Will Higher T C Superconductors Be Useful ? Fundamental Issues from the Real World 599

MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 36 • AUGUST 2011 • www.mrs.org/bulletin © 2011 Materials Research Society Introduction The search for higher temperature superconductors is a tough business. It has been largely carried out by a small segment of the superconducting materials community whose struggles are legendary. The last time there was a broad, concerted effort to search for higher temperature superconductors was in the decade following the development of the BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer) theory in the late 1950s. Many interesting theoretical suggestions (including new mechanisms) were put forth at that time, which in turn motivated various experimental searches. These ideas had a large and lasting impact on condensed matter physics. Alas, no really higher Tc materials were discovered. 1