中国参与铜氧化物超导体国际竞争的进程及影响

China's Participation in the International Competition for Copper Oxide Superconductors and its Impact

1986—1987年,出现了一场研究铜氧化物超导体的国际热潮。以赵忠贤为代表的中国超导物理学家在这场热潮中取得了“发现液氮温区铜氧化物超导体”的国际一流成果。通过对蔡建华给国内信函和中国科学院物理研究所档案等新史料的发掘,本文梳理了1986年之前中国的高温超导研究状况、1986—1987年间铜氧化物超导体研究信息在中国的传播过程以及由此引发的科学研究历程,并对该研究取得重大突破的原因及影响进行了分析。学科带头人较强的学科前瞻性意识和科研组织能力、科技部门领导对超导学科的长期支持以及畅通的国际学术交流渠道是中国能够发现液氮温区超导体的主要原因。该成果令中国的超导研究获得了国际关注,并直接促成超导国家重点实验室的建立,是中国超导物理学发展历程中的一座里程碑。

There was an upsurge of research on copper oxide superconductors(COS)all over the world during 1986-1987.During this period,Chinese physicists represented by Zhao Zhongxian(赵忠贤)achieved the world-class achievement of the“discovery of COS in the liquid nitrogen temperature region”.Based on letters to Cai Jianhua(蔡建华)in China and the archives of the Institute of Physics,the research situation of high-temperature superconductivity in China before 1986 and the information transmission and research process of COS in China during 1986-1987 have been sorted out,and the reasons for this breakthrough and its influence analyzed.The main reasons include the strong discipline,forward-looking consciousness and scientific research organization ability of academic leaders,the long-term support from the leaders of science and technology departments for superconductivity,and the open communication channels with the international academic community.The discovery of COS in the liquid nitrogen temperature region was a milestone in the development of superconductivity in China because it brought international attention and directly contributed to the establishment of the National Laboratory for Superconductivity in China.