Physics and Materials Science of High Temperature Superconductors

Since the discovery of high temperature superconductivity, a tidal wave of res- earch into the newly found phenomena took off in several directions. The theor- ists began to examine BSC and its implications. Mostly everyone was syn- thesizing materials.The experimentalists were studying relations among electri- cal and magnetic properties while the pure materials scientists began to exam- ine the microstructures, and the relations of processing to one or two measurab- le parameters. The engineering and systems community were preparing real conductors and designing the needed components. Each of the communities was holding between two and three annual meetings to discuss most recent re- sults. As work progressed, and promised applications did not materialize, it became apparent to us that the physics and materials science communities needed to establish solid communication lines. This NATO Advanced Study Institute was thus conceived and organized. This was a two week summer school, which 15 internationally acclaimed physicists and material scientists were invited to par- ticipate in the capacity of Lecturers. Eighty students, from 12 different countries, also attended.