Brian Pippard

Research Pippard demonstrated the reality, as opposed to the mere abstract concept, of Fermi surfaces in metals by establishing the shape of the Fermi surface of copper through measuring the reflection and absorption of microwave electromagnetic radiation (see the anomalous skin effect ). He also introduced the notion of coherence length in superconductors in his proposal for the non-local generalisation of the London equations concerning electrodynamics in superfluids and superconductors. The non-local kernel proposed by Pippard, inferred on the basis of Chambers' non-local generalisation of Ohm's law) can be deduced within the framework of the BCS (Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer) theory of superconductivity (a comprehensive description of the details of the London–Pippard theory can be found in the book by Fetter and Walecka ).

Pippard was the author of Elements of Classical Thermodynamics for Advanced Students of Physics, Dynamics of Conduction Electrons, and The Physics of Vibration. He also co-authored the three-volumes encyclopaedia Twentieth Century Physics.

Recognition Memberships Year Organisation Type 1956 Royal Society Fellow 1970 American Academy of Arts and Sciences International Honorary Member

Awards Year Organisation Award Citation 1959 Royal Society Hughes Medal "For his distinguished contributions in the field of low temperature physics." 1961 Fernand Holweck Medal and Prize — 1969 Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities Dannie Heineman Prize "For his work on the dynamics of conduction electrons in metals, in particular the measurement of the Fermi surface of copper and the non-local extension of London’s electrodynamics of the superconductor." 2005 NTNU Onsager Medal —

Chivalric titles Year Head of state Title 1975 Elizabeth II Knight Bachelor