An illustration of 1D copper oxide, or cuprate, chains that have been “doped” to free up some of their electrons in a study led by researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford and Clemson universities. Copper atoms are black and oxygen atoms purple. The red springs represent natural vibrations that jiggle the atomic lattice, which may help produce an unexpectedly strong attraction (not shown) between neighboring electrons in the lattice. This “nearest-neighbor” attraction may play a role in unconventional superconductivity – the ability to conduct electric current with no loss at relatively high temperatures.
Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
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