Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Discoveries made by my research team since 2007 have transformed our understanding of electron behaviour in copper oxide superconductors, materials that hold the record for the highest temperature at which superconductivity ? the ability of a metal to conduct electricity without resistance ? persists, currently halfway between absolute zero and room temperature. The key outcome is a new electronic phase, called a charge density wave, now known to coexist with superconductivity in these materials. The main objective of our proposed research is to elucidate the nature and role of this new phase, in particular the extent to which it controls the strength of superconductivity. We will probe the behaviour of electrons by measuring the properties of several copper oxides in extreme conditions of low temperatures, high magnetic fields and high pressures. In parallel, we will also investigate other materials, in particular the iron-based high-temperature superconductors. These offer a unique opportunity to understand in detail the role of magnetism in causing superconductivity, another ingredient deemed important in copper oxides. Reaching a deep understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity would provide insight into ways of enhancing the performance. Achieving room-temperature superconductivity would cause a technological revolution. For example, it would transform the way electricity is transported, opening new pathways for the use of solar and wind energy.