All matter is magnetic.
However the nature of magnetism in different materials depends on the arrangement of electrons in the material and how these electron interact among themselves and with their environment. Superconducting materials exhibit complete diamagnetic behavior below the superconducting transition. The discovery of high temperature superconductors in 1986 has brought a great deal of additional excitement and research activity in superconductivity and magnetism. At WVU, we are investigating high temperature superconductors as well as a variety of magnetic materials including nanoscale magnetic particles, thin films of ferrites and oxides, multilayer systems, intermetallics, and superalloys of nickel. A triac furnace and high temperature graphite furnace are available for preparing alloys.