Springer Book Archives

History of the Theory of Superconductivity.- Fundamental Limits on Squid Technology.- Josephson Computer Technology.- Organic Superconductivity.- Solitions in Long Josephson Junctions.- Josephson Effects: Basic Concepts.- Investigations on the Josephson Effect by Photosensitive Tunnel Structures.- The Problem of Geometrical Configuration in Josephson Junctions.- Workshop on Organic Materials and Superconducting Fluctuations.- Superconducting Tunnel Junctions in High Frequency Radiation Detectors.- Coexistence of Superconductivity and Magnetism.- Ion Implantation - A Promising Technique for the Production of New Superconducting Materials.- Empirical Approach to Superconductivity.- Kosterlitz-Thouless Transitions and Two-Dimensional Superconductors.- Re-entrant Superconductivity.- Scientific Program.- Participants.

The Advanced Study Institute on "Advances in Superconductivity" was held at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice, Sicily, during July 3 to July 15, 1982. This Institute was the third course of the International School of Low Tempera ture Physics, which was established at the Centre in 1977 with the guidance and inspiration of T. Regge and A. Zichichi. The 1982 Course was centered on a topic which brought together fundamental basic research and the most recent promising technological applications. Accordingly, the participants represented a wide spectrum of industrial and government laboratories, as well as universities from various countries. The program of topics and speakers was developed with the advice of the Organizing Committee, composed of H. Frohlich, T. Regge, B. Stritzker, and L. Testardi. This Institute emphasized recent developments in the science and technology of superconductivity. A historical perspective was provided by H. Frohlich, whose lectures recall the earliest discoveries and theoretical attempts to understand superconductivity. Ironically, his early suggestion of the electron-phonon coupling as a key to superconductivity was met with initial widespread skepticism. Later, the development of field theory methods for solid state physics problems, and the evolution of the BCS theory has led to a seemingly unanimous concensus regarding the e1ectron phonon mechanism as the predominant source of superconductivity in known materials. Experimental studies of superconductivity exemplify the strong interplay of science and technology in many ways.