[intro music]
This is the superconducting quantum interference
device experiment, otherwise known as SQUID.
A SQUID is a superconducting ring, in which
electrons conduct with zero resistance by
forming Cooper pairs.
The Cooper pairs interfere as they travel
around the superconducting ring and these
interferences are very sensitive to magnetic
fields.
SQUIDs have many applications in modern technologies
such as quantum computers, medical imaging
and seismology.
In this experiment you get to handle liquid
nitrogen to cool the superconductor below
-183 degrees Celsius.
You then use an oscilloscope to observe the
superconductor conducting with zero resistance.
Closed superconducting rings contain only
quantised units of magnetic flux, otherwise
known as fluxons, which can also be observed
with the oscilloscope.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY!
The SQUID experiment is part of the third
year Quantum Physics of Solids and it's an
opportunity to see a real-world application
electrodynamics and quantum mechanics.
[outro music]
