Superconductivity: 100th Anniversary of Its Discovery and Its Future

Superconducting technologies are reviewed as the integration of various technologies by considering its research history, present status, future prospects, and the application to energy, transportation, and communications. Superconductivity involves a persistent current, perfect diamagnetism, and the Josephson effect, and is a unique phenomenon that cannot be imitated. After the discovery of superconductivity 100 years ago, as long as half a century was required to clarify its difficult mechanism. To date, the applications of superconductivity have been limited to specific purposes that require ultimate performance. The reason for this undoubtedly lies in the cooling penalty. In addition, to exploit the advantages of superconductivity, it has been necessary to wait until elaborated composite materials, whose fabrication requires nanotechnologies, reached the desired level. Spurred on by the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity, this year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of superconductivity, which is predicted to play a key role in realizing a sustainable global environment and in human society in the future. (C) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics