The Iceland Papers

Born in Wales, Brian Josephson was educated at Cambridge University and received a Ph.D. in 1964. He remained at Cambridge, first becoming assistant director of research in physics from 1967 to 1972. In 1974 Josephson was appointed professor of physics. His name is associated with the Josephson effects, which he described in 1962 while still a graduate student. The work evolved from theoretical speculations on electrons between two superconducting regions separated by a thin insulating layer (a Josephson junction). The effects have been verified experimentally, thus supporting the BCS theory of superconductivity of John Bardeen and his colleagues. The Josephson junctions have been used in making accurate physical measurements and in measuring weak magnetic fields. Josephson junctions are also used as switching devices in computers. For this contribution, Josephson shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in physics with Leo Esaki and Ivar Giaever. More recently, Josephson has become interested in the study of the mind.

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