Robert Schrieffer

Robert Schrieffer was a pivotal figure in the study of superconductivity, a phenomenon where certain materials conduct electricity without resistance at very low temperatures. In 1957, he co-developed the BCS theory, alongside John Bardeen and Leon Cooper, which explains how electrons pair up in these materials to allow their resistance-less flow. Schrieffer's work significantly advanced our understanding of quantum mechanics and condensed matter physics, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1972. His contributions have had a lasting impact on both theoretical particle physics and technology, influencing developments in electronics and materials science.