In physics, the Matthias rules refers to a historical set of empirical guidelines on how to find superconductors. These rules were authored Bernd T. Matthias who discovered hundreds of superconductors using these principles in the 1950s and 1960s. Deviations from these rules have been found since the end of the 1970s with the discovery of unconventional superconductors.
In subsequent decades, superconductivity was found in several other materials; In 1913, lead at 7 K, in 1930's niobium at 10 K, and in 1941 niobium nitride at 16 K.
Bernd T. Matthias and John Kenneth Hulm were encouraged by Enrico Fermi to start a systematic experimental investigation in the 1950s, looking for superconductors in different elements and compounds. For this reason, they developed a technique based on the Meissner effect.[4][5]
In collaboration with Theodore H. Geballe, Matthias broke the record in 1954, with the discovery of superconductivity in niobium–tin (Nb3Sn) which had the highest known transition temperature of about 18 K.[6][5] Later Matthias would try to come up with general empirical properties to find superconducting alloys. In the same year he published a first version of his famous guidelines which came to be known, as the "Mathias rules".[5][7] Matthias was able to show in 1962 that some deviations from his rules where due to impurities or defects in the materials.[5] Using his rules, Matthias and collaborators found in 1965 that niobium–germanium (Nb3Ge) with a record critical temperature above 20 K.[8][9]
Geballe and Matthias won the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize in 1970 for "For their joint experimental investigations of superconductivity which have challenged theoretical understanding and opened up the technology of high field superconductors."[12]
One of the first deviations of Matthias' rules was found with the discovery of superconductivity in molybdenumsulfide and selenides. Matthias postulated an additional criterion in 1976 at the Rochester Conference on superconductivity to include these materials.[13]
Other equivalent principles as stated by Matthias, indicate to work mainly with d-electron metals; with the average number of valence electrons, preferably odd numbers 3, 5, and 7 and high electron density or high electron density of state at the Fermi level.[18]
In 1976, Mattias added the criterion to include "elements which will not react at all with molybdenum alone form superconducting compounds with Mo3S4 and Mo3Se4, S or Se" due to deviations in molydenum compounds.[15]
Failure and extensions
It has been argued that all of Matthias' rules have been shown to not be completely valid.[19] Specially the rules are not valid for high-temperature superconductors, alternative rules for these materials have been suggested.[18][19]
References
^Sengers, Johanna Levelt: How Fluids Unmix: Discoveries by the School of Van der Waals and Kamerlingh Onnes. (Edita—the Publishing House of the Royal, 2002, 318 pp)
^ abGrimaldi, C. (2001). "Possible mechanisms of high TC superconductivity". In Cifarelli, Luisa (ed.). Superconducting Materials for High Energy Colliders: Proceedings of the 38th Workshop of the INFN Eloisatron Project, Erice, Italy, 19-25 October 1999. World Scientific. ISBN978-981-02-4319-7.