Superconductivity
Superconductivity is the basis of many unique and specialised devices that extend the frontier of new and emerging technologies. Superconducting technology can be found in a diverse range of applications, extending across very large physical dimensions. At the top of the measurement scale, physically large sized superconductors are used to transport high electrical energy density over large distances with very low loss. This can be seen in applications such as in power installations in Japan, Korea and Germany and superconducting magnetic levitating trains. At the other end of the measurement scale, superconducting quantum electronics that are microns or even nanometres in size, are used in quantum computing and as very sensitive magnetometers (SQUIDs). Applications of superconducting technologies are still emerging as the quantum technology evolves. At QUT, work at both of these measurement scales in superconductivity is being explored.
Following the breakthrough discovery of High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS) in 1986, superconducting devices were able to be realised in compact solutions as one deterrent with Low-Temperature Superconductors (LTS) was the operational temperature. Rather than office sized cryocoolers providing sub 1 Kelvin temperatures with LTS technolgy, cryocooler’s the size of a household toaster are currently able to provide operational temperatures for many HTS devices. This enables many more opportunities for superconducting technologies to be integrated into current systems and solutions. One notable field that would benefit greatly is microwave engineering.
Current Funded Research Projects
Staff and Students Currently Involved with Superconducting Technology @ QUT
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Dr Richard Taylor
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Dr Shawn Nielsen
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Dr Adriana Bodnarova
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Robert Hickey
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Dr Igor Kondratiev
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Else Shepherd
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Timothy Cosgrove
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Alex Makieieva