Why use mercury to verify isotope effect in superconducting?

[HanningWu]

Because mercury has a low melting point? What are the advantages of mercury in the isotope effect experiment? Can we use some other materials?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Because a) it was available and b) it has a high Tc.

Other materials have been used. Just not used first.

 

[HanningWu]

Because a) it was available and b) it has a high Tc.Other materials have been used. Just not used first.

a) Yes, it is because mercury is available, as mentioned in many papers. But I am afraid this explanation seems a little trivial...

b) Also, since the critical temperature of mercury is lower than the boil point of helium(4.2K), it still can be regarded as a high critical temperature?

 

[f95toli]

a) Sometimes the reason for making a particular choice IS trivial. Mercury is widely available and well studied.
b) Any temperature above about 1.6-1.7K can be "easily"reached by pumping on He-4 using a normal rotary pump, meaning you don't need any special equipment to reach a temperature where mercury is well into its superconducting state.