What Will the First Commercial Product Be for LK99-Type Room Temperature Superconductors ?

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RF SQUIDs (radio frequency Superconducting quantum interference device) only need one Josephson junction to work. This is used for magnetic field sensing. It would not need high current or other high performance capabilities.

There are two main types of SQUID: direct current (DC) and radio frequency (RF). RF SQUIDs can work with only one Josephson junction (superconducting tunnel junction), which might make them cheaper to produce, but are less sensitive.

Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers are based on superconducting Josephson junction and flux antenna. These extremely sensitive devices measure magnetic field changes rather than absolute field value.

SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) magnetometers are generally used to measure the magnetization of very small samples (e.g., thin films) or systems that are just on the limit of magnetic order. SQUID magnetometers are mainly applied to scientific investigations. Measuring materials with a high magnetization requires the use of an attenuator, but due to their very great sensitivity geological, biological, and medical applications are increasing. The operation of a SQUID magnetometer is based on two effects: flux quantization and the Josephson effect.

The classical Josephson junction consists of an insulating barrier between two superconductors thin enough to couple “weakly.” This allows an electron pair tunneling via the barrier.


13 thoughts on “What Will the First Commercial Product Be for LK99-Type Room Temperature Superconductors ?”

  2. I think “when” not what is the more important question.

    When do you think Brian?
    I’m gonna say Q3 2029

  4. I hope this turns out to be a real superconductor. We need some exciting technological revolution. Everything has been so stale since the world war surge died down.

    • Ahem … errr … since WW–2?

      We got transistors → integrated circuits → microprocessors → parallel computers → cell phones → smart phones … photography has been revolutionized, along with videography.

      We have the Internet.

      We’ve got millions of all-electric and remarkably competent e-cars.

      We now actually FIX clogged arteries with stents, hearts with bypasses that have become basically nearly outpatient procedures.

      By now the world was supposed to be exhausting its oil reserves. Nevertheless, it is reported that the accessible reserves have INCREASEd.

      We’ve plumbed the very heart of matter with colliders the size of small countries. Our mastery of materials is such that we’ve harnessed unimaginable nanoscopic fibers 100× stronger than steel.

      Remarkably, hospitals can routinely ‘slice up’ patients with astoundingly accurate nuclear magnetic resonance imagers, preventing millions of (now unneeded) exploratory surgeries.

      But, MZSO, since you and I tend to spar on the same side of issues, I think I get your point. It feels a lot like things have begun to stale. So much so that the ‘wonderment’ of novel high technology is being lost to the young rising public. Technology has become nearly magical; precious few people CAN explain how it works, or even give a fnerk. In many ways, we’ve already entered Gibson’s post-understandable technology era. (Neuromancer)

      So yah. I don’t think that this superconductor will itself augur in The Revolution. It will be a whole host of aunts-and-uncle compounds yet to be found, but similarly arranged. After the theorists cobble together a good working hypothesis on the mechanisms of room temperature superconductivity, AND THEN use them to synthesize ‘in silico’ (i.e. model) the next, next next, and next next next generations of materials.

      ⋅-⋅-⋅ Just saying, ⋅-⋅-⋅
      ⋅-=≡ GoatGuy ✓ ≡=-⋅

      • Well, it just seemed like much of the technology that our world is based on was invented/developed at the time until it wound down by the sixties. Electronic computers, chips, jet travel, space travel, nuclear power.

        (Too bad there is no reply notifications feature on this website anymore. After all the commenting system changes, it regressed below the first one, which was Disqus.)

  5. There is no obligation to give a reality check here.

    When they figure out how to grow bars of it, any power electronics limited by heat will be improved. 1.6 GW generators without H2 cooling, 500kW/hr charging cables, who knows.

    I think this SC is a bit more promising than nano graphite straws that haven’t even found use in composites. I don’t recall doing the hooptie dance when someone made buckyballs and said they were going to change my life.

    This is a REAL discovery. A useful discovery if only for theorists at the moment. This is like the moment they found fission or penicillin. These discoveries turned on lights in dark rooms. They eclipse all incremental achievements in aviation from Wright Bros to B2 to the newest rocket. These gifts from יהוה‎ are becoming increasingly hard to come by. I’m super happy to see it in my lifetime.

    Now, I want to see a Super Nova in our quadrant of the galaxy. Maybe one or two more things….

    • You’re not wrong. If actual room-temperature superconductivity is coaxed out of this material (or one similar to it), then I am actually hopeful that nuclear fusion might be actually achievable rather than perpetually ten years out…

  7. “What Might the First Commercial Product for an LK99-Type Room Temperature Superconductor ?”
    Is there supposed to be a verb in there?

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