Johannes Georg Bednorz
Encyclopedia
Johannes Georg Bednorz is a physicist
at the IBM Zürich Research Laboratory. He is best known for his role in the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity
, for which he shared the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physics
.
, North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
to Anton and Elisabeth Bednorz, both from Silesia
.
In 1968, Bednorz started his studies in Mineralogy
at the University of Münster
. After working for a while at IBM's Zürich lab, he started his PhD in the Laboratory of Solid State Physics at ETH Zurich
(Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), supervised by Prof. Heini Gränicher and K. Alex Müller
(who was a professor at ETH Zürich as well as working for IBM
).
In 1982, he moved back to IBM's Zürich lab. There, he joined Müller's ongoing research into superconductivity
.
In 1983, Bednorz and Müller began a systematic study of the electrical properties of ceramic
s formed from transition metal oxides, and in 1986, they succeeded in inducing superconductivity in a lanthanum barium copper oxide
(LaBaCuO, also known as LBCO); the oxide's critical temperature (Tc) was 35 K, a full 12 K higher than the previous record. This discovery stimulated a great deal of additional research in high-temperature superconductivity
on cuprate materials with structures similar to LBCO, soon leading to the discovery of compounds such as BSCCO (Tc 107K) and YBCO (Tc 92K).
In 1987, Bednorz and Müller were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for their important break-through in the discovery of superconductivity in ceramic materials".
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
at the IBM Zürich Research Laboratory. He is best known for his role in the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity
High-temperature superconductivity
High-temperature superconductors are materials that have a superconducting transition temperature above . From 1960 to 1980, 30 K was thought to be the highest theoretically possible Tc...
, for which he shared the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physics
Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901; the others are the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Peace Prize, and...
.
Life and work
Bednorz was born in NeuenkirchenNeuenkirchen, Westphalia
Neuenkirchen is a municipality in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neuenkirchen is the biggest village in the district of Steinfurt. It is situated approx...
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Anton and Elisabeth Bednorz, both from Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
.
In 1968, Bednorz started his studies in Mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
. After working for a while at IBM's Zürich lab, he started his PhD in the Laboratory of Solid State Physics at ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
(Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), supervised by Prof. Heini Gränicher and K. Alex Müller
Karl Alexander Müller
Karl Alexander Müller is a Swiss physicist and Nobel laureate. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1987 with Johannes Georg Bednorz for their work in superconductivity in ceramic materials.-Biography:...
(who was a professor at ETH Zürich as well as working for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
).
In 1982, he moved back to IBM's Zürich lab. There, he joined Müller's ongoing research into superconductivity
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...
.
In 1983, Bednorz and Müller began a systematic study of the electrical properties of ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s formed from transition metal oxides, and in 1986, they succeeded in inducing superconductivity in a lanthanum barium copper oxide
Lanthanum barium copper oxide
Lanthanum barium copper oxide, or LBCO, was discovered in 1986 and was the first high temperature superconductor. Johannes Georg Bednorz and K. Alex Müller shared the 1987 Nobel Prize in physics for its discovery....
(LaBaCuO, also known as LBCO); the oxide's critical temperature (Tc) was 35 K, a full 12 K higher than the previous record. This discovery stimulated a great deal of additional research in high-temperature superconductivity
High-temperature superconductivity
High-temperature superconductors are materials that have a superconducting transition temperature above . From 1960 to 1980, 30 K was thought to be the highest theoretically possible Tc...
on cuprate materials with structures similar to LBCO, soon leading to the discovery of compounds such as BSCCO (Tc 107K) and YBCO (Tc 92K).
In 1987, Bednorz and Müller were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for their important break-through in the discovery of superconductivity in ceramic materials".
External links
- Pioneers in Electricity and Magnetism - Johannes Georg Bednorz, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.