Can someone answer my question in laymans terms?
Why does superconductivity occur?

Question

Can someone answer my question in laymans terms?
Why does superconductivity occur?

farcher · Answer

It is a strange quantum mechanical effect. Pairs of (Cooper pairs) electrons interact  below a certain temperature (critical temperature) when the material is a superconductor and so can be considered to have a bond between them.  When these bonds are broken by thermal agitation the material ceases to be a superconductor.  The stronger this bond the higher the critical temperature.
Now we come to the strange property of these Cooper pair.  What you do to one of the pair of electrons you must do to the other.  So if one electron collides with an ion in the material it cannot accept any energy or give it to the ion because the chances of its pair of doing exactly the same is zero.  So these electrons move through the material without interacting with anything and are knocked off course. Electrons giving energy to the ions is the source of resistance in a normal material.  As this does not happen for Cooper pairs the material is a superconductor.

lastdaywork · Answer

^^ Easiest excerpt on superconductivity read so far..

anonymous · Answer

wow awesome explanation indeed :D :D