The Sixth Annual Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. Lecture
presents
The Sixth Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. Lecture
From Cold Quicksilver to Levitating Trains:
The History and Promise of Superconductivity
Dr. Robert J. Cava
Russell Wellman Moore Professor of Chemistry
Princeton University
Unity Temple on the Plaza
7:30 p.m.
707 West 47th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
This lecture is free and open to the public. Please call 816-926-8727 for more information.
Abstract of the Lecture:
From Cold Quicksilver to Levitating Trains:
The History and Promise of Superconductivity
Superconductivity, the perfect conduction of electrical current with no energy loss whatsoever, is a very rare physical property that is found in some materials when they are cooled to extremely low temperatures. When it was first discovered in 1911 in the element mercury at 4 degrees above absolute zero, scientists immediately realized that it had the potential to profoundly change the technology of power transmission, but it was only in the 1960s that the metallic alloy superconductors that make modern MRI scanners, levitating trains, and giant particle accelerators possible were discovered. The theory that explains why such a crazy state of matter such as superconductivity can exist took more than 40 years to develop, and is considered one of the greatest achievements of theoretical physics.
We recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the discovery of a revolutionary new kind of superconductor, made from ceramics instead of metals, which may yet change our daily lives. The road toward everyday use of this new breed of superconductors remains long and hard, but we can now see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. This talk will describe the history and current status of superconductivity, and what some visionaries see as its possible impact on the global energy future.
About Dr. Cava:
Information about Dr. Cava can be found at his departmental website.