Chandra Varma: One hundred years of superconductivity

Superconductivity was discovered in 1911 before even the resistivity or entropy of solids was understood, and long before the principles essential for either - quantum-mechanics, distinction between fermions and bosons and basic quantum electrodynamics were even dreamt about. Then in 1987, the unusual metallic state and superconductivity was discovered in cuprates which has led to a further revolution in our understanding of possible states of matter and quantum fluctuations and how interactions change our definition of particles. I will present the state of physics in 1911 and explain in a simple way the theoretical developments which explained the myriad observations both old and more recent and how they have had a profound impact on the development of physics from aspects of nuclear physics to gauge theory in particle physics and to theories about black holes. The history of both the old and the new superconductivity has been enlivened by the activity of great minds and of great egos.