Nonstandard superconductivity or no superconductivity in hydrides under high pressure

Abstract

Over the past six years, superconductivity at high temperatures has been reported in a variety of hydrogen-rich compounds under high pressure. That high-temperature superconductivity should exist in these materials is expected according to the conventional theory of superconductivity, as shown by detailed calculations. However here we argue that experimental observations rule out conventional superconductivity in these materials. Our results indicate that either these materials are unconventional superconductors of a novel kind, which we term `nonstandard superconductors', or alternatively that they are not superconductors. If the former, we point out that the critical current in these materials should be five orders of magnitude larger than in standard superconductors, potentially opening up the way to important technological applications. If the latter, which we believe is more likely, we suggest that the signals interpreted as superconductivity are either experimental artifacts or they signal other interesting physics but not superconductivity.

arXiv comment11 pages, 13 figures

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• Effect of paramagnetic impurities on superconductivity in polyhydrides: $\text{s}$-wave order parameter in Nd-doped LaH${}_{10}$
• High-temperature superconductivity in hydrides
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• Absence of magnetic evidence for superconductivity in hydrides under high pressure
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• Meissner effect in nonstandard superconductors
• Non-Fermi-Liquid Behavior of Superconducting SnH${}_4$
• Future Study of Dense Superconducting Hydrides at High Pressure
• Synthesis of possible room temperature superconductor LK-99:Pb${}_9$Cu(PO${}_4$)${}_6$O
• Missing theoretical evidence for conventional room temperature superconductivity in low enthalpy structures of carbonaceous sulfur hydrides
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• On the ac magnetic susceptibility of a room temperature superconductor: anatomy of a probable scientific fraud
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• Reply to "Comment on `Nonstandard superconductivity or no superconductivity in hydrides under high pressure' "
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