The Meissner effect, also known as the Meissner-Ochsenfeld effect, is a phenomenon that occurs when a material undergoes superconductivity. Superconductivity is a state of matter in which certain materials, called superconductors, can conduct electric current with zero resistance, meaning no energy is lost to heat or other forms of energy during the flow of current.
The Meissner effect occurs when a superconductor is subjected to a magnetic field. At a certain critical temperature, called the superconducting transition temperature, the superconductor undergoes a phase transition and becomes a perfect conductor of electricity. As a result, the magnetic field is expelled from the interior of the superconductor and it is said to become diamagnetic.
When a magnetic field is applied to a superconductor, the magnetic field lines penetrate the surface of the superconductor and create eddy currents, which generate their own magnetic fields that oppose the applied magnetic field. These opposing magnetic fields repel the external magnetic field and force it to be expelled from the interior of the superconductor. As a result, the magnetic field is confined to the exterior of the superconductor, forming a so-called “Meissner” or “perfect diamagnetic” state.
The Meissner effect is an important phenomenon because it enables the creation of powerful electromagnets, such as MRI machines and particle accelerators, which require high magnetic fields and low energy losses. Additionally, the Meissner effect also has potential applications in the development of more efficient power transmission systems and levitating trains.
Ankit Sharma is the Chief Editor at Uptu Khabar. He is passionate about new age digital marketing tools and their integration with the AI.
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