Predicted electric field near small superconducting ellipsoids

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Jan 9;92(1):016402. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.016402. Epub 2004 Jan 9.

Abstract

We predict the existence of large electric fields near the surface of superconducting bodies of ellipsoidal shape of dimensions comparable to the penetration depth. The electric field is quadrupolar in nature with significant corrections from higher order multipoles. Prolate (oblate) superconducting ellipsoids are predicted to exhibit fields consistent with negative (positive) quadrupole moments, reflecting the fundamental charge asymmetry of matter.