Single-Atom Barriers Guide Quantum Vortices Through Superconductors
Source: Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily
Researchers have engineered atomic-scale defects that act as tracks for quantum vortices—the swirling disturbances that degrade superconductor performance—allowing unprecedented control over their movement and reducing energy loss. Instead of treating quantum vortices as random noise, engineers can now choreograph them along predetermined paths, with direct applications for power grids, MRI machines, and quantum computers where energy efficiency determines economic viability. Manufacturing precision at the atomic level is shifting from theoretical interest to competitive advantage.