arrow
Return

Superconductivity found in meteorites

delete2020-03-23
delete7
delete
OA
AI
J
James Wampler
M
M. H. Thiemens *
S
Shaobo Cheng
Y
Yimei Zhu
I
Iván K. Schuller *
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1918056117delete
deleteOriginal
deleteShare
deleteSave
View PDF
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Meteorites can contain a wide range of material phases due to the extreme environments found in space and are ideal candidates to search for natural superconductivity. However, meteorites are chemically inhomogeneous, and superconducting phases in them could potentially be minute, rendering detection of these phases difficult. To alleviate this difficulty, we have studied meteorite samples with the ultrasensitive magnetic field modulated microwave spectroscopy (MFMMS) technique [J. G. Ramirez, A. C. Basaran, J. de la Venta, J. Pereiro, I. K. Schuller, Rep. Prog. Phys. 77, 093902 (2014)]. Here, we report the identification of superconducting phases in two meteorites, Mundrabilla, a group IAB iron meteorite [R. Wilson, A. Cooney, Nature 213, 274-275 (1967)] and GRA 95205, a ureilite [J. N. Grossman, Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 33, A221-A239 (1998)]. MFMMS measurements detected superconducting transitions in samples from each, above 5 K. By sub-dividing and remeasuring individual samples, grains containing the largest superconducting fraction were isolated. The superconducting grains were then characterized with a series of complementary techniques, including vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and numerical methods. These measurements and analysis identified the likely phases as alloys of lead, indium, and tin.
Keywords:
superconductivity
meteorites
extraterrestrial
AI Summary

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.

Journal

P
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IF:
9.1
Papers:
10.8W
Citations:
73.5W

Organization

University of California System cover
University of California System
Scholars:
37.5W
Papers: 33.7W
Citations: 6.6K
U
University of California San Diego
Scholars:
4.6W
Papers: 3.5W
Citations: 924