title: Search for superconductivity in micrometeorites.
abstract: We have developed a very sensitive, highly selective, non-destructive technique for screening inhomogeneous materials for the presence of superconductivity. This technique, based on phase sensitive detection of microwave absorption is capable of detecting 10(-12) cc of a superconductor embedded in a non-superconducting, non-magnetic matrix. For the first time, we apply this technique to the search for superconductivity in extraterrestrial samples. We tested approximately 65 micrometeorites collected from the water well at the Amundsen-Scott South pole station and compared their spectra with those of eight reference materials. None of these micrometeorites contained superconducting compounds, but we saw the Verwey transition of magnetite in our microwave system. This demonstrates that we are able to detect electro-magnetic phase transitions in extraterrestrial materials at cryogenic temperatures.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA [2] CQ Center for Collective Quantum Phenomena and their Applications in LISA+, Physikalisches Institut, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 14, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guénon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Ali C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Basaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wampler
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thiemens
authors.affiliation: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH 03766-1290.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Advanced Nanoscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Schuller