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Superconductivity The phenomena by which, at sufficiently low temperatures, a conductor can conduct charge with zero resistance. The current theory for explaining superconductivity is the BCS theory. Named after J. Bardeen, L.N. Cooper and J.R. Schrieffer.
- A theory put forth to explain both superconductivity and superfluidity. It suggests that in the superconducting (or superfluid) state electrons form Cooper pairs, where two electrons act as a single unit. It takes a nonzero amount of energy to break such pairs, and the imperfections in the superconducting solid (which would normally lead to resistance) are incapable of breaking the pairs, so no dissipation occurs and there is no resistance.
Historical Notes - 1911 Dutch physicist Heike Kammerlingh discovered superconductivity.
See also: Josephson Effects, Meissner Effect, Resistance.
  
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