The Law of Entropy Increase and the Meissner Effect

The law of entropy increase postulates the existence of irreversible processes in physics: the total entropy of an isolated system can increase, but cannot decrease. The annihilation of an electric current in normal metal with the generation of Joule heat because of a non-zero resistance is a well-known example of an irreversible process. The persistent current, an undamped electric current observed in a superconductor, annihilates after the transition into the normal state. Therefore, this transition was considered as an irreversible thermodynamic process before 1933. However, if this transition is irreversible, then the Meissner effect discovered in 1933 is experimental evidence of a process reverse to the irreversible process. Belief in the law of entropy increase forced physicists to change their understanding of the superconducting transition, which is considered a phase transition after 1933. This change has resulted to the internal inconsistency of the conventional theory of superconductivity, which is created within the framework of reversible thermodynamics, but predicts Joule heating. The persistent current annihilates after the transition into the normal state with the generation of Joule heat and reappears during the return to the superconducting state according to this theory and contrary to the law of entropy increase. The success of the conventional theory of superconductivity forces us to consider the validity of belief in the law of entropy increase.

Modulation of persistent current in graphene quantum rings

We investigate the effect of long-range impurity potentials on the persistent current of graphene quantum rings in the presence of an uniform perpendicular magnetic field. The impurity potentials are modeled as finite regions of the ring with a definite length. We show that, due to the relativistic and massless character of the charge carriers in graphene, the effect of such non-uniform potentials on the energy spectrum and on the persistent current of the rings can be reliably modeled by assuming a non-perturbed ring and including an additional phase due to the interaction of the charge carriers with the potential. In addition, the results show the presence of localized states in the impurity regions. Moreover, we show that for the case of a potential created by a p-n-p junction, the persistent current can be modulated by controlling the voltage at the junction.

The quantum dynamics of a mesoscopic driven RLC circuit consisting of a linear inductor, a linear resistor and a nonlinear capacitor

The nonlinear capacitor that obeys of a cubic polynomial voltage–charge relation (usually a power series in charge) is introduced. The quantum theory for a mesoscopic electric circuit with charge discreteness is investigated, and the Hamiltonian of a quantum mesoscopic electrical circuit comprised by a linear inductor, a linear resistor and a nonlinear capacitor under the influence of a time-dependent external source is expressed. Using the numerical solution approaches, a good analytic approximate solution for the quantum cubic Duffing equation is found. Based on this, the persistent current is obtained antically. The energy spectrum of such nonlinear electrical circuit has been found. The dependency of the persistent current and spectral property equations to linear and nonlinear parameters is discussed by the numerical simulations method, and the quantum dynamical behavior of these parameters is studied.

High-Temperature Superconducting Non-Insulation Closed-Loop Coils for Electro-Dynamic Suspension System

The null-flux electro-dynamic suspension (EDS) system is a feasible high-speed maglev system with speeds of above 600 km/h. Owing to their greater current-carrying capacity, superconducting magnets can provide a super-magnetomotive force that is required for the null-flux EDS system, which cannot be provided by electromagnets and permanent magnets. Relatively mature high-speed maglev technology currently exists using low-temperature superconducting (LTS) magnets as the core, which works in the liquid helium temperature region (T ⩽ 4.2 K). Second-generation (2G) high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets wound by REBa2Cu3O7−δ (REBCO, RE = rare earth) tapes work above the 20 K region and do not rely on liquid helium, which is rare on Earth. In this study, the HTS non-insulation closed-loop coils module was designed for an EDS system and excited with a persistent current switch (PCS). The HTS coils module can work in the persistent current mode and exhibit premier thermal quenching self-protection. In addition, a full-size double-pancake (DP) module was designed and manufactured in this study, and it was tested in a liquid nitrogen (LN2) environment. The critical current of the DP module was approximately 54 A, and it could work in the persistent current mode with an average decay rate measured over 12 h of 0.58%/day.

High Temperature Superconducting Non-insulation Closed-loop Coils for Electro-dynamic Suspension System

Null-flux Electro-dynamic suspension (EDS) system promises to be one of the feasible high-speed maglev systems above 600 km/h. On account of its greater current-carrying capacity, superconducting magnet can provide super-magnetomotive force that is required for null-flux EDS system and cannot be provided by electromagnets and permanent magnets. There is already a relatively mature high-speed maglev technology with low temperature superconducting (LTS) magnets as the core, which works in the liquid helium temperature region (T≤4.2 K). 2-Generation high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet winded by REBa2Cu3O7−δ (REBCO, RE=rare earth) tapes works above 20 K region and do not need to count on liquid helium which is rare on earth. This paper designed HTS no-insulation closed-loop coils applied for EDS system and energized with persistent current switch. The coils can work at persistent current model and has premier thermal quench self-protection. Besides, a full size double-pancake module was designed and manufactured in this paper, and it was tested in liquid nitrogen. The double-pancake module’s critical current is about 54 A and it is capable of working at persistent current model, whose average decay rate measured in 12 hours is 0.58%/day.