Gravitational Theory Reproduces Superconducting Circuitry

For over a decade, theorists have been exploring a surprising mathematical relationship between the equations that describe two seemingly different situations--one involving curved spacetime, the other involving systems of many interacting particles. In the 3 June Physical Review Letters a team uses this connection to mathematically reproduce the operation of a standard superconducting device known as a Josephson junction starting with equations for curved spacetime. Although the results have not yet revealed any surprises about superconductors, they increase confidence in conclusions theorists might draw about other condensed matter systems.