The Meissner effect is the expulsion of magnetic flux from a superconductor when its state is below the threshold curve of the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram. The material thereby exhibits perfect diamagnetism. Superconductivity is destroyed when either the applied field or the temperature is increased to take it out of this region. The threshold curve is shown in black for type-I superconductors. The intercepts are designated and . For type-II superconductors, complete expulsion of magnetic flux occurs below the red curve, with intercept designated . The upper intercept is then designated . In the intermediate region between the two curves, known as a mixed state, the magnetic field can still penetrate the superconductor in a series of flux tubes, in which the conducting electrons form quantized vortices.