A Century of Superfluidity: from Mercury to Neutron Stars, from Nuclei to Ultra-cold Atoms

Since the discovery of superconductivity - the ability of certain materials to conduct electricity without dissipation - at the laboratory of Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, the phenomenon has become ubiquitous in Nature. Over the span of a century, innumerous superconductor s – also called charged superfluids - have been discovered starting from the element Mercury to more complex materials such as Copper Oxides.  In addition, several neutral superfluids were discovered ranging from liquid Helium to ultra-cold atoms.   A key characteristic of neutral or charged superfluids is that they allow the flow of energy through the material without dissipation.  Such exotic property has been found in certain metals, neutron stars, nuclei and ultra-cold atoms, but they are still of limited use.  In order to engineer superfluid systems and take advantage of their properties, it is necessary to understand them and learn how to control them – a task that requires time, substantial investments, extensive research, and often good luck. Over the last several decades, scientists made important fundamental and technological advances that made possible the control of some desirable properties of charged and neutral superfluids, which can now be used in medical imaging, levitating trains, submarine propulsion, generators, gyroscopes and space applications.  Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
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