John Bardeen and the theory of superconductivity: A late revision of a homework assignment for J. M. Luttinger

Journal of Statistical Physics

Volumn 103, Issue 3-4, 2001, Pages 625-640

  Hoddeson, Lillian ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN   (United States)

Author keywords

BCS theory; Biography; History; John Bardeen; Many body theory; Superconductivity

Indexed keywords

EID: 0035534762     PISSN: 00224715     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1023/A:1010301602037     Document Type: Article

References (61)

1. (1) This article draws in part on a manuscript by L. Hoddeson and V. Daitch, True Genius: the Life and Physics of John Bardeen, and Hoddeson, G. Baym, H. Schubert, and S. Heims, Chapter 8: Collective phenomena, in Out of the Crystal Maze: A History of Solid State Physics, 1900 1960, L. Hoddeson, E. Braun, J. Teichmann, and S. Weart, eds. (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1992), pp. 489-616. An earlier version of this article was the basis of my article "John Bardeen and the BCS Theory of Superconductivity," in Materials Research Society Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 50-55 (Jan. 1999).
2. (1) This article draws in part on a manuscript by L. Hoddeson and V. Daitch, True Genius: the Life and Physics of John Bardeen, and Hoddeson, G. Baym, H. Schubert, and S. Heims, Chapter 8: Collective phenomena, in Out of the Crystal Maze: A History of Solid State Physics, 1900 1960, L. Hoddeson, E. Braun, J. Teichmann, and S. Weart, eds. (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1992), pp. 489-616. An earlier version of this article was the basis of my article "John Bardeen and the BCS Theory of Superconductivity," in Materials Research Society Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 50-55 (Jan. 1999).
3. (1) This article draws in part on a manuscript by L. Hoddeson and V. Daitch, True Genius: the Life and Physics of John Bardeen, and Hoddeson, G. Baym, H. Schubert, and S. Heims, Chapter 8: Collective phenomena, in Out of the Crystal Maze: A History of Solid State Physics, 1900 1960, L. Hoddeson, E. Braun, J. Teichmann, and S. Weart, eds. (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1992), pp. 489-616. An earlier version of this article was the basis of my article "John Bardeen and the BCS Theory of Superconductivity," in Materials Research Society Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 50-55 (Jan. 1999).
4. (2) L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum mechanical electron theory of metals, 1926-1933, in Crystal Maze, op. cit., pp. 88-181, see esp. pp. 140-153.
5. (3) A. Sommerfeld and H. Bethe, Elektronentheorie der metalle, in Handbuch der Physik, Ser. 2, H. Geiger and K. Sheel. eds. (Springer, Berlin. 1933), Vol. 24, pp. 333-622, quote on p. 555.
6. (4) See Collective phenomena, in Crystal Maze, p. 491.
7. (5) E. P. Wigner and J. Bardeen, Theory of the work functions of monovalent metals, Phys. Rev. 48:84-87 (1935); J. Bardeen, Theory of the work function, II The surface double layer, Phys. Rev. 49:653-663 (1936); J. Bardeen, Reminiscences of early days in solid state physics, in The Beginnings of Solid State Physics, Sir Nevill Mott, ed. (The Royal Society, London, 1980), pp. 77-83.
8. (5) E. P. Wigner and J. Bardeen, Theory of the work functions of monovalent metals, Phys. Rev. 48:84-87 (1935); J. Bardeen, Theory of the work function, II The surface double layer, Phys. Rev. 49:653-663 (1936); J. Bardeen, Reminiscences of early days in solid state physics, in The Beginnings of Solid State Physics, Sir Nevill Mott, ed. (The Royal Society, London, 1980), pp. 77-83.
9. (5) E. P. Wigner and J. Bardeen, Theory of the work functions of monovalent metals, Phys. Rev. 48:84-87 (1935); J. Bardeen, Theory of the work function, II The surface double layer, Phys. Rev. 49:653-663 (1936); J. Bardeen, Reminiscences of early days in solid state physics, in The Beginnings of Solid State Physics, Sir Nevill Mott, ed. (The Royal Society, London, 1980), pp. 77-83.
10. (6) See M. Riordan and L. Hoddeson, Crystal Fire: the Birth of the Information Age (W. W. Norton, New York, 1997).
11. (7) H. Jones, N. F. Mott, and H. W. B. Skinner. A theory of the form of the X-ray emission bands and metals, Phys. Rev. 45:379-384 (1934).
12. (8) J. Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.
13. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59: 287 327 (1987).
14. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59: 287 327 (1987).
15. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59: 287 327 (1987).
16. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59: 287 327 (1987).
17. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59: 287 327 (1987).
18. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59:287 327 (1987).
19. (9) Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.: F. London and H. London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, Physica 2:341-354 (1935): F. London, Macroscopic interpretation of supraconductivity, Proc. Roy. Soc. A 152:24-34 (1935). For a summary of research on superconductivity up to the Second World War, see P. F. Dahl, Superconductivity: Its Historical Roots and Development from Mercury to the Ceramic Oxides (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992). For insight into the work of the London brothers, especially Fritz, see K. Gavroglu, Fritz London: A Scientific Biography (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1995). For further references see Crystal Maze, p. 588, No. 21, pp. 141-153, and Section IV. Superconductivity, 1929 1933, in L. Hoddeson, G. Baym, and M. Eckert, The development of the quantum-mechanical theory of metals. 1928-1933, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59:287 327 (1987).
20. (10) London and London, Supraleitung und Diamagnetismus, p. 348.
21. (11) D. Shoenberg, Superconducticity (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1938). In the mid-50s, Bardeen would recommend the 1952 edition of this book to his postdoc Leon Cooper.
22. (12) Bardeen, Theory of superconductivity, Abstract, Phys. Rev. 59:928 (1941). Bardeen would employ a similar approach in his work during the 1980s on charge density waves.
23. (13) J. Bardeen, Reminiscences, op. cit.
24. (14) This story is told in Crystal Fire, pp. 185-192.
25. (15) Brattain interview by C. Weiner, May 28, 1974, AIP. quoted in Crystal Fire, p. 190.
26. (16) The evidence came from work by a group of experimenters based in different labs including A. Brian Pippard. William Fairbank, Emanuel Maxwell, Paul Marcus, J. C. Daunt, Kurt Mendelssohn, B. Goodman, A. Brown. Mark Zemansky, Henry Boorse, W. Corak, Michael Tinkham, and R. E. Glover.
27. (17) Bardeen notes written between May 15 and May 18, 1950, Bardeen papers, Univ. of Illinois Archives; J. Bardeen, Zero-point vibrations and superconductivity, Phys. Rev. 79:167 168 (1950)
28. Chapter 8, Out of the Crystal Maze, pp. 549-50.
29. (18) H. Fröhlich, Isotope effect in superconductivity, (letter) Proceedings of the Physical Society (London) A 63:778 (1950).
30. (19) Bardeen to Peierls, July 17, 1951, Peierls Papers, Oxford.
31. (20) F. Seitz interview by L. Hoddeson, V. Daitch, and I. Elichirigoity, April 22, 1993.
32. (21) Ibid.
33. (22) D. Pines interview with Lillian Hoddeson and Vicki Daitch, December 3, 1993, p. 8.
34. (23) D. Bohm interview by L. Hoddeson, May 8, 1981; see Crystal Maze p. 536.
35. (24) D. Pines interview by L. Hoddeson, August 13 and 16, 1981.
36. (25) J. Bardeen and D. Pines, Electron-phonon interaction in metals, Phys. Rev. 99:1140-1150 (1955).
37. (26) J. Bardeen, Theory of superconductivity. Theoretical part, in Handbuch der Physik (Springer, Berlin, 1956), Vol. 15, pp. 274-369.
38. (27) J. Bardeen, Theory of superconductivity. Theoretical part.
39. (28) J. Bardeen, History of superconductivity research, in Impact of Basic Research on Technology, B. Kursonoglu and A. Perlmutter, eds. (Plenum, New York, 1973), pp. 15-57.
40. (29) Schrieffer interview with J. Warnow and R. M. Williams, Sept. 26, 1974, hereafter cited as SWW.
41. (30) SWW.
42. (31) F. London, Superfluids, Vol. I: Macroscopic Theory of Superconductivity (Wiley, New York, 1950), esp. pp. 142-155.
43. (32) SWW.
44. (33) L. Cooper, Bound electron pairs in a degenerate Fermi gas, Phys. Rev. 104:1189-1190 (1956).
45. (34) SWW.
46. (35) SWW.
47. (36) SWW.
48. (37) D. Lazarus interview with I. Elichirigoity, 24 February 1992.
49. (38) Betsy Bardeen Greytak, Bardeen family interview with L. Hoddeson and M. Riordan, March 15, 1992.
50. (39) SWW.
51. (40) SWW.
52. (41) SWW.
53. (42) SWW.
54. (43) SWW.
55. (44) D. Lazarus interview with I. Elichirigoity, 24 February 1992.
56. (45) J. Bardeen to S. A. Goudsmit, Feb. 15, 1957, Bardeen Papers, UIUC.
57. (46) J. Bardeen, L. N. Cooper, and J. R. Schrieffer, Microscopic theory of superconductivity, Phys. Rev. 106:162-164 (1957).
58. (47) Charles Slichter, John Bardeen Memorial talk, February 8, 1991.
59. (48) Among the first were R. W. Morse and H. V. Bohm at Brown and Glover and Tinkham at Berkeley.
60. (49) J. Bardeen, L. N. Cooper, and J. R. Schrieffer, Theory of superconductivity, Phys. Rev. 108:1175-1204 (1957).
61. (50) L. Brown, R. Brout, T. Y. Cao, Peter Higgs, and Y. Nambu. Panel session: Spontaneous breaking of symmetry, in The Rise of the Standard Model: Particle Physics in the 1960s and 70s, L. Hoddeson, L. M. Brown. M. Dresden, and M. Riordan, eds. (Cambridge Univ. Press. New York, 1997), pp. 478-522.