Introduction To Superconductivity

Well known for its accessibility to graduate students and experimental physicists, this volume emphasizes physical arguments and minimizes theoretical formalism. This second edition features improvements by the author that enhance its user-friendliness and value as a reference. Starting with a historical overview, the text proceeds with an introduction to the electrodynamics of superconductors and presents expositions of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer and Ginzburg-Landau theories. Additional subjects include magnetic properties of classic type II superconductors; the Josephson effect; fluctuation effects in classic superconductors; the high-temperature superconductors; and nonequilibrium superconductivity. Using The Simplest And Most Physically Intuitive Arguments And Methods, Introduction To Superconductivity Exposes Not Only Graduate Students But Professionals In Academe And Industry To The Breadth And Richness Of The Phenomenon Of Superconductivity. Applications As Well As Fundamental Principles Are Thoroughly Covered. The Author Not Only Views Superconductivity As A Macroscopic Quantum State, As Described By The Ginzburg-landau Phenomenological Equation, But Also Recognizes That The Fundamental Entity Is The Paired Electrons Of The Microscopic Theory Of Bardeen-cooper-schrieffer. Special Features Include A Treatment Of Varied Phenomena In A Simple Way Which Keeps The Microscopic Theory Of Bcs In The Background, And A Thorough Discussion Of Magnetic Properties Of Type Ii Superconductors, Including Dissipative Effects And The Use Of Twisted Multifilamentary Wires. After Treating The Fundamentals Of The Josephson Effects, An Analysis Is Given Of How The Popular Rf-biased Squid Magnetometer Works. An Extensive Discussion Of Fluctuation Effects Is Also Included. Major Changes In This New Edition Include The Following: New Chapter On High Temperature Superconductors; Updated And Expanded Discussion Of The Josephson Effect; New Chapter On The Josephson Effect In Mesoscopic Junctions; New Chapter On Nonequilibrium Superconductivity; Introductory Treatment Of Electrodynamics In London Theory Level; And The Deemphasis Of Nonlocal Electrodynamics. The Level Of Treatment Presumes A Background In Solid State Physics And Basic Quantum Mechanics And Avoids The Use Of Thermal Green's Functions.--book Jacket. Historical Overview -- The Basic Phenomena -- The London Equations -- The Pippard Nonlocal Electrodynamics -- The Energy Gap And The Bcs Theory -- The Ginzburg-landau Theory -- Type Ii Superconductors -- Phase, Josephson Tunneling, And Fluxoid Quantization -- Fluctuations And Nonequilibrium Effects -- High-temperature Superconductivity -- Introduction To Electrodynamics Of Superconductors -- The London Equations -- Screening Of A Static Magnetic Field -- Flat Slab In Parallel Magnetic Field -- Critical Current Of Wire -- Type I Superconductors In Strong Magnetic Fields: The Intermediate State -- Nonzero Demagnetizing Factor -- Intermediate State In A Flat Slab -- Intermediate State Of A Sphere -- Intermediate State Above Critical Current Of A Superconducting Wire -- High-frequency Electrodynamics -- Complex Conductivity In Two-fluid Approximation -- High-frequency Dissipation In Superconductors -- The Bcs Theory -- Cooper Pairs -- Origin Of The Attractive Interaction -- The Bcs Ground State -- Variational Method -- Determination Of The Coefficients -- Evaluation Of Ground-state Energy -- Isotope Effect -- Solution By Canonical Transformation -- Excitation Energies And The Energy Gap -- Finite Temperatures -- Determination Of T[subscript C] -- Temperature Dependence Of The Gap -- Thermodynamic Quantities -- State Functions And The Density Of States -- Density Of States -- Electron Tunneling -- The Semiconductor Model -- Normal-normal Tunneling -- Normal-superconductor Tunneling -- Superconductor-superconductor Tunneling. Michael Tinkham. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 442-444) And Index. This classic text offers the most complete coverage of superconductivity and serves as an important text and reliable reference in the physics community. This text is well-known for its accessibility to graduate students and experimental physicists because it emphasizes physical arguments and minimizes theoretical formalism.