wm Explain Meissner effect. What important property of superconductors does it explain? [Pune Univ. 2006, 2007, 2008; JNTU 2004, 2006, 2008] Answer In the year 1933, Meissner found that if a long superconductor is cooled in a longitudinal magnetic field then above the transition temperature, the lines of magnetic induction or magnetic flux pass through the specimen, while at or below the transition temperature magnetic flux is pushed out of the specimen. This indicates that below the transition temperature, the metal has become perfectly diamagnetic. ‘Thus, the phenomenon of exclusion of magnetic flux or ejection of lines of magnetic induction from the interior of bulk superconductor when they are cooled to below the transition temperature is called Meissner’s effect. Meissner’s effect is depicted in Figure 18.4. Those In R ToT. Figure 16.4 Meissner's effectIn fact, in a magnetic field at or below the transition temperature, persistent currents are generated and circulates so as to cancel the flux density inside the superconductor. Thus, Meissner’s effect is of fundamental importance because it shows that in an external magnetic field, a metal in a superconducting state behaves as if inside the specimen B = 0. B = (H+ M) =0 M =-H = magnetic susceptiitity x = Mi =—1 ‘Thus, the superconducting state is a perfect diamagnetic. ‘Thus, perfect diamagnetism and zero resistivity are two independent and essential properties of asuperconductor. According to Ohm’s law, the resistivity and electric field & are related as = ps as.) Iris clear from Eq. (18.1) that if resistivity p goes to zero, and current density 7 is finite then electric field E must be zero. According to Maxwell’s equation dB = @ 2 coun 18. = E 18.2) where c is the velocity of light. For zero resistivity (p= 0), we can write EB=0 So, from Eq. (18.2) a ; 5B = 0 or B= cons . curl E =0) S tant « » Itmeans that the magnetic flux density in the interior of the superconductor cannot change on cooling at or below the transition temperature. This conclusion contradicts Meissner effect. Hence, zero resistivity and perfect diamagnetism are two independent properties of superconducting state.