A Materials Science Guide to Superconductors

Description

Superconductors capture the imagination with seemingly magical properties that allow them to carry electricity without losing any energy. This book tells how superconductors are designed and engineered on the nanoscale. It introduces what materials science is all about and why advanced materials have such importance for technological progress.

• Explores the amazing properties of superconductors and how they can be used in the modern world
• An excellent introduction to the field of Materials Science
• A clear, accesible guide for all those interested in science and technology

About the Author(s)

Susannah Speller, Professor of Materials Science, University of Oxford

Susannah Speller is a Professor of Materials Science at the University of Oxford and a Fellow at St. Catherine's College, Oxford.

Table of Contents

1:Meet the Family
2:Miraculous Magnets
3:Energy Essentials and Superconducting States
4:Levitation Magic
5:NbTi: The Wonderful Workhorse
6:Quirky Quantum Effects
7:Grain Boundaries: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
8:Battles with Brittleness
9:High Temperature Heroics
10:A Super Future?
Appendix A: Further Reading
Appendix B: Field Decay and Joint Resistance
Appendix C: Derivation of Condensation Energy
List of Symbols and Abbreviations
References
Index

Reviews

"Readable, fascinating book...The book is for everyone from high school students to seasoned researchers." - Choice

"In this readable, fascinating book, Speller (Oxford Univ.) successfully manages an almost impossible task: present all modern concepts of materials science within the context of the basic theory,measurements,processing, and engineeringapplicationsof superconductors." - J. Lambropoulos, University of Rochester, CHOICE connect

"Well-written in an accessible style with the potential to attract a broad readership." - David Cardwell, University of Cambridge

"A new and very interesting way to introduce materials science... the author's enthusiasm for the topic is clearly on display and I am sure it will be infectious." - Peter J. Lee, Florida State University