Earlier and Recent Aspects of Superconductivity

Contemporary knowledge of superconductors is set against historical background in this text, which begins by highlighting superconductivity research in the 20th century. The book then describes the basic phenomena resulting from the macroscopic quantum state of superconductivity and reviews possible mechanisms, including the classical BCS theory and the more recent alternative theories. The main categories of superconductors - elements, intermetallic phases, chalcogenides, oxides and organic compounds, are described. Common features and differences in structure and electronic properties are explored. The overview is completed with a discussion of the properties related to the coherence length.