Superconductivity and magnetism at lowest temperatures, highest magnetic fields, and in smallest structures

Research at extreme material conditions can lead to new scientific knowledge. As an example, experiments at low temperatures and high magnetic fields have improved the understanding of matter dramatically in the last century. Nowadays, we dispose of the technology to reach ultralow temperatures, highest magnetic fields and even to produce material structures on length scales on which the geometrical size dominates physical properties. In this talk, research examples on superconducting nanogranular metals, quantum functional intermetallic compounds, nuclear magnetic superconductors, as well as magnetic high temperature superconductors will be presented. In addition, magnetic cooling technology and the non-destructive generation of highest pulsed magnetic fields will be briefly introduced along with facilities, e.g. the new Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD)*.

*HLD is a new large scale facility for the generation of pulsed magnetic fields up to 100 T which is under construction during 2003 to 2006 and which will open its doors for users in early 2007.