Superconductivity in oxygen
Abstract
Among the simple diatomic molecules, oxygen is of particular interest because it shows magnetism at low temperatures. Moreover, at pressures exceeding 95GPa (~0.95Mbar), solid molecular oxygen becomes metallic, accompanied by a structural transition. The metallization process is characterized by an increase in optical reflectivity, and a change in the slope of the resistance-temperature curve. Here we report that at pressures of around 100GPa, solid oxygen becomes superconducting, with a transition temperature of 0.6K. The transition is revealed by both resistivity measurements and a Meissner demagnetization signal.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- June 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1038/31656
- Bibcode:
- 1998Natur.393..767S