Published: January 6, 2021
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology approach the two decade-old mystery of why an anomalous metallic state appears in the superconductor-insulator transition in 2D superconductors. Through experimental measurements of a thermoelectric effect, they found that the quantum liquid state of quantum vortices causes the anomalous metallic state. The results clarify the nature of the transition and could help in the design of superconducting devices for quantum computers.
The superconducting state, in which current flows with zero electrical resistance, has fascinated physicists since its discovery in 1911. It has been extensively studied not only because of its potential applications but also to gain a better understanding of quantum phenomena. Though scientists know much more about this peculiar state now than in the 20th century, there seems to be no end to the mysteries that superconductors hold.