The Woodstock of Physics: The Hyped Future Then (1987)\textellipsis The Actual Situation Now (2017).

COFFEE_KLATCH · Invited

Abstract

In late January, 1986, Georg Bednorz stayed after work at the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory to measure the temperature dependence of the conductivity of a copper oxide perovskite whose preparation had recently been published by the CNRS group at the University of Caen. He had recognized that the Caen material composition matched that of the ``Jahn-Teller-Bipolaron'' high-temperature superconductivity pairing model speculated previously by his IBM mentor, Alex Mueller. One of his samples revealed trace superconductivity near 20-25 K, a stupendous result at the \underline {time}$^1$. In the late fall of 1986, Paul Chu and his collaborators at U. Huston and Alabama detected a sharp transition at 91 K in the same perovskite family. Subsequently, confirmation pandemonium ensued throughout the planet, resulting in the gathering termed ``The Woodstock of Physics'' convened at the New York Hilton the second week of March, 1987. Would HTSC thus embody the long sought ``energy deliverance of mankind?'' Not yet, despite obtaining materials reaching ambient pressure Tc's of 135 K, and after many successful demonstrations of \underline {power applications}$^2$ of these discoveries worldwide over the last three decades. \underline {Why not}$^3$ and when will its promise be fulfilled? That's the subject of this presentation.\\ \\$[1]$http://w2agz.com/Publications/Opinion\%20\&\%20Commentary/W2AGZ/Cold\%20Facts/2016/PMG\%20article\%20 from\%20cold\_facts\_vol32\_no1\_2016.pdf\newline $[2]$http://w2agz.com/Publications/Science\%20\&\%20Technology/W2AGZ/09b\%20(2010)\%20Superconductivity\%20in\%20 Power\%20Applications,\%20Wroclaw\%20ICEC-ICMC.pdf\newline $[3]$ http://w2agz.com/Publications/Opinion\%20&\%20Commentary/W2AGZ/PowerMag/Upbraiding-the-Utilities\_4242.pdf

Authors

  • Paul Grant

    W2AGZ Technologies