Physics · 1957
Theory of Superconductivity
John Bardeen, Leon N. Cooper, J. Robert Schrieffer
Overview
The BCS theory gave the first microscopic explanation of superconductivity. It showed that below a critical temperature electrons bind into 'Cooper pairs' via lattice vibrations and condense into a single coherent quantum state that carries current without resistance.
Explained superconductivity microscopically; won the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Key findings
Methods
A many-body quantum field theory using a variational wavefunction for the paired electron condensate, deriving the energy gap and thermodynamic properties from an effective electron–phonon interaction.
Keywords
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