Abstract
IT is a controversial question whether the phenomenon of superconductivity is merely a consequence of the quantum theory of interaction among electrons or whether it depends on the specific crystal structures. The first point of view is taken in Heisenberg‘s theory1. However, it can be shown by general reasoning that if the ionic forces between ions and electrons are disregarded, all states with a total current different from zero will have higher energy than those without. Moreover, there is a strict isomorphic correspondence between all states without current and all states with a given current. Consequently the free energy of the states with a current cannot be the smallest at any temperature. Secondly, Heisenberg‘s theory predicts the existence of superconductivity in all metals, including the alkali metals ; yet so far experimental evidence does not confirm this.
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References
Heisenberg, W., Z. Naturforsch., II a, 185 (1947).
Seitz, "Modern Theory of Solids", 365.
Fröhlich, H., and Mott, N. F., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 171, 496 (1939).
Kok, Physica, 1, 1103 (1934).
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BORN, M., CHENG, K. Theory of Superconductivity. Nature 161, 968–969 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/161968a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/161968a0
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