National Laboratory for Superconductivity at Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

2010, Volume 5, Number 1

Superconductivity is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon that some materials get zero resistance below a critical transition temperature (Tc). As one of the essential subjects in condensed matter physics, research on superconductivity plays important roles on both innovating basic theory and developing applied technology. The Nobel Prize for Physics was thus issued five times for research associated with superconductivity since its discovery by Onnes, a Dutch physicist, in 1911. It was the discovery of cuprate superconductors in 1986 that motivated global interests in high-temperature superconductivity. Scientists at the Institute of Physics (IOP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), also made great achievements in discovering new cuprate superconductors with critical temperature Tc above liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). The establishment of the National Laboratory for Superconductivity (NLSC) at IOP was hence approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 1987. After passing the inspection in April 1991, NLSC was formally accepted and listed as a state key laboratory and officially opened to both domestic and foreign researchers. In August 1995, NLSC passed the first round appraisal and was awarded first place in B Class. In May 2000, NLSC passed the second round appraisal and was evaluated as one of the excellent state key laboratories (A Class). In January 2002, NLSC was honored as the Model Team by the Ministry of Personnel of the People’s Republic of China (MOP) and CAS. In December 2004, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST) awarded NLSC with the title of Advanced Group in the Program of State Key Laboratory.

Research at NLSC primarily covers frontier fundamental research and basic applied technology. Current research projects include searching for new superconductors, investigating the mechanism of superconductivity and related physics problems, synthesizing thin films as well as developing thin film superconductor devices and their applications. Today, NLSC has 6 research groups which are focused on: 1) Low energy quasiparticle excitations and mixed-state properties of non-conventional superconductors; 2) Physical properties of superconductors of micro- and nano- scale; 3) Exploration of novel superconductors and investigations on related mechanisms of superconductivity; 4) Physics and applications of thin film superconductors and their devices.; 5) Electronic and optical spectroscopy of novel superconductors; and 6) Neutron scattering studies of strongly correlated materials, including FeAs-based and copper oxide high-temperature superconductors.

or National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). With substantial improvements in experimental facilities, research standards and in recruiting and training talents, NLSC is attaining considerable scale, integrated capacity, and worldwide influence. By the end of 2006, the world's first VUV (Vacuum Ultra-Violet) laser-based angle-resolved photoelectron spectrometer with ultra high energy resolution, based on our own knowledge property rights and core techniques, was successfully developed in NLSC and delivered important results for the research of superconductivity. During the new upsurge of research in superconductivity triggered by the discovery of iron-based superconductors in 2008, scientists in NLSC have again drawn worldwide attention by their remarkable contributions on exploring new iron based materials

with higher Tc and studying the related physical properties of iron based superconductors.

In addition to core research projects, NLSC also attaches high importance to the recruiting and training of talents as well as team construction. Now, it has an excellent and structure-optimized group composed of 16 professors including 1 CAS academician, 1 member of the national “One-Thousand-Talents Scheme”, 4 members of the “CAS One-Hundred-Talents Scheme” and 2 grantees of the "National Outstanding Youth Foundation". Moreover, a batch of young researchers and graduate students, who are full of innovative ideas and strong motivations, are now working at the forefront, thus filling the lab with energy and vitality.

NLSC is now further devoted to refining research projects, optimizing personnel structure, recruiting new talents, developing unique state of art experimental facilities as well as initiating innovative research. At the same time, NLSC is effectively developing surefooted long-term collaborations with various internationally renowned scientific institutions across the nation and around the world. NLSC is dedicated to being a world class lab and preparing for more momentous scientific breakthroughs henceforth.