Physicists from Chelyabinsk State University (ChelSU), in collaboration with scientists from the V. A. Kotelnikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have begun developing a prototype magnetic levitation transport system. This technology, known as maglev (magnetic levitation), allows trains to move without contact with the rails, eliminating friction, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing noise and vibration.
The key element of the project is high-temperature superconductors (HTS) based on the ceramic compound YBaCuO. When cooled to -180°C, this material completely loses electrical resistance, making it ideal for creating magnetic fields that keep the vehicle in a "suspended" state.
As a superconductor, we use the ceramic compound YBaCuO, which completely loses electrical resistance when cooled to -180 degrees Celsius; current flows through it like a liquid (for example, an iron plate becomes hotter with increased resistance). During the cooling of the superconductor above the magnetic field, a certain relationship is established, as if this ceramic remembers the lines of force and moves along them.
While Russia depends on Chinese supplies of YBaCuO, scientists are considering establishing their own production in Chelyabinsk, where all the necessary components are available.
The first 2-meter-long train model has already been tested. In the next three years, researchers plan to test a 12-meter model of a "quantum gravilev" and study its operation in a vacuum. The future includes the creation of autonomous cryogenic systems that eliminate the use of liquid nitrogen. Questions also need to be answered about acceleration and braking in a vacuum, the model control system, and the energy released during braking.
Earlier, www1.ru reported on a new achievement by Russian scientists in the development of superconducting materials.
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