This book describes the status of research and development in the field of high-temperature superconductivity reached in the mid of the twenty-twenties. Starting from the milestones in the history of superconductivity, the main characteristics of the superconducting state are presented. Special physical properties of high-temperature superconductors are highlighted. Main classes of superconducting materials are introduced with the focus on high-temperature superconductors (cuprates and iron-based superconductors) and MgB2. Besides the material properties relevant for applications, the deposition of superconductor films and the manufacture of high-temperature superconductor wires are described. An outlook toward the future is included, covering potential applications of high-temperature superconductors in magnet technology and the electric power system.

Autorentext

Rainer Wesche studied physics at the University of Constance, Germany (M.Sc. in 1984) and received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Constance, Germany, in 1988. From 1989 to 1993, he was a research scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, where he led an experimental study of high-current applications of high-Tc superconductivity funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Since 1994, he has been a research scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (Swiss Plasma Center (SPC)). His research has been in the field of applied superconductivity.