The Josephson effect

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Who

Brian Josephson, a Welsh physicist from a Jewish family, Nobel laureate in Physics.

When

1962 (predicted)

Where

Cambridge, United Kingdom

The Josephson effect describes how superconducting current can flow across a thin barrier between two superconductors, underpinning ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors (SQUIDs) and quantum computing. It was predicted in 1962 by Brian Josephson, a physicist of Welsh-Jewish background who won the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.