Demon particle

• Scientists have discovered a remarkable ‘demon particle’ that holds the potential to usher in a new era of superconductors.
• It was first predicted nearly 70 years ago by physicist David Pines.
  • Pines had asserted that combinations of electrons in a solid could form a composite particle that is massless, has no charge and does not interact with light.
• It is a transparent, massless, and neutral particle, with the capacity to manifest regardless of temperature, making it useful for superconductors.
• It is not a particle in the traditional sense like a proton or electron. It is a “composite” particle made up of a combination of electrons, in a solid (a metal strontium ruthenate Sr₂RuO₄).

USE IN SUPERCONDUCTORS

• A superconductor, a special type of metal or alloy, possesses the remarkable ability to transmit electrical currents without any hindrance.
  • However, current superconductors require the temperature to fall below 100 degrees Fahrenheit-mark to maintain their properties.
• The demon particle exhibits its properties regardless of temperature, potentially opening doors to room-temperature superconductors.