Tulane researchers hope AI will speed up the search for one of science's 'holy grails'

Key Points:

• Tulane University scientists, led by physics professor Jianwei Sun, received a $750,000 grant from the federal Genesis Mission initiative to use artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the search for high-temperature superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity without energy loss at warmer temperatures.
• Superconductors currently require extremely cold or high-pressure conditions to function, limiting their practical applications despite their essential roles in MRI machines, particle accelerators, quantum computers, and power systems.
• The team aims to develop AI algorithms to analyze extensive databases of known materials, identifying candidates that might exhibit superconductivity at higher temperatures, thus speeding up the discovery process compared to traditional methods.
• Promising materials identified through AI will be synthesized and tested in Tulane’s laboratories, with further specialized analysis conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, leveraging advanced quantum-mechanical simulations and supercomputing resources.
• Achieving a high-temperature superconductor breakthrough could revolutionize technology by enabling superefficient power grids, advanced electronics, magnetic levitation trains, and powerful quantum computing, representing a transformative scientific milestone akin to historical technological ages.