Guy Deutscher (physicist)

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Guy Deutscher
Born19.3.1936
Berlin, Germany
Died4.5.2024
Israel
CitizenshipIsraeli, France
Alma materParis-Sud (Orsay), France
Known forSuperconductivity, Proximity effects, Solid State Physics, Fluctuations in Granular Superconductors, Ferromagnet-Superconductor Non-Local Boundary Effect, Andreev Reflection into High-Temperature Superconductors
AwardsIsrael Physical Society Fellow (2018), Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK), Ordre des Palmes Academiques(1986) and the Legion d'Honneur (1999)
Scientific career
PatronsPierre-Gilles de Gennes
Thesis Experimental studies of the proximity effects in superconductors
Doctoral advisorPierre-Gilles de Gennes
Notable studentsZvi Ovadyahu (Hebrew University of Jerusalem),

Aharon Kapitulnik (Stanford University), Alexander Palevski (Tel Aviv University), Alexander Gerber (Tel Aviv University), Yossi Lereah (Tel Aviv University), Ralf Krupke (Karlsruhe), Yoram Dagan (Tel Aviv University), Eli Farber (Ariel University), Emil Polturak (Technion), Michael Rappaport (Weizmann Institute of Science), Hector Castro (Bogota, Colombia), Leandro Tessler (Campinas, Brazil),

Roy Beck (Tel Aviv University)

Guy Deutscher (March 19, 1936 - May 4, 2024) was an Israeli experimental physicist who specialized in solid-state physics, low-temperature physics, and superconductivity.[1] He was a Professor Emeritus of Physics at Tel Aviv University.[2]

Early life and education[edit]

Deutscher was born in Berlin, Germany in 1936. His family fled the Nazis in 1939, shortly before World War II, and settled down (first illegally) in Paris, France. In July 1942, he was arrested with his mother at the “Vel d’Hiv” roundup (la rafle du vélodrome d’hiver). Still, luckily because his father was a French prisoner of war, he escaped the fate of most of the other detainees who were sent to their deaths mainly to Auschwitz. After the war, Deutscher completed his Baccalaureat at Lycée Henri IV in 1953. In 1956, he passed the entrance exam and was accepted into the prestigious École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris, from which he graduated in 1959 with a Diplome d’ingenieur Civil des Mines, specializing in metallurgy. After three years of military service, he joined the research group of Nobel Laureate Pierre-Gilles de Gennes at the university of Paris-Sud (Orsay). The group was later known as the “Orsay group on superconductivity”. It was nicknamed by de Gennes as the four “Musketeers” including Deutscher, E. Guyon, J.P. Burger, and A. Martiner.[3][4]. Deutscher's doctoral thesis focused on experimental studies of the proximity effects in superconductors.

Career and research[edit]

After spending two years as a postdoc at Rutgers University (1967-8) in the group of Bernie Serin, he returned to France. He was appointed as an associate professor at the University of Paris-Orsay (IUT). In 1971, Deutsche immigrated to Israel and joined the Department of Physics at Tel Aviv University, where he spent his entire career. He developed a new direction of research on experimental low-temperature physics, with particular emphasis on granular superconductors, disordered media, metal-insulator and superconductor-semiconductor transitions properties of thin superconducting films and Josephson junctions. He made significant contributions to the understanding of vortex dynamics in superconductors and the development of superconducting devices. In addition, he worked on granular and disordered materials with an emphasis on the phenomenon of percolation.

Deutscher was a prolific researcher, publishing over 300 scientific papers in leading journals[5]. He was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, supervising numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows[6]. Many of his students went on to hold prominent positions in academia and industry in Israel and abroad.

Research on granular and disordered materials[edit]

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Deutscher's research group at Tel Aviv University focused on granular and disordered materials. This work involved studying the properties of thin films made from mixtures of metals and insulators. The group's research in this area was highly regarded and led to the publication of an edited book entitled "Percolation, Structures, and Processes" by the Israel Physical Society[7].

Contributions to high-temperature superconductivity[edit]

Deutscher's expertise in granular and disordered materials proved invaluable when high-temperature superconductivity was discovered in the late 1980s. He co-authored one of the most cited papers in the field with K. Alex Müller, the Nobel laureate who discovered the cuprate superconductors. This paper explored the relationship between the unique properties of high-temperature superconductivity and the inherent disorder in these materials. Deutscher's insight into the short coherence length of cuprates led to the first accepted explanation for the low critical current in ceramic and polycrystalline samples of these materials.

Deutscher's group also pioneered the use of Andreev reflections to study the electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors. This technique allowed for the measurement of the superconducting gap and provided insights into the nature of the pseudogap in these materials.

Guy Deutscher's scientific contributions[8], as highlighted in his hallmark papers, span a wide range of topics within solid-state physics and superconductivity. These papers represent significant milestones in his research career and have had a lasting impact on the field.

  • Proximity Effects (1969): This early work[9], co-authored with Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, explored the interaction between superconducting and normal materials when they are in close contact. This phenomenon, known as the proximity effect, is fundamental to understanding the behavior of superconducting devices and continues to be an active area of research.
  • Fluctuations in Granular Superconductors (1973)[10]: Deutscher's research on granular aluminum films revealed the importance of critical fluctuations in systems with weakly coupled superconducting grains. This work provided insights into the behavior of superconductivity in disordered materials.
  • Percolation Description of Granular Superconductors (1980): This paper[11] introduced the concept of percolation to explain how global superconductivity emerges in granular films. It showed that the specific heat anomaly, a characteristic feature of superconductors, disappears below the percolation threshold, where the superconducting grains are no longer connected.
  • Percolation Effects on Transport Properties (1981)[12]: Deutscher's work on granular aluminum-aluminum oxide films demonstrated that the metal-insulator transition, a fundamental phenomenon in condensed matter physics, could be described using percolation theory. This finding had implications for understanding the behavior of disordered materials.
  • Weak Localization Effects in Thin Metal Films (1981): This research [13]provided one of the first experimental demonstrations of weak localization, a quantum phenomenon that affects the electrical resistance of thin metal films at low temperatures. This work contributed to the understanding of electron transport in disordered systems.
  • Percolation Characteristics in Thin Metal Films (1982)[14]: Deutscher's group used percolation theory to accurately describe the metal-insulator transition in thin metal films as they are grown on a substrate. This work involved digitizing and analyzing electron microscope images of the films, providing a quantitative link between the film's microstructure and its electrical properties.
  • Consequences of Short Coherence Length in High-Temperature Superconductors (1987): This seminal paper[15] addressed the implications of the short coherence length, a characteristic length scale in superconductors, in the newly discovered high-temperature superconductors. It provided an explanation for the glassy state observed in these materials, which was a key step in understanding their unconventional behavior.
  • Optical Properties of Thin Metal Films (1989)[16]: Following their earlier work on percolation, Deutscher's group extended their research to the optical properties of thin metal films. They showed that these properties could also be described using percolation theory, further demonstrating the versatility of this theoretical framework.
  • Non-Equilibrium Effects in Thin Film Growth (1994)[17]: Deutscher's expertise in thin film growth led to the study of non-equilibrium phenomena during film growth using transmission electron microscopy. This work provided valuable insights into the dynamics of film growth and its impact on the resulting film properties.
  • Single Particle Effects in High-Temperature Superconductors (1999): In this influential paper[18], Deutscher proposed a new way to interpret the energy scales in high-temperature superconductors. He distinguished between the pseudogap, a measure of pairing, and the actual superconducting gap, which marks the onset of coherence. This distinction has been crucial in understanding the complex behavior of these materials.
  • Ferromagnet-Superconductor Non-Local Boundary Effect (2000): Deutscher and Feinberg theoretically investigated a specific interface geometry between a ferromagnet and a superconductor[19]. They predicted a novel non-local effect between two ferromagnetic leads, opening up a new field of study in spintronics, which aims to exploit the unique properties of high-temperature superconductors for applications beyond traditional superconductivity.
  • Andreev Reflection into High-Temperature Superconductors (2005): Deutscher's group established the use of Andreev reflections, a phenomenon where an electron is reflected as a hole at an interface, as a powerful tool to study the electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors. This work [20] revealed the possibility of time-reversal symmetry breaking in these materials, a finding with significant implications for their fundamental properties.

Honors and awards[edit]

Deutscher received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to science, including the IPS fellow in 2018, the highest scientific honor awarded by the Israel Physical Society "for his leadership in experimental and theoretical research in the theory of superconductivity and in particular the "proximity effect". For his influential contributions to the research on percolation and localization in two dimensions and, for his leadership in building experimental condensed matter physics in Israel" . He was also a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Physics (UK). In recognition of his scientific achievements, the French government awarded him the Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 1986 and the rank of Chevalier (knight) of the Legion d'Honneur in 1999.

Leadership and service[edit]

Deutscher was not only a brilliant scientist but also a dedicated leader and mentor. He served as the director of the Gordon Center for Energy Studies and the Heinrich Hertz Minerva Center for High-Temperature Superconductivity, both at Tel Aviv University. He was also a member of numerous international committees, including the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Implementing Agreement on High-Temperature Superconductivity.

Later years and legacy[edit]

In his later years, Deutscher continued to be active in research and teaching. He authored several books, including "New Superconductors: From Granular to High Tc"[21] , "The Entropy Crisis" [22], “Entropy And Sustainable Growth”[23] , “The Climate Debt”[24]. He passed away on May 4th, 2024, leaving behind a beloved family and a legacy of scientific achievement and a profound impact on the field of superconductivity.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kraemer, Susan (7 September 2011). "Tel Aviv University Invents 40-Times Better Electricity Transmission". Green Prophet. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Guy Deutscher". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, 1932-2007" (PDF). Physics of Biological Matter, Research Workshop of the Israel Science Foundation, Safed Summer Workshop, 2–7 September 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Guy Deutscher". Physics Tree. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Guy Deutscher". scholar.google.co.il. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Physics Tree - Guy Deutscher Family Tree". academictree.org. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ Deutscher, Guy; Zallen, Richard; Adler, Joan, eds. (1983). Percolation structures and processes. Annals of the Israel Physical Society. Bristol : Jerusalem: A. Hilger ; Israel Physical Society in association with The American Institute of Physics, New York. ISBN 978-0-85274-477-2.
  8. ^ "Guy Deutscher". Tel Aviv University. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  9. ^ Deutscher, G.; Gennes, P. G. de (29 March 2018), Parks, R. D. (ed.), "Proximity Effects", Superconductivity (1 ed.), Routledge, pp. 1005–1034, doi:10.1201/9780203737958-5, ISBN 978-0-203-73795-8, retrieved 30 May 2024
  10. ^ Deutscher, G.; Fenichel, H.; Gershenson, M.; Grünbaum, E.; Ovadyahu, Z. (1 January 1973). "Transition to zero dimensionality in granular aluminum superconducting films". Journal of Low Temperature Physics. 10 (1): 231–243. Bibcode:1973JLTP...10..231D. doi:10.1007/BF00655256. ISSN 1573-7357.
  11. ^ Deutscher, G.; Entin-Wohlman, O.; Fishman, S.; Shapira, Y. (1 June 1980). "Percolation description of granular superconductors". Physical Review B. 21 (11): 5041–5047. Bibcode:1980PhRvB..21.5041D. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.21.5041.
  12. ^ Chui, T.; Deutscher, G.; Lindenfeld, P.; McLean, W. L. (1 June 1981). "Conduction in granular aluminum near the metal-insulator transition". Physical Review B. 23 (11): 6172–6175. Bibcode:1981PhRvB..23.6172C. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.23.6172.
  13. ^ Van den dries, L.; Van Haesendonck, C.; Bruynseraede, Y.; Deutscher, G. (23 February 1981). "Two-Dimensional Localization in Thin Copper Films". Physical Review Letters. 46 (8): 565–568. Bibcode:1981PhRvL..46..565V. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.46.565.
  14. ^ Kapitulnik, Aharon; Deutscher, Guy (8 November 1982). "Percolation Characteristics in Discontinuous Thin Films of Pb". Physical Review Letters. 49 (19): 1444–1448. Bibcode:1982PhRvL..49.1444K. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.49.1444.
  15. ^ Deutscher, G.; Müller, K. A. (12 October 1987). "Origin of superconductive glassy state and extrinsic critical currents in high-Tc oxides". Physical Review Letters. 59 (15): 1745–1747. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.59.1745. PMID 10035318.
  16. ^ Gadenne, P.; Yagil, Y.; Deutscher, G. (1989). "Transmittance and reflectance in-situ measurements of semi- continuous gold films during deposition". Journal of Applied Physics. 66 (7): 3019–3025. Bibcode:1989JAP....66.3019G. doi:10.1063/1.344187. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  17. ^ Kofman, R.; Cheyssac, P.; Aouaj, A.; Lereah, Y.; Deutscher, G.; Ben-David, T.; Penisson, J.M.; Bourret, A. (1994). "Surface melting enhanced by curvature effects". Surface Science. 303 (1–2): 231–246. Bibcode:1994SurSc.303..231K. doi:10.1016/0039-6028(94)90635-1. ISSN 0039-6028.
  18. ^ Deutscher, Guy (1999). "Coherence and single-particle excitations in the high-temperature superconductors". Nature. 397 (6718): 410–412. Bibcode:1999Natur.397..410D. doi:10.1038/17075. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 29667953.
  19. ^ Deutscher, Guy; Feinberg, Denis (2000). "Coupling superconducting-ferromagnetic point contacts by Andreev reflections". Applied Physics Letters. 76 (4): 487–489. Bibcode:2000ApPhL..76..487D. doi:10.1063/1.125796. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  20. ^ Deutscher, Guy (23 March 2005). "Andreev--Saint-James reflections: A probe of cuprate superconductors". Reviews of Modern Physics. 77 (1): 109–135. arXiv:cond-mat/0409225. Bibcode:2005RvMP...77..109D. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.77.109.
  21. ^ Deutscher, Guy (2006). New superconductors: from granular to high Tc. Hackensack, New Jersey: World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-02-3089-0. OCLC 71834848.
  22. ^ Deutscher, Guy (2008). The entropy crisis. New Jersey: World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-277-968-7. OCLC 191658510.
  23. ^ Deutscher, Guy (2018). Entropy and sustainable growth. Hackensack NJ London Singapore: World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-323-776-6.
  24. ^ Deutscher, Guy (2023). The Climate Debt: Combining the Science, Politics and Economics of Climate Change. WORLD SCIENTIFIC. doi:10.1142/13344. ISBN 978-981-12-7400-8.

External links[edit]

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