Direct visualization of the magnetic fields (based on magneto-optical Faraday effect) is used to study real-time formation and evolution of the intermediate state patterns in stress- and defect- free type-I superconductors. AC and DC magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements are performed to analyze the correlation between topology and magnetic properties as well as the relation of the observed behavior to other chemical, biological and mathematical systems.

Funded by the National Science Foundation under grant No. DMR-0553285