Superconductivity Research Group at Hope College
Superconductivity Research Group at Hope College
Research
My current research is focused on finding novel superconducting materials that can be used for various applications such as superconducting wires/cables and superconducting magnets for nuclear fusion reactors and particle accelerators. For the past 15 years, I studied organic, iron-based and copper-oxide superconductors, and published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles (Google Scholar). My research team currently conducts active experimental research using 4 K cryogen-free cryostat and the Hope-College particle accelerator located in the basement of VanderWerf Hall. Below is the list of current research.
1) Effect of ion-beam irradiation on the properties of unconventional superconductors such as copper-oxide, iron-based, and topological superconductors.
2) Application of high-temperature superconductors for compact nuclear fusion research.
3) Quantum phase transition that occurs at absolute zero temperature.
If you are interested in superconductivity research, please feel free to contact me ( cho@hope.edu ).
Lab Instruments
YBCO thin film (580 nm thick) mounted on 4K cryostat
Cryogen-free cryostat that can reach 4 K
Hope particle accelerator used for proton irradiation
Superconducting levitation demo image taken by Trevor Harrison (Hope'27)
Student Research Activities
Hope Weeda (Hope'26) and Nolan Miles (Hope'26) presented their research work at CURCA conference at Hope College on April 11, 2025.
Trevor Harrison (Hope'27) and Joey Fogt (Hope'26) presented their research work at CURCA conference at Hope College on April 11, 2025.
Trevor Harrison (Hope'27), Hope Weeda (Hope'26), Joey Fogt (Hope'26) and Dr. Kyuil Cho attended APS (American Physical Society) Global Summit conference at Anaheim, CA on March 17-18, 2025.
Hope Weeda (Hope'26) presents her research work at APS Global Summit at Anaheim, CA on March 17-18, 2025.
Trevor Harrison (Hope'27) presents his research work at APS Global Summit at Anaheim, CA on March 17-18, 2025.
Joey Fogt (Hope'26) performed an oral presentation at APS Global Summit at Anaheim, CA on March 17-18, 2025.
Group photo at the end of the summer research at Captain Sundae, July 2024.
Celebrating our first published article on September 19, 2024. Four undergraduate students are coauthors. Read
Joey Fogt (Hope'26) attended APS (American Physical Society) march meeting at Minneapolis, MN on March 5, 2024.
Dr. Kyuil Cho and Joey Fogt (Hope'26) attended APS march meeting at Minneapolis, MN on March 5, 2024.
Joey Fogt (Hope'26) explains his research work to Dr. Matt Smith (Professor of Engineering, Hope College) at APS march meeting at Minneapolis, MN on March 5, 2024.
Joey Fogt (Hope'26) presented his research work at 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium in Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science at University of Chicago, Nov 13, 2023
Hope Weeda (Hope' 26) and Joey Fogt (Hope' 26) are discussing about 4 K cryogen-free cryostat during summer research 2023.
Hope Weeda (Hope'26), Joey Fogt (Hope'26), Trevor Harrison (Hope'27) and Dr. Kyuil Cho during summer research 2023.
Nolan Miles (Hope'26) and Joey Fogt (Hope'26) presented their research work at CURCA conference at Hope College, April 14, 2023.
Hope Weeda (Hope'26) presented her research work at CURCA conference at Hope College, April 14, 2023.