20810086 - EXPERIMENTAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

The learner will acquire information on: applications of superconductivity, the main experimental methods employed on superconductors, the basics of the main theoretical models. He/she will be able to identify the specific features of superconductivity that are exploited in superconductor-based systems and devices.
teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

1 Introduction to Superconductivity.
Zero resistance, persistent currents. Persistent Current Switch. Meissner effect.
Type-II and type-II superconductors. Critical fields. Fluxoid quantization. London equations. Two fluid model.

2 Superconducting materials.
Elements and Alloys: technological superconductors. High-Tc superconductors. Iron-based superconductors. Anisotropic superconductors.

3 Theory.
Basics of microscopic BCS theory. Thermodynamics of the superconducting state. Ginzburg-Landau theory.

4 Radiofrequency superconductivity
AC conductivity. Surface impedance. Superconducting rf devices. Superconductors for accelerating cavities and for large experiments.

5 Type-II superconductivity..
Fluxons or vortices. Abrikosov lattice. Lower and upper critical fields. Fluxon motion. Pinning. Irreversibility. Bean model. Flux-flow, flux-creep, TAFF.

6 Energy applications
SFCL; Superconducting magnets for nuclear fusion reactors; SMES; Flywheels

7 Superconductivity in quantum computing

8 (additional topic) Josephson effect.
Feynmann derivation. RCSJ model. dc Josephson effect. Shapiro steps. Voltage standard. SQUID; effect of a magnetic field, critical current and quantum interference. Weak screening. Applications.


Core Documentation

List of the textbooks used. A detailed list of chapters and paragraphs is on the website. Additional material (slides, short texts) can be found on the website.
Website: http://www.sea.uniroma3.it/eldem/

[BK]
W. Buckel, R. Kleiner, "Superconductivity - Fundamentals and Applications", Wiley

[EH]
C. Enss, S. Hunklinger, "Low-Temperature Physics", Springer

[FS]
K. Fossheim, A. Sudbø, "Superconductivity - Physics and applications", John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

[IW]
Iwasa, "Case Studies in Superconducting Magnets", 2nd Edition, Springer

[OD]
T.P. Orlando, K.A. Delin, "Foundations of Applied Superconductivity", Addison Wesley
si vedano anche le slide del corso "Applied Superconductivity" del MIT (Open CourseWare)

[OPe]
F. J. Owens, Ch. P. Poole, Jr., "Electromagnetic Absorption in the Copper Oxide Superconductors", Springer

Type of delivery of the course

Oral exam

Attendance

Attending classes is suggested.

Type of evaluation

Oral exam