IMPACT STORY
NOBEL LAUREATE ALEXEI ABRIKOSOV CHANGED THE SCIENCE BEHIND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
Alexei Abrikosov, who worked at Argonne National Laboratory from 1991 to 2014, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2003.
BACKGROUND Until 1952, scientists only understood Alexei Abrikosov was born in 1928 in one type of superconductor, and the THE IMPACT: Moscow and earned his Ph.D. in 1951 superconductivity in that type broke ☐☐ Abrikosov’s work has had from Moscow’s Institute for Physical when the magnetic field rose too high. profound implications for a Problems. Between 1951 and 1991, he Abrikosov’s theory on a second type range of technologies, including worked at several Moscow institutes, of superconductor showed that higher particle accelerators, fusion including the Landau Institute for magnetic fields could penetrate a reactors, cell phone towers, and Theoretical Physics from 1965 to 1988. superconducting material as long as it wind turbine compact motors. was with vortices that remained in the In 1991, Abrikosov began working ☐☐ MRI machines are same position. at the U.S. Department of Energy’s designed based on type-II Argonne National Laboratory as a Because of his theory on magnetic superconductors, which were Distinguished Scientist in the Materials vortices, the vortex behavior became first theorized by Abrikosov. Science Division. The following year, known as Abrikosov vortex lattice. ☐☐ Abrikosov’s work led to a he became the leader of Argonne’s Additionally, his superconductor breakthrough in topological Condensed Matter Theory Group, a theory became known as “type- matter that involves two- position he held until 2000. Abrikosov II” superconductors, which can be dimensional superconductors, continued working with Argonne’s made with materials that hold higher a theory that has also received Materials Science Division until he currents and thus create stronger the Nobel Prize. left Argonne in 2014. magnetic fields. Based on his pioneering work THE PIVOTAL DISCOVERY on superconductivity, Abrikosov CONTACT Prior to his time at Argonne, shared the 2003 Nobel Prize in Argonne National Laboratory Abrikosov began working on his Physics with Vitaly Ginzburg and 9700 South Cass Avenue theory of superconductors, which Anthony James Leggett. Lemont, Illinois 60439 are materials that can conduct Phone: 630-252-2000 Email: [email protected] electricity with no energy loss at www.anl.gov extremely low temperatures.
January, 2020