Superconductivity

Electrons in pairs? Levitating trains? Superconductivity - the combination of lossless electrical conduction and the ability of a material to expel a magnetic field - is a property that excites interest in fundamental science whilst offering tantalising prospects for a range of applications. In this teaching and learning package (TLP), we trace the history of superconductivity, outline some fundamental properties of superconductors, and describe current and potential applications of materials with this unusual property.

• Aims
• Before you start
• Introduction
• Discovery and properties
• Theory
• Cooper pairs
• BCS theory
• Type I vs Type II
• Applications
• Summary
• Questions
• Going further

Begin

First created: 14 August 2008. Last updated: 12 September 2008. Converted to HTML5: February 2021.