In this preprint, the authors synthesize samples based on the claimed room temperature superconductor LK-99, and observe half-levitation similar to that seen in other recent videos, which has been ascribed to the Meissner Effect (a signature of superconductivity).

However, they performed a careful magnetization measurement and found that the sample is ferromagnetic. They also did a resistance measurement on a larger sample, and found that the majority of the material is a semiconductor. This points to a simpler explanation for the half-levitation phenomenon: it is a consequence of ferromagnetism (+ mechanical effects due to friction and sample shape), rather than the Meissner Effect.

Unless someone can demonstrate full levitation or better resistivity data for LK-99, this is arguably fatal for the claims of room temperature superconductivity.

  • 6mementomori@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    i hate to break it to you, but net positive isn’t exact here. the “energy in” used to calculate it is the energy of the actual photons, but to actually fire those lasers, you need 100 times the energy, so it’s a net 1%

    • TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz
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      1 year ago

      The fusion definition of “net positive” has always been heavily inflated so that investors and governments will actually put money into these dreams