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The values of magnetic susceptibility (χₘ) and relative permeability (μᵣ) for superconductors are ______ and _____ respectively.

Asked in GSEB Board March 2020 (old course) · Dia, para and ferromagnetism

Answer: (4) -1, 0

Step-by-step solution

Idea: inside a material ⃗B=μ₀(1+χₘ)⃗H, so the relative permeability is μᵣ=1+χₘ.

A superconductor expels the field completely (the Meissner effect), so ⃗B=0 in its interior.

With ⃗H eq0 this forces 1+χₘ=0, that is χₘ=-1.

Then μᵣ=1+χₘ=1-1=0.

So a superconductor has χₘ=-1 and μᵣ=0: the ideal diamagnet, the extreme case of the diamagnetic range -1≤χₘ<0.

Why the other options are wrong

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