Findings unequivocally link two "personality"
changes of electrons at critical point
Scientists seeking to understand the intricacies of
high-temperature superconductivity—the ability of certain materials to carry
electrical current with no energy loss—have been particularly puzzled by a
mysterious phase that emerges as charge carriers are added that appears to
compete with superconductivity. It's also been a mystery why, within this
"pseudogap" phase, the movement of superconducting electrons appears
to be restricted to certain directions. So exploring the pseudogap and whether
and how it affects the movement of electrons has been a pivotal challenge.