2007-9-14

Vitaly L. Ginzburg, Anthony J. Leggett and Alexei A. Abrikosov from left to right

On October 7th, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences RSAS announced here that the Nobel Prize in physics 2003 was awarded to Alexei A. Abrikosov (who owns nationalities of both Russia and USA) of Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, IL, USA, Vitaly L. Ginzburg of P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute Moscow, Russia and Anthony J. Leggett (who owns nationalities of both United Kingdom and USA) of University of Illinois Urbana, IL, USA, for pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids. They will share the cash award of 10M Swedish Kronor (about US$ 1,300,000) equally.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences RSAS declared that research results of the three scientists made decisive contribution to theory of superconductors and superfluids, which are two kinds of phenomena in quantum physics. Superconductor can be applied to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device and particle acceleration of physical experiment, etc. In addition, knowledge about superfluid is helpful to deepen research on motion status of matter.

Superconductive phenomenon is that some metal can be conductive without resistance in low temperature. Superconductor possesses another character that it can partially or completely repulse magnetic line of force. Strong magnetic field will be generated when there is current across the superconductor and the heat generated by the magnetic field will damage superconductivity. The matter will become completely diamagnetic at the same time of becoming a superconductor. Superconductors that completely repulse magnetic line of force are classified as the first kind of superconductor. The theory that explains this phenomenon was awarded with the Nobel Prize in physics in 1972. Foundation of this theory is ordered electron pair. However, this theory didn't make sufficient research on superconductor which is very important for technology. The second kind of superconductor allows superconductivity and magnetism property exist at the same time, i. e. to make diamagnetism of superconductor disappear, then superconductivity still can exist in high magnetic field. Alexei A. Abrikosov successfully explained phenomenon in theory based on the theory of the first kind of superconductor created by Vitaly L. Ginzburg, etc. Actually, this theory can also be applied to research of the second superconductor. Although these theories formed during the 50's of last century, they are still of great importance for development of new superconductive material. Now, people still can create superconductor under condition of higher temperature and stronger magnetism.

At present, Helium is the only known matter that will not freeze to be solid even at the temperature of absolute zero. Viscosity of liquid Helium, whose heat-transfer coefficient is better than copper, will disappear at extraordinary low temperature which makes it flow without resistance on any object and even be able to climb vertically along the wall of container. This flow without resistance is named as superfluid by scientists. Although superfluid phenomenon had already be found early, until the 70's of the 20th century, Anthony J. Leggett found that atom pair of Helium-3, which is isotope of Helium, has similar structure as that of electron pair of metal in superconductor. His theory basically explained how Helium atoms interact and enter the ordered status of superfluid. During these years, scientists have made research on how it changes from order to disorder based on this theory. £Ôhis is one of the problems of classical physics. Only Helium can be applied at the temperature near absolute zero for research, hence, it is of great importance in pure science and application science.

Alexei A. Abrikosov, who was born in Moscow in 1928, is a scientist of Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, IL, USA now. Vitaly L. Ginzburg, who was born in Moscow in 1916, works in P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute Moscow, Russia now. Anthony J. Leggett, born in London in 1936, is professor of University of Illinois Urbana, IL, USA. They will share the cash award of 10M Swedish Kronor (about US$1,300,000) equally.