In reply to JonesBeene's message of Mon, 6 Aug 2018 08:15:34 -0700: Hi, [snip] >Robert Dynes of UCSD found that the transition temperature of lead (Pb) >increased when it was in contact with silver. This was unexpected. >Unfortunately for further aspects of this argument, Dynes became the head of >the UC system and exited this research niche. He had attributed the reverse >proximity effect to the strong links that exist between electrons in silver >which is somewhat lame and it is possible that instead, silver grains at the >interface were developing local superconductivity which more than compensated >for what was lost with the lead.
If the transition temperature increases, I think that makes it a better superconductor, not worse. As to why it increased, I suspect it's because the two metals have different work functions, resulting in electron migration, and a matching change in the lattice constants of the Pb, which in turn would alter the Tc. Regards, Robin van Spaandonk local asymmetry = temporary success
