Magnetic Christmas Tree

A snapshot of magnetic flux at super cold temperatures. 

Using a magneto-optical imaging technique, scientists have captured sudden avalanches of magnetic flux on a superconducting film. In superconductors, their electrical resistance drops to zero after reaching a unique critical temperature. The images for this superconducting film were captured at 268 degrees Celsius below zero.  

Related Abstract

  Threshold current critical density to trigger flux avalanches in superconducting thin films

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Journalists wishing to reproduce this image for news stories about related research should include the following image credit: W.A. Ortiz et al., DF/UFSCar, Brazil.