Temperature driven energy gap in superconductors: a study based on BCS theory

This project studies the temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gap using BCS theory developed by John Bardeen, Leon Cooper, and Robert Schrieffer. Superconductivity is a state in which a material shows zero electrical resistance below a critical temperature. In this work, the concept of electron pairing (Cooper pairs) and the superconducting energy gap (Δ) is explained in a simple way. The energy gap represents the minimum energy required to break a pair of electrons. A simplified form of the BCS gap equation is used to study how the energy gap changes with temperature. It is observed that the energy gap is maximum at absolute zero temperature and decreases as temperature increases. At the critical temperature, the energy gap becomes zero and superconductivity disappears. The results are also supported by experimental observations such as tunnelling experiments. This study helps in understanding the basic behaviour of superconductors and the importance of the energy gap in determining their properties.