Testimony on the beginnings of experimental research on superconductors at the Orsay Solid State Physics Laboratory in the years 1962–1966

Abstract This paper presents a personal account of the early development of superconductivity research at the University of Paris XI (Orsay) during the 1960 s. It describes joining a newly formed experimental group, collaborating closely with theorists, and overcoming significant technical challenges to fabricate tunnel junctions for probing superconducting properties. Key achievements include the successful measurement of the density of states in superconductors and pioneering studies on critical magnetic fields (as the Hc3 surface field) and gapless superconductivity in the “dirty” limit, as demonstrated in the theses of Guy Deutscher and Etienne Guyon. The author’s own thesis focused on the proximity effect, showing how superconductivity can be induced in a normal metal adjacent to a superconductor, with results in strong agreement with theoretical predictions. The narrative highlights the collaborative spirit, technical conditions, and scientific breakthroughs that characterized the Orsay group, as well as the lasting professional and personal bonds formed during this formative period in French solid-state physics. The manuscript concludes with reflections on the enduring legacy of the group and the continued engagement of the author with former colleagues, both in science and beyond.