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Superconductivity

This document provides a review of the book "Superconductivity – A Very Short Introduction" by Stephen Blundell. The review summarizes that the book is part of the "A Very Short Introduction" series, which aims to make scientific topics accessible to non-experts. It discusses the book's history of superconductivity in a qualitative, non-mathematical way over 151 pages. The review praises the book for inviting readers who otherwise may not be interested in superconductivity and for recommending it as an engaging read that provides insights into physics and how scientific discoveries are made.

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Rousse Aldava
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140 views

Superconductivity

This document provides a review of the book "Superconductivity – A Very Short Introduction" by Stephen Blundell. The review summarizes that the book is part of the "A Very Short Introduction" series, which aims to make scientific topics accessible to non-experts. It discusses the book's history of superconductivity in a qualitative, non-mathematical way over 151 pages. The review praises the book for inviting readers who otherwise may not be interested in superconductivity and for recommending it as an engaging read that provides insights into physics and how scientific discoveries are made.

Uploaded by

Rousse Aldava
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Superconductivity – A very short introduction

Stephen Blundell
Oxford University Press
2009
151 numbered pages
softcover
ISBN 9780199540907
Scientific essay
Any interested reader
Dr. Manuel Vogel, Imperial College London, [email protected]

When talking about superconductivity one usually has a very specialist topic in mind which appears
to be inaccessible to the non-expert readership. However, “Superconductivity” by Stephen Blundell
has appeared as number 204 in the series “A Very Short Introduction” which, for all the right reasons,
is known as a source for easily accessible scientific essays by reknowned scientists. This series covers
numerous topics throughout all branches of science including physics. This particular book gives
insight into the history of superconductivity and the related fields of low temperature physics and
gas liquification. It starts with the forefathers Faraday, Dewar, Ramsey and tells the story of gas
liquification and Kammerlingh Onnes’ discovery of superconductivity. It then continues through the
history both of experimental and theoretical progress in finding new and better materials and
understanding the underlying processes. It gives great detail about the involved personalities and
their access to the field. Many potential readers may be delighted to hear that no equations are
given, but that the explanations are purely qualitative and phenomenological. This does not mean
that the book is shallow, but that it invites many who otherwise would not touch a book on that
topic. Additionally, the last chapter gives the most important applications of superconductivity in
everyday’s life. The text is illustrated by altogether 34 non-colour figures and pictures which help in
making the book interesting to read. One is very much tempted to read the text in one go, which is a
matter of only one or two hours, since it is really well-written and interesting. It is accessible to
nearly any interested reader, yet it en passant presents lots of interesting information also for
grown-up physicists. Although this a rather comprehensive essay of 140 pages, there is an index
(mainly with the names of the relevant researchers) and a list of books and articles for further
reading (both for experts and non-experts). I can highly recommend this book, since it not only
presents the topic and its aspects well, but also gives insight into how physics works in general.
Owing to its price and format, it is a perfect companion for travellers who want to kill one or two
hours in the best possible way.

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