Skip to main content

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSB,volume 352))

Abstract

We have been asked to speak to you this morning about the history of superconductivity. We will do that, of course. We always do whatever Harvey Newman asks us to do. However, we also have another objective in mind. Because this conference is the occasion of the formal dedication of the Richard P. Feynman Lecture Hall at the Ettore Majorana Centre, we would like to tell you a bit of the story of Feynman’s epic battle with superconductivity. As it turned out, Feynman was the loser in that struggle, and so the story may tell us more about Richard Feynman than it does about superconductivity. We hope that will not make it any less interesting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Bibliography

  • P. F. Dahl, “Kamerlingh Onnes and the Discovery of Superconductivity: The Leyden Years, 1911–1914,” Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences, 15 (1984) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • P. F. Dahl, “Superconductivity after World War I and Circumstances Surrounding the Discovery of a State B=0,” Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences, 16 (1986) 1.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • R. P. Feynman, “Superfluidity and Superconductivity,” Reviews of Modern Physics, 29 (1957) 205.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R. P. Feynman, Interview by Charles Weiner. Tape recording. Pasadena, Calif., 28 June 1966. American Institute of Physics, College Park. Md.

    Google Scholar 

  • R. P. Feynman, “The Schrödinger Equation in a Classical Context: A Seminar on Superconductivity.” Chap. 21 in “The Feynman Lectures on Physics,” by Feynman, R.R, R. Leighton, and M. Sands. Vol. 3. Reading: Addison-Wesley, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • R. P. Feynman, “Theory and Applications of Mercereau’s Superconducting Circuits, [29 October 1964].” Tape recording. Institute Archives, Caltech.

    Google Scholar 

  • R. P. Feynman, Papers. Institute Archives, Caltech.

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Gavroglu and Y. Goudaroulis. “Methodological Aspects of the Development of Low Temperature Physics 1881–1956. Concepts out of Context(s).” Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Press, 1989.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • D. L. Goodstein, States of Matter. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • J. R. Goodstein, “A History of the Quest for Low Temperatures.” Paper presented at the University of Washington low temperature physics research seminar, Seattle, WA, October 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • J. R. Goodstein, “Sir Humphry Davy: Chemical Theory and the Nature of Matter,” (Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Hoddeson, H. Shubert, S. J. Heims, and G. Baym, “Collective Phenomena.” In “Out of the Crystal Maze,” by Hoddeson, Lillian, and others, pp. 541–63. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • O. H. Kamerlingh, “Sur les rĂ©sistances Ă©lectriques.” Communications from the Physical Laboratory of the University of Leiden. Supplement 29 (1911) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Vidali, “Superconductivity: The Next Revolution?” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Goodstein, D., Goodstein, J. (1996). Richard Feynman and the History of Superconductivity. In: Newman, H.B., Ypsilantis, T. (eds) History of Original Ideas and Basic Discoveries in Particle Physics. NATO ASI Series, vol 352. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1147-8_41

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1147-8_41

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8448-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1147-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics