Researchers unveil 'demon particle' that can lead to making superconductors

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Last Updated25/08/2023

Researchers at the University of Illinois recently discovered a demon particle that could lead to the making of superconductors that can operate at room temperature.
This massless particle, termed as the holy grail of superconductors, was discovered nearly 70 years after ‘demons’ were first predicted.

These are certain metals or alloys that can conduct electricity without resistance.
However, the temperature needs to be below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Used in operations such as levitating trains and highly accurate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
With the discovery of materials capable of operating at room temperature, emergence of more powerful computers could come into being.

The demon particle was first predicted by theoretical physicist David Pines in 1956.
Pines theorised that electrons passing through a solid would exhibit unique behaviours.
These behaviours could lead to the formation of a new type of particle that he called a "demon particle".
They are massless, chargeless, and transparent to light.
They are also able to form plasmons (collective units of electrons that behave like waves) which are important in superconductivity.
- With such a large mass, plasmons cannot form with energies available at room temperature.
- Since demons do not contain mass, they can form with any energy and in room temperatures as well.