The disappearing momentum of the supercurrent in the superconductor to normal phase transformation

Abstract

A superconductor in a magnetic field has surface currents that prevent the magnetic field from penetrating its interior. These currents carry kinetic energy and mechanical momentum. When the temperature is raised and the system becomes normal the currents disappear. Where do the kinetic energy and mechanical momentum of the currents go, and how? Here we propose that the answer to this question reveals a key necessary condition for materials to be superconductors, that is not part of conventional BCS-London theory: superconducting materials need to have hole carriers.