Macroscopic quantum phenomena from pairing in superconductors

JUL 01, 1973

“…the development of the theory of superconductivity was truly a collaborative effort, involving not only John Bardeen, Leon Cooper and myself, but also a host of outstanding scientists working over a period of half a century.”

DOI: 10.1063/1.3128138

J. Robert Schrieffer

It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to join my colleagues John Bardeen and Leon Cooper in discussing with you the theory of superconductivity. Since the discovery of superconductivity by H. Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, an enormous effort has been devoted by a spectrum of outstanding scientists to understanding this phenomenon. As in most developments in our branch of science, the accomplishments honored by this Nobel prize were made possible by a large number of developments preceding them. A general understanding of these developments is important as a backdrop for our own contribution.

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More about the authors

J. Robert Schrieffer, Mary Amanda Wood Professor of Physics, University of Pennsylvania.