dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaEinstein and the Early Theory of Superconductivity, 1919-1922
| Authors | Tilman Sauer |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0612159 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0612159 |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00407-006-0122-8 |
| Journal | Archive for History of Exact Sciences 61 (2007) 159-211 |
Abstract
Einstein's early thoughts about superconductivity are discussed as a case study of how theoretical physics reacts to experimental findings that are incompatible with established theoretical notions. One such notion that is discussed is the model of electric conductivity implied by Drude's electron theory of metals, and the derivation of the Wiedemann-Franz law within this framework. After summarizing the experimental knowledge on superconductivity around 1920, the topic is then discussed both on a phenomenological level in terms of implications of Maxwell's equations for the case of infinite conductivity, and on a microscopic level in terms of suggested models for superconductive charge transport. Analyzing Einstein's manuscripts and correspondence as well as his own 1922 paper on the subject, it is shown that Einstein had a sustained interest in superconductivity and was well informed about the phenomenon. It is argued that his appointment as special professor in Leiden in 1920 was motivated to a considerable extent by his perception as a leading theoretician of quantum theory and condensed matter physics and the hope that he would contribute to the theoretical direction of the experiments done at Kamerlingh Onnes' cryogenic laboratory. Einstein tried to lived up to these expectations by proposing at least three experiments on the phenomenon, one of which was carried out twice in Leiden. Compared to other theoretical proposals at the time, the prominent role of quantum concepts was characteristic of Einstein's understanding of the phenomenon. The paper concludes with comments on Einstein's epistemological reflections on the problem.
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"abstract": "Einstein\u0027s early thoughts about superconductivity are discussed as a case\nstudy of how theoretical physics reacts to experimental findings that are\nincompatible with established theoretical notions. One such notion that is\ndiscussed is the model of electric conductivity implied by Drude\u0027s electron\ntheory of metals, and the derivation of the Wiedemann-Franz law within this\nframework. After summarizing the experimental knowledge on superconductivity\naround 1920, the topic is then discussed both on a phenomenological level in\nterms of implications of Maxwell\u0027s equations for the case of infinite\nconductivity, and on a microscopic level in terms of suggested models for\nsuperconductive charge transport. Analyzing Einstein\u0027s manuscripts and\ncorrespondence as well as his own 1922 paper on the subject, it is shown that\nEinstein had a sustained interest in superconductivity and was well informed\nabout the phenomenon. It is argued that his appointment as special professor in\nLeiden in 1920 was motivated to a considerable extent by his perception as a\nleading theoretician of quantum theory and condensed matter physics and the\nhope that he would contribute to the theoretical direction of the experiments\ndone at Kamerlingh Onnes\u0027 cryogenic laboratory. Einstein tried to lived up to\nthese expectations by proposing at least three experiments on the phenomenon,\none of which was carried out twice in Leiden. Compared to other theoretical\nproposals at the time, the prominent role of quantum concepts was\ncharacteristic of Einstein\u0027s understanding of the phenomenon. The paper\nconcludes with comments on Einstein\u0027s epistemological reflections on the\nproblem.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0612159",
"authors": [
"Tilman Sauer"
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"doi": "10.1007/s00407-006-0122-8",
"journal_ref": "Archive for History of Exact Sciences 61 (2007) 159-211",
"title": "Einstein and the Early Theory of Superconductivity, 1919-1922",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0612159"
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