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supersolid

supersolid

1 9.9
A solid material that can flow without friction
  • noun
  • /ˈsuːpərˌsɒlɪd/
  • Specialized
: supersólido
  • The researchers published their findings on the unique properties of supersolids in a scientific journal.

Examples

  • The 5 m/s critical velocity below which decoupling saturates hints that the supersolid may have long-range order.

    Academic text (2004)
  • One possibility was that a fluid layer lined the pore surfaces and was masquerading as a supersolid.

    Academic text (2004)
  • That so-called supersolid was not participating in the overall oscillatory motion.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Supersolid motion could be manifested as a metastable persistent flow or as a genuine equilibrium phenomenon sometimes called nonclassical rotational inertia.

    Academic text (2004)
  • In a supersolid, atoms are arranged in a rigid structure but can flow without friction.

  • Experiments revealed that supersolids can exhibit both solid-like and superfluid-like behaviors simultaneously.

Surface Forms

supersolid singular
supersolids plural

Morphology

supersolid = solid (semi-transparent) = super + solid

The word is clearly built from super- + solid, but the technical physics sense is specialized and not simply 'very solid'.

Etymology

Supersolid comes from the parts super- meaning 'above' and solid meaning 'firm', so a supersolid as a noun names a kind of matter that keeps a firm shape yet can flow without friction.