2008/03/15 by J. E. Hirsch
Physics and Astronomy · #Magnetic properties of thin films #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #cond-mat.str-el #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0953-8984/20/23/235233
published as J. Phys. Cond. Matt. 20, 235233 (2008)
arxiv created 2008/03/15 · openalex publication_date 2008/05/09 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We point out that the Meissner effect, the process by which a superconductor expels magnetic field from its interior, represents an unsolved puzzle within the London-Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theoretical framework used to describe the physics of conventional superconductors, because it appears to give rise to non-conservation of angular momentum. Possible ways to avoid this inconsistency within the conventional theory of superconductivity are argued to be far-fetched. Consequently, we argue that unless/until a consistent explanation is put forth, the existence of the Meissner effect represents an anomaly that casts doubt on the validity of the conventional framework. Instead, we point out that three elements of the unconventional theory of hole superconductivity (that are not part of the conventional theory) allow for a consistent explanation of the Meissner effect, namely: (i) that the charge distribution in superconductors is macroscopically inhomogeneous, (ii) that superconducting electrons reside in mesoscopic orbits of radius 2λ(L) (λ(L) = London penetration depth), and (iii) that spin-orbit coupling plays an essential role in superconductivity.