Superconductivity

at Case Western Reserve University

The Case superconductivity group was founded by B.S. Chandrasekhar ("Chandra") close to fifty years ago, making it by far the longest-running research group in the physics department (history). Its members have been motivated over the years by the singular beauty of superconductivity phenomena, and also by their conviction that superconducting materials are destined to transform the practice of classical electrical engineering and create new interdisciplinary areas of technology. Reflecting both motivations, the group's publications have spanned a wide range of topics. Their fundamental work has focused on the role of anisotropy and inhomogeneity in superconductors. At the other end of the research spectrum, the group played a pioneering role in the development of superconducting magnets and has made a number of significant innovations in the interdisciplinary area of medical instrumentation.

D. E. Farrell assumed leadership of the group when Chandra retired in 1987, and has maintained the group's tradition of pursuing both fundamental and interdisciplinary investigations. The latter have culminated in a joint project with the distinguished pediatric hematology group at Columbia University. This collaboration has led to a high-Tc scanning magnetic susceptometer* with advanced capabilities for non-invasive assessment of the concentration of iron in the human liver. Case Western Reserve University and Columbia University are jointly patenting the innovation. In addition, two companies, Merlin Magnetics (Cleveland, Ohio) and Tristan Technologies (San Diego, California), are collaborating to move this new superconducting technology to the marketplace.  

* D. E. Farrell, C. J. Allen, M. W. Whilden, T. K. Kidane, T. N. Baig, J. H. Tripp, R.W Brown, S. Sheth and G.M. Brittenham, (2007). A new instrument designed to measure the magnetic susceptibility of human liver tissue in vivo. IEEE Trans. Magnetics, 43, 9 (1): 3543-3554.

D. E. Farrell, C. J. Allen, M. W. Whilden, J. H. Tripp, A. Usoskin, S. Sheth and G.M. Brittenham, (2007). Magnetic measurement of liver iron stores: Engineering aspects of a new scanning susceptometer based on high temperature superconductivity. IEEE Trans. Magnetics. 43, 11: 4030-4036.