Superconductivity is the ability of certain materials to conduct electrical current with no resistance and extremely low losses. High temperature superconductors, such as La2-xSrxCuOx (Tc=40K) and YBa2Cu3O7-x (Tc=90K), were discovered in 1987 and have been actively studied since. In spite of an intense, world-wide, research effort during this time, a complete understanding of the copper oxide (cuprate) materials is still lacking. Many fundamental questions are unanswered, particularly the mechanism by which high-Tc superconductivity occurs. More broadly, the cuprates are in a class of solids with strong electron-electron interactions. An understanding of such "strongly correlated" solids is perhaps the major unsolved problem of condensed matter physics with over ten thousand researchers working on this topic.
Contents:The First Five Years of High-Tc Superconductivity (K A Müller)Different Factors which Govern the Optimisation of High-Tc Superconductive Cuprates Involving Bi-, Tl or Pb (B Raveau, M Hervieu, C Michel, J Provost, A Maignan, C Simon & D Groult)Superconductivity in Cuprates and Other Oxides (H R Ott)Organic Superconductors with Tc Higher than 10K (T Ishiguro & Y Nogami)Fundamentals of RVB Theory and Some Applications to High Temperature Superconductors (G Baskaran)Anyons and Superconductivity (S Das Sarma)Mott Transition in the Hubbard Model (B S Shastry)Superconducting Pairing in Layered Superconductors (S S Jha)Breaking the Log-Jam in Many-Body Physics: Fermi Surfaces Without Fermi Liquids (P W Anderson)Superconductivity in High Magnetic Fields from a Microscopic Theory (A K Rajagopal)Nonequilibrium Superconductivity (R Tidecks)Neutron Scattering Study of the High-Tc Superconducting System YBa2Cu3O6+x (J Rossat-Mignod et al.)Crystal-Field Excitations in High-Tc Superconducting Materials (A Furrer)Superconducting Granular Films (S-I Kobayashi)Transport Properties in the Mixed State of High Temperature Superconductors (A Freimuth)Physics of Josephson Effect and Recent Advances (A Barone & S Pagano)Tunneling Spectroscopy of Copper Oxide Superconductors (T Ekino & J Akimitsu)Superconductivity and Magnetism in Heavy-Fermion Compounds (F Steglich, U Ahlheim, C D Bredl, C Geibel, M Lang, A Loidl & G Sparn)Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies in Highly Correlated Systems: Heavy Fermion and High-Tc Superconductors (K Asayama)Pulsed Laser and Cylindrical Magnetron Sputter Deposition of Epitaxial Metal Oxide Thin Films (T Venkatesan et al.) Readership: Physicists, chemists and engineers. keywords:
From fundamental physics point of view, iron-based superconductors have properties that are more amenable to band structural calculations. This book reviews the progress made in this fascinating field. With contributions from leading experts, the book provides a guide to understanding materials, physical properties, and superconductivity mechanism aspects, and is important for students and beginners to have an overall view of the recent progress in this active field.
This wide-ranging presentation of applied superconductivity, from fundamentals and materials right up to the details of many applications, is an essential reference for physicists and engineers in academic research as well as in industry. Readers looking for a comprehensive overview on basic effects related to superconductivity and superconducting materials will expand their knowledge and understanding of both low and high Tc superconductors with respect to their application. Technology, preparation and characterization are covered for bulk, single crystals, thins fi lms as well as electronic devices, wires and tapes. The main benefit of this work lies in its broad coverage of significant applications in magnets, power engineering, electronics, sensors and quantum metrology. The reader will find information on superconducting magnets for diverse applications like particle physics, fusion research, medicine, and biomagnetism as well as materials processing. SQUIDs and their usage in medicine or geophysics are thoroughly covered, as are superconducting radiation and particle detectors, aspects on superconductor digital electronics, leading readers to quantum computing and new devices.
This book presents the basics and applications of superconducting magnets. It explains the phenomenon of superconductivity, theories of superconductivity, type II superconductors and high-temperature cuprate superconductors. The main focus of the book is on the application to superconducting magnets to accelerators and fusion reactors and other applications of superconducting magnets. The thermal and electromagnetic stability criteria of the conductors and the present status of the fabrication techniques for future magnet applications are addressed. The book is based on the long experience of the author in studying superconducting materials, building magnets and numerous lectures delivered to scholars. A researcher and graduate student will enjoy reading the book to learn various aspects of magnet applications of superconductivity. The book provides the knowledge in the field of applied superconductivity in a comprehensive way.
Superconductivity: Physics and Applications brings together major developments that have occurred within the field over the past twenty years. Taking a truly modern approach to the subject the authors provide an interesting and accessible introduction. Brings a fresh approach to the physics of superconductivity based both on the well established and convergent picture for most low-Tc superconductors, provided by the BCS theory at the microscopic level, and London and Ginzburg-Landau theories at the phenomenological level, as well as on experiences gathered in high-Tc research in recent years. Includes end of chapter problems and numerous relevant examples Features brief interviews with key researchers in the field A prominent feature of the book is the use of SI units throughout, in contrast to many of the current textbooks on the subject which tend to use cgs units and are considered to be outdated
Superconductors: Fundamentals, Applications, and Beyond Superconductors, with their remarkable ability to conduct electricity without resistance, have fascinated scientists and engineers since their discovery over a century ago. This preface aims to provide an overview of the content and scope of this book, intended for students, researchers, and professionals keen to understand and harness the extraordinary properties of superconducting materials. Historical Context and Scientific Milestones The phenomenon of superconductivity was first observed by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911 when he discovered that mercury exhibited zero electrical resistance at temperatures close to absolute zero. This groundbreaking discovery set the stage for a century of research, leading to the development of theories and materials that have expanded our understanding and application of superconductors. From the BCS theory proposed by John Bardeen, Leon Cooper, and Robert Schrieffer in 1957, which explained superconductivity in terms of electron pairs or "Cooper pairs," to the discovery of high-temperature superconductors in the 1980s, each milestone has brought us closer to practical and widespread use of these materials. Purpose and Audience The primary purpose of this book is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, offering insights into how superconductors can revolutionize various fields. It is designed for a diverse audience, including undergraduate and graduate students in physics, materials science, and engineering, as well as researchers and industry professionals seeking a thorough understanding of superconductors. Acknowledgments This work would not have been possible without the contributions of many individuals and institutions. We extend our deepest gratitude to the researchers whose pioneering work laid the foundation for our current understanding of superconductivity. Special thanks go to our collaborators and reviewers who provided invaluable feedback and insights. Finally, we are grateful to our families for their unwavering support and patience throughout the writing process. Conclusion Superconductors represent one of the most exciting frontiers in modern science and technology. As you embark on this journey through the world of superconductivity, we hope you find the content enlightening and inspiring. May this book not only deepen your understanding but also spark new ideas and innovations in this fascinating field.
This work presents three advances to scale SNSPDs from few-pixel devices to large detector arrays: atomic layer deposition for the fabrication of uniform superconducting niobium nitride films of few-nanometer thickness, a frequency-multiplexing scheme to operate multiple detectors with a reduced number of lines, and the integration of SNSPDs with free-form polymer structures to achieve efficient optical coupling onto the active area of the detectors.
Holger Bartolf discusses state-of-the-art detection concepts based on superconducting nanotechnology as well as sophisticated analytical formulæ that model dissipative fluctuation-phenomena in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. Such knowledge is desirable for the development of advanced devices which are designed to possess an intrinsic robustness against vortex-fluctuations and it provides the perspective for honorable fundamental science in condensed matter physics. Especially the nanowire detector allows for ultra-low noise detection of signals with single-photon sensitivity and GHz repetition rates. Such devices have a huge potential for future technological impact and might enable unique applications (e.g. high rate interplanetary deep-space data links from Mars to Earth).
