The physics department of Buffalo State College is presently exploring this phenomenon in an attempt to discover materials that can superconduct at higher temperatures. The department has received a $275,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for a three-year period to research superconductive materials and their properties.

For more information on the DOE:

www.energy.gov

The department is presently in the preliminary phase of its research, and is working with samples from Oakridge National Laboratory. These samples are being observed from the nucleus to monitor the activity of electrons within.

For more information on the physics department:

www.buffalostate.edu/depts/physics

Professor Michael J. De Marco and Assistant Professor Dermot Coffey of the physics department are managing the grant.

Coffey said, “Dr. De Marco does experiments and I come up with mathematic models for what's going on a microscopic level.”

De Marco stated, “We are now studying magnetic superconductors trying to figure out how something can be magnetic and superconductive at the same time.”

This research is the bases for existing technology like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the medical field, and the Yamanshi Maglev Test Line, a magnetically levitated train in Japan.

According to De Marco, “If you could make a superconductor that would work at a reasonably high temperature then you could levitate trains that wouldn't run on tracks, so there would be no friction. That would make for a long lasting and very inexpensive train, that could go very fast.”

• The grant is being used to buy materials and equipment; for example, mercury, helium, radiation detectors and software to analyze data.
• The remainder of the money will be used to pay salaries for the faculty and students involved in the research.
• Both De Marco and Coffey chose one student a year assist in their research. The assistants are paid to work part time during the school year and full time over the summer. The students are chosen based on their interest, motivation, aptitude and commitment.

Ryan Heary, research assistant to De Marco said, “This is a great opportunity. I want to be an experimentalist, but you've got to have money or else you can't do research.”

Coffey explained, “It is very important for students to have the opportunity to do research while they are here at BSC because it prepares them for the real scientific world.”

There will be physics conferences April 16-17 at the Bulger Communication Center building.

For more information:
Symposium

For other stories about the physic department grant:

www.bizjournals.com

www.buffalostate.edu/insider

E-mail: pizans94@buffalostate.edu