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Sri Lankan pioneering superconductivity research
Prof Ranga Dias and team make world’s first-ever room-temperature superconductor
By Sajitha Prematunge
It is not a vaccine for COVID-19, but it could be the next best thing. The world’s first superconductor at room temperature, developed by a research team lead by Sri Lankan born physicist, Prof. Ranga Dias at the University of Rochester, USA, could potentially revolutionise everything from transport to energy industry.
The team recently discovered carbonaceous sulphur hydride (CSH), a new compound that acts as a superconductor at 15 °C at a pressure of 267 Giga Pascals (Gpa), or 2.6 million atmospheres (75 percent of the pressure at the earth’s core). The heady article in Nature magazine, which published this groundbreaking discovery in its cover story on October 15, may sound gobbledygook for some. Consequently, The Island interviewed University of Rochester, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Assistant professor Prof. Ranga Dias; Ph.D. student in Physics, Hiranya Pasan and Ph.D. candidate in Optics, Ashan Ariyawansa to put things in perspective.
A superconductor is a materiel that poses no electrical resistance. “We used two diamonds, each approximately 150 to 200 micron in diameter, on top of each other, to make what’s called a diamond anvil cell. The sample was sandwiched between the two diamonds and pressure applied.” Pasan explained that they could achieve pressures of up to 500 Giga Pascals with the diamond anvil cell. “For comparison, that’s more than the pressure at the earth’s core,” said Pasan. “The diamond anvil cell acts as a materiel search engine, that we use to test material at different pressure until we found the ideal conditions to achieve superconductivity for each material, allowing us to determine which materiel is the most effective. And the result was CSH, a compound belonging to a new class of dense hydrogen rich material.
What took so long?
Even though their work was based on old theory, in existence for more than a century, there is still a lot of unknowns. “Even established theory does not explain the mechanism that goes into the making of a superconducting material,” said Dias. But they had two criteria going for them, the ideal superconductor should be of a lighter element that can make stronger bonds. This was the basic premise under which Dias and his team started working with carbon and sulphur. “Our success depended on the right elemental combination,” said Dias, a researcher on high-pressure physics, who had been working with carbon and sulfur for just over a decade.
Pressure variations can convert basic elements of the periodic table into something completely different. Dias explained complex high-pressure physics with a simple analogy. There are two people in a room who can’t interact with each other because they are on opposite corners of the room. Now have the walls close in on them until they are able to talk, shake hands and interact. “The same principle can be applied to elements. When pressurized, atoms and molecules become more interactive and make new bonds. This alters the actual chemical nature of the compound. That’s the beauty of high-pressure physics, it allows you to manipulate the identity of compounds to create whole new material with completely unexpected properties,” said Dias.
Previous research
Dias holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colombo. He turned his attention to metallic hydrogen research as an extension of his PhD research on high-pressure physics at the University of Washington. In 2017, Dias, then a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and Isaac Silvera, physicist at Harvard announced the discovery of metallic hydrogen in the Science magazine. Their experiment involved compressing hydrogen gas, which liquifies when cooled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 252.778 Celsius), and then solidifying it at lower temperatures. The claim came under heavy criticism for being based on a single observation, on reflectivity (an expected signature of metallic hydrogen), and without a direct measurement of the pressure involved. The original ‘metallic hydrogen’ sample was lost during the subsequent failure of the diamond anvil cell. Prof. Dias said: “It was a complete study. What is left is to describe the properties of metallic hydrogen, which we are actively working on. Research takes time. None of these experiments are easy.” He joined the University of Rochester, in 2017 as a professor, and is currently conducting further research on metallic hydrogen. He further explained that the Harvard group measured the pressure directly using standard methods that any high-pressure scientist used. Every high-pressure experiment ended with the failure of the diamond anvil cell, which means the loss of the sample. Consequently, Dias argued that there was nothing unusual about the fact that their diamond broke, resulting in the loss of the sample. “I think fellow competitors who were trying to make metallic hydrogen wasn’t happy that we got it right, their criticism has nothing to do with science but rather was a political attack on my previous advisor [Silvera].”
When asked how positive he is about the newly discovered carbonaceous sulphur hydride, in light of the previous backlash, Dias said that he doubted there was a connection. “They are two different experiments and very different samples. The hallmark of superconductivity is the complete absence of electrical resistance. And another property of superconducting materials is that when it is cooled below the superconducting transition temperature, the magnetic field lines are expelled from the material. We have observed both of these key properties on our carbonaceous sulphur hydride materials at high pressures.” Dias confident of the results.
Prof. Dias’ finding has definitely sparked investor interest. In fact, investors are already lining up to fund a research company, by the name of ‘Unearthly Materials’, set up under the leadership of Prof. Dias to carry out further research and to manufacture superconductors on a large scale. A financial capital of US $ 2 million, has already been provided by investors. Dias hopes it will culminate in a highly productive venture in three to five years.
Implications
Prof. Dias believes that the technology could open up a world of possibilities for medical imaging such as MRI, computing and consumer electronics such as mobile phones. Applications of his discovery include low-cost MRI scanners, magnetic levitation trains, and power lines with no electrical resistance. “A computer, for example, has a heavy cooling system with heat sink, fans and the like, but with a superconductor none of these will be necessary,” explained Hiranya Pasan, who was tasked with low temperature analysis in this research. With this kind of tech everything from car radiators to train tracks could become redundant. “A huge amount of energy is lost in transmission per year. It adds up to a lot of money,” pointed out Pasan. So, if someone were to mass produce superconducting wire, which offers no electrical resistance, he would save billions of or dollars for countless governments.
And then there is the Meissner effect, which in layman’s terms means to repel a magnet. Superconductors are strongly diamagnetic and expel magnetic fields. As such trains could employ magnets that levitate on superconducting material. “It produces no friction,” explained Pasan. Such frictionless high-speed trains could revolutionise the transport sector.
“The technology already exists,” explained Dias. Superconducting technology is used in MRI scanners, particle accelerators, and magnetic levitation trains of experimental scale in Japan, all of which involves large magnetic fields. “But it requires cryogenics.” Meaning that some metals reach superconductivity at extremely cold temperatures and, therefore, have to be cooled to about 10 to 20 Kelvin. For context, that’s minus 263.15 to 253.15 Celsius. The critical temperature of the first superconductor, discovered in 1911, was minus 269 °C, and the fact that no research has ever been able to find a material that acts as a superconductor in room temperature has been one of the major challenges in physics.
“The cryogenic factor is what makes the technology so expensive and therefore economically unviable,” pointed out Dias. So, if cryogenics were to be taken out of the equation, it would make medical imaging, for example, much more affordable and efficient. Prof. Dias explained that liquid helium is the most widely used coolant in superconducting applications, a resource fast diminishing.
He and his team were able to take the cryogenics out of the equation, but maintaining such gargantuan pressures make mass production of superconducting material virtually impossible. When asked how stable the new compound was Dias explained that CSH could be metastable, meaning that it may not revert to the original compound of carbon and sulphur once pressure is relieved. If not, it’s back to square one for the team as they would have to find another compound that acts as a superconductor at both room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The team revealed that they would conduct the ultimate experiment by relieving pressure, in the weeks to come, which Pasan has been tasked with. “Once we have a metastable superconducting material at ambient pressure, it’s just a matter of replicating it, using techniques like chemical deposition and Molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), to achieve mass production.” Those were the standard techniques and therefore were affordable, he said.
Ground-breaking discoveries are made every few decades in the western world and they have little or no effect at all on developing nations such as Sri Lanka. So why is a superconductor at room temperature even significant for a country like Sri Lanka? “I don’t think that the GDP matters in terms of implications of such discoveries, said Dias. “What is rocket science is developing a superconductor at room temperature. When that’s a reality, application comes easy. Whether it was frictionless trains or MRI scanners, such technology can always be applied by replacing the existing technology with the new.”
Application of such technology in quantum computing would be difficult for a country like Sri Lanka, but Dias pointed out that the implications of the technology for energy transmission was of considerable significance to developing countries. As Pasan pointed out, a lot of electricity is lost during transmission. Dias argued that with a superconducting wire, that pose no resistance, third world power generation can be made more efficient, thereby increasing capacity. “This kind of application is not difficult to apply even in a developing country.” Dias assured that such technology would be affordable even for developing countries.
Local students
When asked about the practical difficulties Sri Lankan students have to face, Hiranya pointed out that as opposed to Sri Lanka, the US has a more student-centred education system, while Dias said there was a clear lack of enthusiasm for research in Sri Lanka. “During my time in Sri Lanka, we were hardly exposed to experiments, we rarely saw instruments, except at practicals during undergraduate years, simply because we didn’t have the facilities,” said Prof. Dias. “The system is exam-oriented, and as a result we lacked hands on experience.” Dias pointed out that in the US education system there was ample opportunity for research. “Even the exam questions here are very practical. It hones critical thinking instead of promoting memorising equations and just getting good grades.” Such a system increases research productivity, he said.
“Research lacks support in Sri Lanka, especially in terms of funding,” said Dias. “In the States we can acquire federal, corporate and other sources of funding. But in Sri Lanka we don’t have that kind of a mechanism.”
But things are looking up, said Ariyawansa. “Collaborative research on chemistry and biotechnology is undertaken increasingly in Sri Lanka,” he said, pointing out that industrial chemistry and nanotechnology were fast developing areas, but he admitted that physics was still lagging behind. “We now have institutions such as SLINTEC [Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology], which has succeeded in attracting a lot of expatriate academics back into the country,” added Dias. He opined that such infrastructural support and funding would facilitate cutting-edge research.
When asked whether such cutting-edge research would have any practical applications in Sri Lanka and whether putting so much money and effort into research was viable in the absence of practical applications, Prof. Dias said that there would always be opportunities in terms of putting research into practice. “Commercial production of graphene by SLINTEC is a case in point. It’s a direct application. I’m sure that if Sri Lanka can produce high grade graphene, we can export it. Graphene has a lot of applications, especially in electronics. It’s used widely in the US, Japan, Europe and South Korea for semiconductor and mobile applications.”
The same principle can be applied to diamonds. “With the right combinations of material diamonds can be grown in the lab,” Dias pointed out that this could revolutionise the diamond industry. “This is already being done in the US,” said Dias, reiterating that material research would always have applications.
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There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.
The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.
To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.
Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.
It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.
All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.
Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.
If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.
In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.
However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.
It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.
The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.
It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.
A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.
Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.
Author
By Sanjeewa Jayaweera
It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.
The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.
We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.
This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.
Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!
At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.
One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.
It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!
ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!
The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.
When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!
I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.
I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.
I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.
Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!
I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.
Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.
We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.
Author
Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!
To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.
Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.
The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..
How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!
If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.
And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!
Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.
Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.
I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.
He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.
Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.
He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!
I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:
“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.
“There is no science to beat common sense.”
But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!
