is it possible in theory that flux-pinning could occur without actually causing superconductivity? because LK-99 seems to be decoupling alot of properties we thought were coupled if I'm understanding correctly?
It could be an entirely new hitherto unobserved phenomena, but that seems pretty unlikely. I think that having a bunch of tiny superconductors chunks separated by a regular conductor would explain a lot.
That would require 'new physics'. I think most of the weirdness stems from either (1) sample impurity, (2) an extreme form of that where the active bits are really tiny in a large chunk of inert stuff or stuff with its own electromagnetic properties or (3) being mistaken about it being a superconductor in the first place.