of a material so that the material becomes superconducting nature. These electron pairs moving in a rhythmic and deliver electrical current freeway. This condition is called as a state of superconductors. Most of superconducting materials discovered earlier, was an even number. Until 12 November 2004 a study in the journal Science, led by Ying Liu, a professor of physics at Penn State and his team of Karl Nelson, a former student, Yoshiteru Maeno and Zhiqiang Mao, professor of physics at Kyoto University found that SrRu2O4 an odd number of superconductors. SrRu2O4 previously had been found by Yoshiteru in 1994. Superconductors with odd number will behave differently with an even number of superconductors. Superconductors with odd number other than to broaden the spectrum uses of superconductors, imagine the future may be used for specific applications, such as in research to develop quantum computers. Applications: Quite a big difference between the energy is wasted shows that ordinary conductors still require more energy than the superconductor. Superconductors are now widely used in various fields. Barriers are not preferred because the presence of obstacles, the flow will be wasted into heat.

If the resistance becomes zero, then there is no energy lost during power flow. The uses of superconductors in the field of transportation utilize effects Meissner, namely the appointment by a superconducting magnet. It is applied to the Japanese superfast train called The Yamanashi Maglev MLX01. The train is floating above the superconducting magnet. With the float, then the friction between the wheels with the rails can be removed and consequently the train can run very fast, 343 mph or about 550 km per hour. The use of very large superconducting course, there is in the field of electricity. Generator made from superconducting material has an efficiency of 99 percent and much smaller than the generator that uses copper wire. An American company, American superconductor Corp. prompted to install an electric stabilizer system that is named Distributed superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System (D-SMEs). One unit of D-SMEs can store electrical energy of 3 million watts, which can be used to stabilize electricity in case of power failures. For electrical transmission, the Government of the United States and Japan plan to use a superconducting cable with nitrogen to replace the cooling underground power cables made of copper. By using a superconducting cable, the electric current is transmitted will be much improved. 250 pounds superconducting cable can replace the 18,000 pounds of copper wire, resulted in an efficiency of 7000 percent in terms of place. In the computer field, superconductors are used to create a supercomputer with a fantastic numeracy. In the military field, HTS-SQUID is used to detect submarines and sea mines. Superconductors are also used to make an electric motor that produces 5000 HP power Based on rough estimates, sales of superconductors in the world, projected to grow 90 trillion worth of U.S. dollars in 2010 and 200 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020. This estimate is of course based on the assumption of linear growth. If the new superconductors with higher critical temperatures have been found, the growth in the field of superconductors will occur in an extraordinary way.

Conclusion: Final goal of the development of superconductor is to apply this superconductor at room temperature, so that only the discovery of new materials that are able to apply them. All the electronic world will experience a great revolution, and even believed human civilization will experience tremendous change. In addition, more in-depth research on the types, as well as superconducting properties for further development.

References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. www.wikipedia.org/wiki/superconductivity www.chem.ox.ac.uk/vrchemistry/super www.science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/question610.html www.fisikanet.lipi.go.id/utama.cgi?cetakartikel&1100396563 www. forum.kafegaul.com/archive/index.php/t-63690.html