In 1986 came the discovery of the so-called high temperature superconductors (the copper oxide or cuprate superconductors) pushing transition temperatures above 77 K (the boiling point of liquid nitrogen). Transition temperatures have been steadily rising ever since and in the mid 2000’s the more general research field of quantum materials emerged. The research aims are to push the boundaries of our understanding of the exciting exotic physics these materials show; with applications ranging from the development of quantum computers to ultra-sensitive measurement devices.
Work through the activities below and then check your solutions against the answer sheet.
