Superconductivity and Superfluidity

Book excerpt: This 1998 book describes the physics of superconductivity and superfluidity, macroscopic quantum phenomena found in many conductors at low temperatures and in liquid helium 4 and helium 3. In the first part of the book the author presents the mean field theory of generalized pair condensation. This is followed by a description of the properties of ordinary superconductors using BCS theory. The book then proceeds with expositions of strong coupling theory and the Ginzberg-Landau theory. The remarkable properties of superfluid helium 3 are then described, as an example of a superfluid with internal degrees of freedom. The topics covered are dealt with in a coherent manner, with all necessary theoretical background given. Recent topics in the field, such as the copper-oxide high temperature superconductors and exotic superconductivity of heavy fermion systems are discussed in the final chapter. This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in condensed matter physics, especially those working in superconductivity and superfluidity.