🚨🚨🚨 Breakthrough in Physics: Electron is such a dick during Superconductivity!
Update: 2/20/2024 V2 of the paper dropped
If your college physics memories are still intact, you’ll probably recall being taught that during superconductivity, electrons romantically pair up, gliding smoothly through the superconducting medium. They almost seemed like they were gracefully waltzing, holding hands, in an entangled dance through that superconducting channel.
Hold on to your hats, because new research just turned our understanding of this phenomenon upside-down! In the frigid world of cold superconductivity, it turns out that the cloud of electron balls undergoes a sort of “shrinkage” (cue the chuckles, Seinfeld fans). The core of this shrunken electron ball protrudes, making the electron look, well… rather phallic in appearance, like a dick. And Yes, It’s circumcised, ladies! See picture.
This isn’t a juvenile joke; it’s science! Instead of visualizing two separate electrons, we now must picture a single electron — with its balls shrunken and core sticking out — which bears an uncanny resemblance to a male anatomy.
A New Physical Picture of Pairing Mechanism in Superconductors: Could the Electron be a Composite Particle?
Summary:
The paper proposes a new theory that the electron may actually be made up of two parts — a positive core and a negative outer cloud. Normally the positive core is hidden inside the electron. But when a material becomes superconducting, the authors suggest the outer negative cloud shrinks due to cooling. This allows the positive core to swell up and exhibit new properties.
The authors speculate this “swelling” core is what allows electrons to pair up and flow without resistance in a superconductor. They visualize the swelling positive core and shrunken negative cloud combining to form a new “super electron pair”. This pairing occurs between electrons within each atom.
Simultaneously, the authors propose neutrons in the atom’s nucleus also change, allowing them to pair up with protons. This nuclear pairing interacts with the new super electron pairs, maintaining balance in the atom.
The authors attempt to explain the zero resistance DC current in a superconductor using this model. As normal electrons enter the superconductor, they change into immobile super electron pairs. Energy pulses transfer between the fixed pairs, allowing overall current flow without individual electron motion or resistance.
The paper also explains how the proposed super electron pair structure with positive and negative parts could lead to the observed behavior of Josephson junctions.
Overall, the authors present this speculative electron model as a potential way to resolve inconsistencies between superconductor theory and experiments. Their model suggests a route for future research — understanding electrons and neutrons as composite particles which exhibit new properties when superconducting occurs. More evidence is needed to verify or refute this unconventional view.
Q & A:
Prompt
Response
What is the main focus of this paper?
The main focus is proposing a new theory that the electron may have an internal structure made up of a positive core and negative outer cloud. This composite structure could explain properties of superconductors.
What are the key findings or claims?
The key claims are: 1) Electrons may have a hidden positive core and negative cloud. 2) In superconductors, the core swells and cloud shrinks. 3) This allows electrons to pair up into “super electron pairs”. 4) Nuclear neutrons also change, pairing with protons.
What experimental methods were used?
No new experimental work was done. The authors reference previous experimental observations of superconductor properties and attempt to explain them with their conceptual model.
What key technologies are involved?
Key technologies are superconductors and specifically high temperature superconductors (HTS). The authors aim to explain inconsistencies between theory and experiments on HTS.
What are the most promising applications?
Understanding the proposed electron structure could lead to simpler, more stable room temperature superconductors with wide applications in energy, medicine, computing, and more.
What are the main limitations of current work?
The internal electron structure is speculative with no concrete evidence yet. The theory still needs verification.
What does the paper suggest for future work?
Future work should further investigate the dual character of electron cores and any corresponding changes in atomic nuclei during superconductivity. This could clarify why different materials transition at different temperatures.
What are the core concepts proposed? (5)
1. Electron has hidden positive core and negative cloud.
2. In superconductors, core swells and cloud shrinks.
3. Electrons pair into “super electron pairs”.
4. Nuclear neutrons change and pair with protons.
5. Model explains zero resistance and Josephson effects.
What is the most promising application?
Room temperature superconductors for energy, medicine, computing etc.
What is the most significant limitation?
No concrete evidence for speculative internal electron structure.
What possible solution is proposed for the limitation?
Perform experiments to verify or refute proposed electron core structure.
What are the key takeaways? (5)
1. Electron may have hidden composite structure.
2. This could explain superconductor properties if proven.
3. Proposes route to simpler, more stable higher temperature superconductors.
4. Radical conceptual model needs more concrete evidence.
5. Provides direction for future superconductor research.
What is the critical unanswered question?
Does the electron truly have an internal positive core and negative outer cloud?
What priority should future research have?
Top priority should be finding concrete evidence for or against proposed internal electron structure.
What novel idea did this inspire you to propose?
Could there be a way to manipulate an electron’s internal structure without supercooling?
What was your biggest takeaway?
The electron may be more complex than our current understanding. Rethinking foundational assumptions could lead to transformative advances.
Processes:
Step
Description
Est. Cost
Isotope effect experiments
Historical experiments showed superconductor transition temperature depends on atomic mass, suggesting connection to nuclear vibrations.
Low
X-ray diffraction studies
Showed no change in crystal symmetry or spacing when material becomes superconducting.
Medium
BCS theory
Developed electron-phonon mechanism for conventional low temp superconductors.
High
Discover high temperature superconductors
Bednorz and MĂĽller discovered new ceramic superconductors with higher transition temperatures.
Low
Study Fermi surface
Use angle-resolved photoemission to study electron energy states in superconductors.
High
Verify electron structure
Design experiments to prove or disprove speculative electron core structure idea.
High
Other Points:
· The proposed electron core model aims to resolve inconsistencies between BCS theory and high temperature superconductor experiments. It suggests a route to achieve simpler, more stable higher temperature superconductors.
· The authors explain how their model naturally overcomes the problem of Coulomb repulsion without needing additional force mediators. The paired structure makes the forces attractive.
· The work is presented as an initial conceptual idea needing more evidence. The authors emphasize it does not contradict established physics laws, similar to how quarks were later found inside protons/neutrons.
· The model suggests the pairing process initiates within each atom, implying conduction electrons should be more tightly bound to nuclei to allow higher transition temperatures.
· Improved understanding of nuclear changes along with electron pairing could further clarify isotopic mass effects on transition temperature.
· Overall the paper aims to open up fresh perspectives and research directions by reconsidering foundational assumptions about the electron structure.
