Pair production and ionizing radiation from superconductors

Abstract

We show that an alternative theory of superconductivity recently proposed (theory of hole superconductivity) leads to the surprising consequence that real electron-positron pair production will occur for superconductors larger than a critical size. High frequency radiation with frequencies up to $0.511MeV/\hslash$ is predicted to be emitted from superconductors out of equilibrium. Attention to the possibility of harmful consequences is called for.

2 sections added - title expanded

References in corpus (7)

• Electrodynamics of superconductors
• Charge expulsion and electric field in superconductors
• Why holes are not like electrons. II. The role of the electron-ion interaction
• The fundamental role of charge asymmetry in superconductivity
• Spin currents in superconductors
• Explanation of the Tao effect
• Spin currents, relativistic effects and the Darwin interaction in the theory of hole superconductivity

Cited by in corpus (4)

• BCS theory of superconductivity: the world's largest Madoff scheme?
• The missing angular momentum of superconductors
• Charge expulsion, Spin Meissner effect, and charge inhomogeneity in superconductors
• On the Low Surface Magnetic Field Structure of Quark Stars