Theory of superconductivity

Abstract

Although superconductivity falls into the domain where one would expect ordinary non-relativistic quantum mechanics to be valid, it has proved to be extremely difficult to obtain an adequate theoretical explanation of this remarkable phenomenon. In spite of the large amount of excellent experimental and theoretical work devoted to the problem, there remain major unsettled questions. However, the area in which the answers are to be found has been narrowed considerably. There are very strong indications, if not quite a proof, that superconductivity is essentially an extreme case of diamagnetism rather than a limit of infinite conductivity. The isotope effect indicates that the superconducting phase arises from interactions between electrons and lattice vibrations.