At the top left is a plot of temperature versus resistivity for a metal; as temperature decreases, resistivity decreases.At the top right is a similar plot for a superconductor. Below a temperature called the critical temperature, Tc, the resistance falls to zero.Below Tc, conduction occurs by electron pairs called Cooper pairs.The Cooper pair attraction is mediated by the crystal - a passing electron draws atoms of the lattice toward it, mediating attraction for the other electron of the Cooper pair. Atomic displacement is shown at the bottom (dark circles) with original positions (light circles).
|
