PLENARY SESSION 3PL

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., General Assembly Hall A (GRB); Chair: K. A. Müller (U Zürich)

3PL.1 HTS Materials: Present Status and Future Challenges

C. W. Chu, Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5932, USA

Presenting Author: C.W. Chu

In the last 14 years, many high temperature superconductivity compounds have been discovered, leading to the rapid rise of T_c; the revelation of their physical properties, the proposition of various theoretical models; and the development of prototype devices. In spite of this impressive progress, a comprehensive microscopic theory of high temperature superconductivity is yet to be found and viable commercialization of high temperature superconductors (HTSrs) remains beyond our reach. We believe that the impasse can be alleviated greatly by the attainment of HTSrs with prescribed properties. They consist of existing compounds with modified characteristics as well as new ones yet to be discovered. In this presentation, I shall summarize the material issues relevant to the present scientific and technological challenges, describe the prescribed properties of these future HTSrs and propose possible ways to attain such HTSrs. One specific example will also be given about the superconducting ferromagnets, Ru-1212 and Ru-1222, that are derived from the GdSr₂Cu₃O₇ CuSr₂GdCu₂O₇ (Cu-1212), for the study of interaction of superconductivity with ferromagnetism.