THE BCS THEORY OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

BARDEEN, John; COOPER, Leon; SCHRIEFFER, John. Bound Electron Pairs in a Degenerate Fermi Gas. WITH: Microscopic Theory of Superconductivity. WITH: Theory of Superconductivity. IN: The Physical Review. Lancaster, PA & New York, NY: American Physical Society, 1956 & 1957. Three volumes. Octavo, original paper wrappers. Housed in a custom crimson silk-covered clamshell box with black morocco spine label. $2800.

Scarce first editions of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer's three Nobel Prize-winning papers laying out their theory of superconductivity, in the original wrappers, in exceptionally nice condition.

In the 1950s, John Bardeen, already known for his key role in the development of the transistor, "discovered a theoretical solution to the problem of superconductivity—the property of certain metals at low temperatures to lose all resistance to electrical conduction. The BCS theory (named for Bardeen, Leon Cooper, and John R. Schrieffer) became the basis for research that continues today, promising new technologies with enormous and global economic impact" (Simmons, The Scientific 100 50). "The BCS theory was extremely successful, explaining in detail the mechanism of superconductivity and associated effects, and it agreed amazingly well with experimental data. 'All of the hitherto puzzling features of superconductors fitted neatly together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle,' Bardeen later recalled" (Advancing Physics Society News). In 1972 the three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their jointly developed theory; in his award presentation speech, Stig Lundqvist praised their "fundamental paper" for having "succeeded in explaining in considerable detail the properties of superconductors [and] predicted new effects and stimulated an intensive activity in theoretical and experimental research." The issues of Physical Review here are Volume 104, Number 4 (November 15, 1956), Volume 106, Number 1 (April 1, 1957) and Volume 108, Number 5 (December 1, 1957). The first two items contain letters introducing the principal elements of the work, while the third provides the complete and fully detailed paper on BCS theory. NPW, 58.

A fine set, in original wrappers.