Superconductors explained in laymens terms

So, I realized today that I brought up another interesting area of research the other day. And of course the area to which I am referring is superconductors. But I do not even know where to start talking about this area of research at.

I suppose I need to start off by talking about normal conductors such as aluminum and copper. Most metals would fall into this category as well. See the metals have a certain resistance to which temperature greatly affects. Usually a good rule of thumb to follow is as temperature is increased resistance is also increased.

Now with a superconductor this rule of thumb can no longer be followed. First of all I need to introduce some terminology to you-- critical temperature. This is the temperature which a conductor first shows superconductivity. Some, but not all superconductors will continue to show superconductivity if cooled down below this point. Some just have a 'sweet spot' where they show superconductivity, and if cooled down below this 'sweet spot' they will no longer show superconductivity.

Now what makes material superconductive besides being cooled down so low? Well the answer to this question is rooted in physics-- quantum mechanics to be more specific. You see what is responsible for resistance in the first place? In simple electrical engineering terms, it can be put as the resistance in a circuit is created by the lattice of ionic bonds in the circuit. The electrons in the circuit are constantly colliding with ionic lattice and giving up some of their energy. Thus in any non-superconductive circuit it is constantly giving up its energy by the heat it creates.

But with a superconductor the circuit no longer realizes this resistance. In large part due to the fact that no magnetic lines of flux can be seen in a superconductor. And this bring up another interesting fact about superconductors-- you can no longer divide the circuit into electrons. Instead you have to think of the circuit in terms of bonded pairs of electrons. This pairing phenomenon is known as Cooper pairs

Superconductors can be said to fall into two distinct categories. Thus being named as either a Type I or a Type II depending on how they react when placed in a magnetic field. The meaning to these two types is thus: Type I can only have one critical field, whereas Type II has two critical fields.

Superconductors cause Ohm's Law to break down. Superconductors are also able to maintain a current with no applied voltage whatsoever, and thus can be used to classify a superconductor. So in theory it can be said that a superconductive circuit possesses zero electrical resistance.

Now I urge all of you electroheads to comment on this post. As I might have left something important out of this post.