Failed theories of superconductivity

Joerg Schmalian

doi:10.1142/s0217984910025280

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arXiv · 1008.0447

Failed theories of superconductivity

Joerg Schmalian

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Abstract

Almost half a century passed between the discovery of superconductivity by Kamerlingh Onnes and the theoretical explanation of the phenomenon by Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer. During the intervening years the brightest minds in theoretical physics tried and failed to develop a microscopic understanding of the effect. A summary of some of those unsuccessful attempts to understand superconductivity not only demonstrates the extraordinary achievement made by formulating the BCS theory, but also illustrates that mistakes are a natural and healthy part of the scientific discourse, and that inapplicable, even incorrect theories can turn out to be interesting and inspiring.

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Joerg Schmalian. 2010-08-05. Failed theories of superconductivity. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217984910025280

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