On the ac magnetic susceptibility of a room temperature superconductor: anatomy of a probable scientific fraud

TL;DR

This paper critically examines a high-profile claim of room temperature superconductivity, providing evidence that the magnetic susceptibility data may be fraudulent, thus challenging the validity of the original discovery.

Contribution

It offers a detailed analysis suggesting the susceptibility data in the original paper are likely fabricated, questioning the claim of room temperature superconductivity in CSH.

Findings

Susceptibility data likely fraudulent

Original claim of room temperature superconductivity is invalid

Highlights difficulties in verifying scientific claims

Abstract

In Nature 586, 373 (2020), Snider et al announced the experimental discovery of room temperature superconductivity in a carbonaceous sulfur hydride under high pressure, hereafter called CSH. The paper reported sharp drops in the measured magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature for five different pressures, that were claimed to be a superior test signaling a superconducting transition. Here I present several arguments indicating that the susceptibility data published in that paper were probably fraudulent. This calls into question the validity of the entire paper and its claim of detection of room temperature superconductivity. I also describe the roadblocks that I have encountered in reaching this conclusion. A variety of implications of this situation are discussed.