Physicists from Russia and Brazil Unveil Mystery behind Complex Superconductor Patterns
The mechanism is described by the Ginzburg–Landau equation at the Bogomolny point
Scientists at HSE MIEM and MIPT have demonstrated that highly complex spatial structures, similar to the intricate patterns found in nature, can emerge in superconductors. Mathematically, these patterns are described using the Ginzburg–Landau equation at a specific combination of parameters known as the Bogomolny point. The paper has been published in the Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter.
One of the most intriguing and not fully understood questions in science is how seemingly simple natural laws give rise to complex patterns, such as zebra stripes or fish scales.
Scientists have long been trying to understand how such patterns emerge in nature. The first explanation was offered in 1952 by mathematician Alan Turing, one of the founders of computer science. According to Turing, complex patterns arise from the competition between simple interactions within a system. Thus, in chemical reactions, patterns are formed through two main mechanisms: diffusion (the distribution of substances) and autocatalysis (where the reaction accelerates itself). It soon became clear that while the Turing model can also describe the emergence of complex patterns in biology effectively, it does not account for all natural phenomena.
Scientists at HSE and MIPT, in collaboration with physicists at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil, found that the formation of complex patterns in nature can also be explained using the Ginzburg–Landau equation that describes how the state of a superconductor changes in response to a magnetic field.
A superconductor is a material that conducts electric current without resistance, meaning there is no loss of electricity. Under the influence of a magnetic field, superconductors can exhibit different behaviours: they can either completely expel the magnetic field or allow it to penetrate their mass, forming spatial structures such as a lattice of vortices.
However, according to the theory of superconductivity, there exists a special combination of superconductor parameters—referred to as the Bogomolny point—where any structure can emerge. In this study, the scientists investigated how a magnetic field changes in response to external conditions near the Bogomolny point.
Co-author of the paper, Professor, MIEM HSE
An infinite variety of intricate configurations, like monsters, lie dormant at the Bogomolny point, waiting to be unleashed as you move away from it. Depending on how you move away from it, certain types of configurations emerge. There are various methods to move away: altering the temperature, adjusting the sample size, initiating an electric current, or stacking two superconductors atop each other. This will produce a vast array of exotic patterns.
For example, structures emerge in superconductors where regions devoid of a magnetic field coexist with regions where the magnetic field forms lattices of vortices. A superconducting film can give rise to extremely exotic patterns resembling the distribution of cases in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Co-author of the paper, Professor, MIEM HSE
Previously, superconductivity was not considered a phenomenon where complex patterns could occur, as a superconductor is a relatively simple physical system. However, it turns out that highly complex magnetic structures can indeed manifest in superconductors. Our research contributes to the current understanding of how complex patterns emerge in seemingly simple systems.
The scientists suggest that the effects observed in superconductors could be used in the development of measuring instruments. For instance, by monitoring changes in configurations within a superconductor, one can gauge the extent of temperature, current, or geometric alterations in the sample.
Vasily Stolyarov
Co-author of the paper, Director, Centre for Advanced Mesoscience and Nanotechnology, MIPT
Research in this field has been ongoing from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, as well as from a technological standpoint. Since 2018, we have been the pioneers in conducting and publishing a series of experimental studies that led to the discovery and description of the process of pattern formation on the mesoscopic scale in ferromagnetic superconductors. Now, we are actively searching for and devising new systems where superconducting patterns can be controlled, thus enabling their application in nanotechnology and nanodevices.
See also:
Cerium Glows Yellow: Chemists Discover How to Control Luminescence of Rare Earth Elements
Researchers at HSE University and the Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis of the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered a way to control both the colour and brightness of the glow emitted by rare earth elements. Their luminescence is generally predictable—for example, cerium typically emits light in the ultraviolet range. However, the scientists have demonstrated that this can be altered. They created a chemical environment in which a cerium ion began to emit a yellow glow. The findings could contribute to the development of new light sources, displays, and lasers. The study has been published in Optical Materials.
Genetic Prediction of Cancer Recurrence: Scientists Verify Reliability of Computer Models
In biomedical research, machine learning algorithms are often used to analyse data—for instance, to predict cancer recurrence. However, it is not always clear whether these algorithms are detecting meaningful patterns or merely fitting random noise in the data. Scientists from HSE University, IBCh RAS, and Moscow State University have developed a test that makes it possible to determine this distinction. It could become an important tool for verifying the reliability of algorithms in medicine and biology. The study has been published on arXiv.
Habits Stem from Childhood: School Years Found to Shape Leisure Preferences in Adulthood
Moving to a big city does not necessarily lead to dramatic changes in daily habits. A study conducted at HSE University found that leisure preferences in adulthood are largely shaped during childhood and are influenced by where individuals spent their school years. This conclusion was drawn by Sergey Korotaev, Research Fellow at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, from analysing the leisure habits of more than 5,000 Russians.
Russian Scientists Reconstruct Dynamics of Brain Neuron Model Using Neural Network
Researchers from HSE University in Nizhny Novgorod have shown that a neural network can reconstruct the dynamics of a brain neuron model using just a single set of measurements, such as recordings of its electrical activity. The developed neural network was trained to reconstruct the system's full dynamics and predict its behaviour under changing conditions. This method enables the investigation of complex biological processes, even when not all necessary measurements are available. The study has been published in Chaos, Solitons & Fractals.
Researchers Uncover Specific Aspects of Story Comprehension in Young Children
For the first time, psycholinguists from the HSE Centre for Language and Brain, in collaboration with colleagues from the USA and Germany, recorded eye movements during a test to assess narrative skills in young children and adults. The researchers found that story comprehension depends on plot structure, and that children aged five to six tend to struggle with questions about protagonists' internal states. The study findings have been published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.
Scientists Propose Novel Theory on Origin of Genetic Code
Alan Herbert, Scientific Supervisor of the HSE International Laboratory of Bioinformatics, has put forward a new explanation for one of biology's enduring mysteries—the origin of the genetic code. According to his publication in Biology Letters, the contemporary genetic code may have originated from self-organising molecular complexes known as ‘tinkers.’ The author presents this novel hypothesis based on an analysis of secondary DNA structures using the AlphaFold 3 neural network.
See, Feel, and Understand: HSE Researchers to Explore Mechanisms of Movement Perception in Autism
Scientists at the HSE Cognitive Health and Intelligence Centre have won a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) to investigate the mechanisms of visual motion perception in autism. The researchers will design an experimental paradigm to explore the relationship between visual attention and motor skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. This will provide insight into the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying social interaction difficulties in autism and help identify strategies for compensating for them.
Scholars Disprove Existence of ‘Crisis of Trust’ in Science
An international team of researchers, including specialists from HSE University, has conducted a large-scale survey in 68 countries on the subject of trust in science. In most countries, people continue to highly value the work of scientists and want to see them take a more active role in public life. The results have been published in Nature Human Behaviour.
Education System Reforms Led to Better University Performance, HSE Researchers Find
A study by researchers at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences and the Institute of Education have found that the number of academic papers published by research universities in international journals has tripled in the past eight years. Additionally, universities have developed more distinct specialisations. Thus, sectoral universities specialising in medical, pedagogical, technical, and other fields are twice as likely to admit students to target places. The study has been published in Vocation, Technology & Education.
Scientists Record GRB 221009A, the Brightest Gamma-Ray Burst in Cosmic History
A team of scientists from 17 countries, including physicists from HSE University, analysed early photometric and spectroscopic data of GRB 221009A, the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded. The data was obtained at the Sayan Observatory one hour and 15 minutes after the emission was registered. The researchers detected photons with an energy of 18 teraelectronvolts (TeV). Theoretically, such high-energy particles should not reach Earth, but data analysis has confirmed that they can. The results challenge the theory of gamma radiation absorption and may point to unknown physical processes. The study has been published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.