By: ION ERREA - Fisika Aplikatua saila, Gipuzkoako Ingeniaritza Eskola, and Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
When: February, 5th at 12 PM
Where: Salón de Actos, ICMM
Abstract: Since its discovery in 1911, reaching ambient conditions superconductivity is one of the biggest scientific challenges. In 2023 two different research groups claimed to have finally found it, first, in a nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride and, second, in a copper doped lead apatite, creating at the same time big expectations and skepticism in the community that transcended to the whole society. The paper on lutetium hydride has been recently retracted and a big effort from the community has clarified that the anomalous properties in the lead apatite are not coming from a superconducting state. Are all expectations gone? In this lecture I will discuss that, while the prospects on unconventional superconductors are unclear due to the incapacity to perform ab initio predictions of their Tc, hydrogen-based materials offer a viable route for new discoveries. I will review the latest results in the field and why there are reasons to be optimistic.
