Question

vi. How will organic superconductors benefit Malaysia.

Answer 1

Organic superconductors will benefits malasiya in following sectors

• Maglev(magnetic levitation) trains. These work because a superconductor repels a magnetic field so a magnet will float above a superconductor – this virtually eliminates the friction between the train and the track. However, there are safety concerns about the strong magnetic fields used as these could be a risk to human health.

● Large hadron collider or particle accelerator. This use of superconductors was developed at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, UK in the 1960s. The latest and biggest large hadron collider is currently being built in Switzerland by a coalition of scientific organisations from several countries. Superconductors are used to make extremely powerful electromagnets
to accelerate charged particles very fast (to near the speed of light).
● SQUIDs (Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices) are used to detect even the weakest
magnetic field. They are used in mine detection equipment to help in the removal of land
mines.
● The USA is developing “E-bombs”. These are devices that make use of strong, superconductor- derived magnetic fields to create a fast, high-intensity electromagnetic pulse that can disable
an enemy’s electronic equipment. These devices were first used in wartime in March 2003
when USA forces attacked an Iraqi broadcast facility. They can release two billion watts of
energy at once.
The following uses of superconductors are under development:
● Making electricity generation more efficient
● Very fast computing.
Other impacts of superconductors on technology will depend on either finding superconductors
that work at far higher temperatures than those known at present, or finding cheaper ways of
achieving the very cold temperatures currently needed to make them work.