Magnetic Resonance and Superconductivity: Some History, Ancient and in the Making

The Ginzburg–Landau equation and the discovery of the isotope effect launched two scientific pathways in 1950 that led to the discovery of type II superconductors and the Bardeen, Cooper, Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, culminating in discovery of the relationship of the two pathways to each other by Gorkov. The role of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in confirming the BCS theory is described, as is the impact of the discovery of type II superconductors on NMR. Examples of the use of NMR today are given showing how NMR helps determine the superconducting pairing state for the cuprates, some organics, the alkali fullerides, and heavy fermion materials.