Search for Superconductivity in Extraterrestrial Materials: An Electro-Magnetic Phase Transition with Spin-Glass Characteristics

ORAL

Abstract

We have established a very sensitive, selective, and non-destructive microwave absorption technique to screen a wide range of different materials for superconductivity. This technique allows for the detection of minute amounts of superconducting material in a non-superconducting matrix and it is an ideal tool for searching for superconducting phases in materials found in nature. Here, we report on electro-magnetic phase transitions in extraterrestrial materials formed under very extreme conditions difficult to replicate in a laboratory. Of particular interest is a phase with a transition temperature of 110 K. The associated field scans are characteristic of a frustrated system. Frustrated systems were reported in magnetic systems (spin glasses) as well as in granular high Tc superconductors (frustrated Josephson Junction networks). We will discuss a procedure to discriminate between those two cases.

*This work was supported by the AFOSR under the grant number AFOSR F9550-14-1-0202.

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Authors

  • Stefan Guenon

    • PIT-Nano Optics, University of Tuebingen, Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego
    • Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen

  • J.G. Ramirez

    • Univ of California - San Diego
    • Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego

  • Ali C. Basaran

    • University of California-San Diego
    • Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego
    • University of California San Diego
    • Univ of California - San Diego

  • J. Wampler

    • Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego

  • S. Taylor

    • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Dartmouth College New Hampshire

  • M. Thiemens

    • Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego

  • Ivan K. Schuller

    • University of California-San Diego
    • Univ of California - San Diego
    • Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego