More about the programme
European Groups united in this programme play internationally a leading role in theoretical as well as in experimental research on these pi-junctions and devices. In order to corroborate this position, and to foster advancements in this field, it is of utmost importance that theoretical and experimental studies are carried out in close contact, and that a forum is established in which the investigations on various types of pi-junctions and circuits are analysed. The aim of the present programme is to provide a framework for such an effort.
Its main scientific objective is to develop novel superconducting devices that are based on the manipulation of the phase-states in circuits containing Josephson junctions. In particular, use will be made of the special property of providing pi-phase shifts in the ground states of junctions.
News, current status
PiShift co-sponsored with the ESF Programme VORTEX and SCENET/Forschungszentrum Jülich a European Workshop on Nanostructured Superconductors: from fundamentals to application, held in Bad Münstereifel, Germany, on 15-19 May 2004. For further information go to website
The third PiShift workshop, on Josephson Junctions: basic studies and novel applications, was held in Jena, Germany, on 16-19 June 2003. For further information go to website . Workshop announcement (PDF 248 KB)
The second PiShift workshop, on Superconducting Phase-Shift Devices - Materials, Fabrication and Measurement, took place in San Feliu de Guixols, Spain, on 6-8 November 2002. For further information .
The first PiShift workshop on the Symmetry in Macroscopic Quantum States - Quantitative Experiments and Theory was held in Augsburg, Germany, on 21-23 April 2002.
The PiShift Programme supported a special PiShift session in the SQUID conference organised in Stenungsbaden, near Göteborg, Sweden on 31 August to 3 September 2001.
The PiShift Programme offered support for research visits between two European countries, one of which must be in a country which is supporting the PiShift Programme through one of its research funding agences (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom).
- Short research visits of up to 7 days were available for both senior and more junior researchers.
- Research visits of up to 3 months were offered, with priority given to younger researchers and PhD students.
