This text deals with the behaviour of superconductors in external fields varying in time, and with transport phenomena in superconductors.

The importance of phonons has long been recognized by research ers in nonequilibrium superconductivity. Similarly, experimentalists studying phonons at low temperatures have relied heavily on supercon ductors as sources and detectors. To a large extent this symbiotic relationship has developed with a general mutual awareness; however, to our knowledge these subjects have never been treated together in conferences or study institutes. It was with the hope of further contributing to the awareness and communication between workers in these areas that this NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) has been conceived. A second, but equally important, reason for holding this ASI is to fill a void by providing the first general textbook in this important area of physics. Therefore, there was an emphasis on the tutorial nature of the lectures and written contributions to this textbook. It should not go unnoticed that the experimental and theoretical concepts covered in this textbook are of paramount importance to the various applications of superconductors. Almost by definition, the use of a superconductor implies a nonequilibrium state! For example, phonon conduction to the helium bath is important in devices ranging from microscopic Josephson junctions to large scale magnets and transmission lines. Knowledge of the more fundamental nonequilibrium effects can aid in our understanding of devices as well as provide the potential for entirely new applications.

This extensive and comprehensive handbook systematically reviews the basic physics, theory and recent advances in superconductivity. Covering the entire field, this unparalleled resource carefully blends theoretical studies with experimental results to provide an indispensable foundation for further research. Leading researchers, including Nobel laureates, describe the state of the art in conventional and unconventional superconductors. In addition to full-coverage of novel materials and underlying mechanisms, the handbook reflects continued, intense research into electron-phone based superconductivity.

This book introduces the main concepts of nonequilibrium phenomena in superconductors. The authors cover both experimentally well-understood topics and problems which physicists could challenge more in view of current theoretical understanding. Some of these topics include thermoelectric phenomena, influence of laser radiation as well as fluctuations in superconductors.

This accessible textbook offers a novel, concept-led approach to superconducting electronics, using the COMSOL Multiphysics software to help describe fundamental principles in an intuitive manner. Based on a course taught by the author and aimed primarily at engineering students, the book explains concepts effectively and efficiently, uncovering the “shortcut” to understanding each topic, enabling readers to quickly grasp the underlying essence. The book is divided into two main parts; the first part provides a general introduction to key topics encountered in superconductivity, illustrated using COMSOL simulations based on time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations and avoiding any deeply mathematical derivations. It includes numerous worked examples and problem sets with tips and solutions. The second part of the book is more conventional in nature, providing detailed derivations of the basic equations from first principles. This part covers more advanced topics, including the BCS-Gor'kov-Eliashberg approach to equilibrium properties of superconductors, the derivation of kinetic equations for nonequilibrium superconductors, and the derivation of time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations, used as the basis for COMSOL modeling in the first part. Supported throughout by an extensive library of COMSOL Multiphysics animations, the book serves as a uniquely accessible introduction to the field for engineers and others with a less rigorous background in physics and mathematics. However, it also features more detailed mathematical background for those wishing to delve further into the subject.

This is the second volume of a comprehensive two-volume treatise on superconductivity that represents the first such publication since the earlier widely acclaimed books by R. Parks. It systematically reviews the basic physics and recent advances in the field. Leading researchers describe the state of the art in conventional phonon-induced superconductivity, high-Tc superconductivity, and in novel superconductivity, including triplet pairing in the ruthenates. The second volume is largely concerned with novel superconductors, such as heavy-fermion metals and organic materials, and also includes granular superconductors. Important new results on current problems are presented in a manner designed to stimulate further research. Numerous illustrations, diagrams and tables make this book especially useful as a reference work for students, teachers and researchers. Volume 1 treats Conventional and High-Tc Superconductors (3-540-43883-1).

Contents:The First Five Years of High-Tc Superconductivity (K A Müller)Different Factors which Govern the Optimisation of High-Tc Superconductive Cuprates Involving Bi-, Tl or Pb (B Raveau, M Hervieu, C Michel, J Provost, A Maignan, C Simon & D Groult)Superconductivity in Cuprates and Other Oxides (H R Ott)Organic Superconductors with Tc Higher than 10K (T Ishiguro & Y Nogami)Fundamentals of RVB Theory and Some Applications to High Temperature Superconductors (G Baskaran)Anyons and Superconductivity (S Das Sarma)Mott Transition in the Hubbard Model (B S Shastry)Superconducting Pairing in Layered Superconductors (S S Jha)Breaking the Log-Jam in Many-Body Physics: Fermi Surfaces Without Fermi Liquids (P W Anderson)Superconductivity in High Magnetic Fields from a Microscopic Theory (A K Rajagopal)Nonequilibrium Superconductivity (R Tidecks)Neutron Scattering Study of the High-Tc Superconducting System YBa2Cu3O6+x (J Rossat-Mignod et al.)Crystal-Field Excitations in High-Tc Superconducting Materials (A Furrer)Superconducting Granular Films (S-I Kobayashi)Transport Properties in the Mixed State of High Temperature Superconductors (A Freimuth)Physics of Josephson Effect and Recent Advances (A Barone & S Pagano)Tunneling Spectroscopy of Copper Oxide Superconductors (T Ekino & J Akimitsu)Superconductivity and Magnetism in Heavy-Fermion Compounds (F Steglich, U Ahlheim, C D Bredl, C Geibel, M Lang, A Loidl & G Sparn)Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies in Highly Correlated Systems: Heavy Fermion and High-Tc Superconductors (K Asayama)Pulsed Laser and Cylindrical Magnetron Sputter Deposition of Epitaxial Metal Oxide Thin Films (T Venkatesan et al.) Readership: Physicists, chemists and engineers. keywords:

Since the discovery of superconductivity with trans1tton temperatures above 77 K, concentrated research activities toward the exploration of practical applica tions of these materials have been carried out. Currently, a remarkable improve ment in superconducting properties has been achieved due to the fine optimization of fabrication processes, and this has attracted industrial interest for future applications. In the case of NdBa Cu 0 materials, a new pinning mecha 2 3 7 nism was found which enhances the critical current under applied magnetic fields. In single crystals of these materials, oxygen control results in an increase in the growth rate. The metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) film quality has been improved by using a new liquid raw material. Simultaneously, real demands from the viewpoint of the market start to be a motivation force, es pecially in electronics application where some products are already being sold. At the same time, interesting physical properlies have been obtained from a new superconducting single crystal which has a layered perovskite structure without copper. In addition, various precision measurement techniques have confirmed the d-wave mechanism and the existence of intrinsicJosephson junctions in single crystals. These new phenomena challenge the existing theoretical models but also open the way for new applications. These significant areas of progress in materials science have led high-Tc super conductivity research into the next phase of activity, while fundamental research continues to be very important. I sincerely hope that this volume will give further impetus to this development.