Search for Superconductivity in Micrometeorites

Abstract

We have developed a very sensitive, highly selective, non-destructive technique for screening inhomogeneous materials for the presence of superconductivity. This technique, based on phase sensitive detection of microwave absorption is capable of detecting 10−12 cc of a superconductor embedded in a non-superconducting, non-magnetic matrix. For the first time, we apply this technique to the search for superconductivity in extraterrestrial samples. We tested approximately 65 micrometeorites collected from the water well at the Amundsen-Scott South pole station and compared their spectra with those of eight reference materials. None of these micrometeorites contained superconducting compounds, but we saw the Verwey transition of magnetite in our microwave system. This demonstrates that we are able to detect electro-magnetic phase transitions in extraterrestrial materials at cryogenic temperatures.

Coexistence of multiphase superconductivity and ferromagnetism in lithiated iron selenide hydroxide [(Li1−xFexUrban1, Valmianski2, Pachmayr3 et al. 2018Phys. Rev. BSelf Cite4020View full textAdd to dashboardCite

“…Both observations together indicate two different SC transitions related to two phases. 28,29 An isothermal, low-field scan at 25 K shows a clockwise chirality which further supports the superconducting nature of the transitions (Fig. 2 (b)).…”

“…31 A unique advantage over other methods is its ability to distinguish phase transitions of different origins within the same compound. 28,29 In this study, we present two main results. First, we find that crystallographically single phase polycrystalline samples of LISH exhibit multiple SC phases with distinct T C 's.…”

“…MFMMS is a unique, highly sensitive, and selective technique 27 which provides information about inhomogeneous materials exhibiting multiple phase transitions. 28 Specifically, it has been extensively used to study SC systems 27,29,30 with multiple superconducting phases. 31 A unique advantage over other methods is its ability to distinguish phase transitions of different origins within the same compound.…”

Search for New Superconductors: an Electro-Magnetic Phase Transition in an Iron Meteorite Inclusion at 117 K

“…Because it is contactless, it is very useful for investigating fragile [26] or air sensitive samples [27]. In a series of extensive studies we have shown earlier that MFMMS has the unprecedented sensitivity of 10 -12 cc of a superconducting material embedded in a non-superconducting matrix [28,29]. For these reasons, we chose MFMMS to search for traces of superconductivity in naturally occurring inhomogeneous materials, such as meteorites and minerals.…”

Superconductivity found in meteorites

“…This sensitivity is critical in measuring possible minute phases within inhomogeneous materials (12). MFMMS has been used to search for novel superconductivity in several types of inhomogeneous samples, such as phase spread alloys (13), bulk samples (14), and even natural samples, including meteorites (15,16). However, previous searches for superconductivity in meteorites have not identified any superconducting compounds.…”