Contact: Laura Ost
laura.ost@nist.gov
303-497-4880
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Strain Has Major Effect on High-Temp Superconductors

Caption: Magneto-optical image of magnetic fields within a YBCO superconductor showing electrically connected grains (yellow) and grain boundaries (green) that form barriers to superconducting currents. The large reversible effect of strain observed by NIST might be due to associated changes in grain boundaries, which raise the barriers to current flow and lowering the material's current-carrying capability.

Credit: D.C. van der Laan/NIST

Usage Restrictions: None

Related news release: Strain has major effect on high-temp superconductors