John Bardeen and the Theory of Superconductivity: A Late Revision of a Homework Assignment for J. M. Luttinger

Abstract

This account of the history of the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory of superconductivity has its roots in an assignment that Quin Luttinger designed for me in 1963 when I was his graduate student. It improves on my student work by tracing the story from historical source materials as well as published papers, thus reflecting the contingencies and human elements that shape all research in physics. I also made an attempt to portray general features of how John Bardeen approached solving problems in physics.