Mercury Superconducting Meissner Effect

Most recent answer: 05/26/2013

Q:
How relatively diamagnetic is mercury when it's cooled to 4 kelvin?
- Russell J. Matthews (age 17)
Renton, WA
A:

Mercury is completely diamagnetic at 4K. It forms a conventional type-I superconductor at about 4.2K, and that completely excludes all magnetic fields except for in a thin surface penetration layer.

 

Mike W.  (posted without checking until Lee returns)


(published on 05/26/2013)