BSCCO Phase Diagram (IMAGE)
Caption
This phase diagram for BSCCO plots the temperature (T, in degrees Kelvin, on the y axis) at which superconductivity sets in as more and more charge vacancies, or "holes," are doped into the material (horizontal, x axis). On the underdoped side of the "dome" (left), as more holes are added, the transition temperate increases to a maximum of 94 K, but as more holes are added, the transition temperature drops off. The red dashed line represents previously assumed dependence of superconductivity "dome," while the black line represents the correct dependence, obtained from the new data (black dots). This was the first time scientists were able to create highly overdoped samples, allowing them to explore the part of the phase diagram shaded in yellow where superconductivity disappears. Tracking the disappearance may help them understand what causes superconductivity to occur in the first place.
Credit
Brookhaven National Laboratory
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