Ever since the discovery of superconductivity in 1911, researchers have sought to raise the temperature at which superconductivity occurs. With the advent of high temperature superconducting(HTS) materials in 1986, superconductors have begun to emerge from the laboratory and appear in practical applications. a pioneer in his explosively advancing technology is Superconducting Technologies, Inc, Santa Barbara, California. This company uses thallium, the highest temperature material for making high temperature superconductors Thallium remains conductive at temperatures above 77K and can be cooled to working temperature by a liquid nitrogen system instead of the more difficult and more expensive helium method. Shown above is a high temperature superconductor being produced by a laser ablation system. (Photo courtesy of National Aeronautics c2000 by CRC Press LLCEver since the discovery of superconductivity in 1911, researchers have sought to raise the temperature at which superconductivity occurs. With the advent of high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials in 1986, superconductors have begun to emerge from the laboratory and appear in practical applications. A pioneer in this explosively advancing technology is Superconducting Technologies, Inc., Santa Barbara, California. This company uses thallium, the highest temperature material for making high temperature superconductors. Thallium remains conductive at temperatures above 77°K and can be cooled to working temperature by a liquid nitrogen system instead of the more difficult and more expensive helium method. Shown above is a high temperature superconductor being produced by a laser ablation system. (Photo courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.) © 2000 by CRC Press LLC