Lectures on Superconductivity

Introduction to the Lectures on Superconductivity

Fundamentals

An introduction to the fundamental characteristics and theories of superconductivity. The BCS and Ginzburg-Landau theories are discussed for conventional superconductors, and more recent developments including theories of high temperature superconductivity introduced. The critical parameters, flux pinning behaviour and characterisation techniques are also covered. Full contents...

Materials I

The properties and production techniques of superconductors useful for applications, now and in the future: from niobium-based superconductors, currently used in the majority of applications, to magnesium diboride and YBCO, which are entering commercialisation. Full contents...

Materials II

The properties of production of other superconducting materials, from the practical high temperature superconductor BSCCO to novel unconventional and organic superconductors. Full contents...

Electronics

Electronic and device applications of superconductivity, including Josephson Junctions and the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). SQUIDs are highly sensitive detectors of magnetic flux, with applications in astrophysics and medical imaging. Full contents...

Applications

Large-scale electrical and magnetic applications of superconductivity. Electromagnets for medical imaging, particle accelerators and fusion reactors; levitation systems for transport; and current leads and limiters. Full contents...

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Credits and Acknowledgements

Project Status and Call for Contributions

A project to produce video Lectures on Superconductivity, featuring contributions from leading world experts in academia and industry, was announced in 2002 by the European Network for Superconductivity, SCENET-2. This project was led by Dr Bartek Glowacki and received financial support from SCENET-2, Pi-Shift and the European Science Foundation. The editing process has now been completed, and the Lectures on Superconductivity are available free of charge online.

Each film can be streamed or downloaded from this website: click here to get started

Although the films are available online, this is an on-going project to educate students and to celebrate the centenary of the discovery of superconductivity in 2011. We aim to gradually add supporting text, questions, and links to further reading and related videos, for each film. It is also hoped that films can eventually be updated, and coverage of some subjects increased, as the opportunity arises.

Contributions of supporting material from the superconductivity community are now being sought. Questions and solutions suitable for final year undergraduates or first-year graduate students – whether numerical, multiple choice or open-ended – would be very gratefully received. Any video clips, pictures, presentations or other documents you think would enhance the lectures would also be welcomed:

Please send your comments and contributions by e-mail to los@msm.cam.ac.uk

If you have a website, we'd also be very grateful if you could link to this site, ideally using one of the banners we have prepared.

Link to the Lectures on Superconductivity from your website

• Statement and call for contributions
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Licensing, distribution and legal information

The Lectures on Superconductivity have been produced as a service to the scientific community, and may be distributed free of charge for educational use. (Charging for them, using them for commercial purposes, re-editing and distributing fragments are not permitted).

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Financial Support

       

• SCENET-2 (the European Network for Superconductivity)
• European Science Foundation and PiShift
• European Society for Applied Superconductivity