In the BCS theory, superconductivity is thought to come about when electrons pair off into Cooper pairs.
Cooper pairs are commonly in s-wave states.
In the 3 Feb. issue of Physical Review Letters, three articles are devoted to this subject. As a result, scientists can vary materials in the junctions to a greater degree than ever before, bringing about a much wider variety of energies in semiconductor lasers. The C-168 researchers predict that the material would have elastic constants similar to those of silicon but with half the density of graphite, making for a lightweight, durable structure.