Superconducting alternating winding capacitor electromagnetic resonator

• US 4,981,838 A
• Filed: 02/10/1989
• Issued: 01/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beckett Mining LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Inventors: Whitehead, Lorne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny T.
• Application Number:
  US07/309,337
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 333/175, 333/177, 333/185, 333/219, 333/219.2, 333/995, 334/41, 343/895, 336/DIG. 1, 336/200, 336/232, 505/1, 505/866, 505/701, 505/705
• US Class Current: 505/210
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/082 Microstripline resonators H01P7/088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/084 Triplate line resonators H01P7/088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/701 Coated or thin film device, i.e. active or passive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/705 Magnetic coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/866 Wave transmission line, network, waveguide, or microwave storage device

Abstract

An electromagnetic resonator has two or more non-intersecting, substantially overlapping surfaces of approximately similar size and shape separated from one another by a distance which is small in comparison to the physical extent of the surfaces. One or more substantially non-intersecting, electrically conductive paths cover substantial portions of each surface. The widths of the paths are substantially smaller than the physical extent of the surfaces. No path on any one of the surfaces is electrically connected to a path on any of the other surfaces. The conductive paths are oriented such that, for each of the surfaces, macroscopic current flows, with respect to the surfaces, in a direction other than the direction in which microscopic current flows in the paths. The paths are also oriented such that the resonator supports at least one mode of electromagnetic oscilaltion between a first state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by the resonator is substantially electrostatic energy, and a second state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by the resonator is substantially magnetostatic energy; the frequency of the oscillations being substantially lower than any characteristic self-resonant frequency of electromagnetic oscillation of any one of the paths, taken alone.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic resonator, comprising:

(a) three or more non-intersecting, substantially overlapping surfaces each having a respective physical extent, and each being of approximately similar size and shape separated from one another by a distance which is small in comparison to said physical extent of said surfaces; and

,

(b) on each of said surfaces, one or more substantially non-intersecting, electrically conductive paths each having a respective width, and each covering substantial portions of said respective surfaces, said path widths being substantially smaller than said physical extent of said surfaces;

wherein said conductive paths are oriented such that;

(i) no path on any one of said surfaces is electrically connected to a path on any of said other surfaces;

(ii) for each of said surfaces, macroscopic current flows, with respect to said surfaces, in a direction other that the direction in which microscopic current flows in said paths; and

,

(iii) said resonator supports at least one mode of electromagnetic oscillation between a first state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by said resonator is substantially electrostatic energy, and a second state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by said resonator is substantially magnetostatic energy, said occillations being at a frequency which is substantially lower than any characteristic self-resonant frequency of electromagnetic oscillation of any one of said paths, taken alone.

2. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, wherein said surfaces are configured to have respective radii of curvature, and, for any adjacent first and second pair of said surfaces, said conductive paths comprise first and second electrical conductors which conform, respectively, to said first and second surfaces, said first and second conductors being separated by a distance "t" wherein, over a substantial portion of the region between said first and second surfaces:

(a) t<

<

R₁, where R₁ is the radius of curvature of said first surface at a selected point;

(b) t<

<

R₂, where R₂ is the radius of curvature of said second surface at a point on said second surface intersected by a sector normal to said first surface at said selected point;

(c) t>

0;

(d) t is measured along said vector; and

,

(e) t is much less than said physical extent of said surfaces;

and wherein, if end points of said first conductor are defined as "a₁ " and "b₁ " respectively, then analogous end points "a₂ " and "b₂ " of said second conductor are defined as those points on said second conductor which, when oppositely charged, and having a continuous charge distribution therebetween, produce an electric field distribution, in regions away from said surfaces, which is more similar to the electric field distribution produced, in regions away from said surfaces, by a charge distribution similarly applied to said first conductor than would be the case if said end points a₂ and b₂ were interchanged; and

wherein;

(i) current flow from a₁ to b₁ produces a magnetic field distribution B₁ (x,y,z); and

,

(ii) current flow from b₂ to a₂ produces a magnetic filed distribution B₂ (x,y,z);

where B₁ (x,y,z) and B₂ (x,y,z) are substantially similar, in the sense that a coupling coefficient "C" defined as C=∫

∫

∫

B₁ (x,y,z)·

B₂ (x,y,z)dxdydz has the property that C>

0.

3. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, wherein said conductive paths are further oriented such that, current flow through said paths on one of said surfaces, in a direction which transports charge toward a centre of said one surface, produces a magnetic field distribution B₁ (x,y,z), and current flow through said paths on one of said surfaces adjacent to said one surface, in a direction which transports charge away from a centre of said adjacent surface, produces a magnetic field distribution B₂ (x,y,z), where B₁ (x,y,z) and B₂ (x,y,z) are substantially similar in the sense that a coupling coefficient "C" defined as C=∫

∫

∫

B₁ (x,y,z)·

B₂ (x,y,z)dxdydz has the property that C>

0.

4. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein:

(a) said surfaces are discs; and

,

(b) said paths are spirals.

5. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said surfaces separation distance is substantially constant over the regions between said surfaces.

6. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said paths are formed of superconductor material.

7. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said paths are formed of thin film, high temperature superconductor material.

8. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of "n" electrical insulators stacked atop one another;

(b) between each pair of insulators "i" and "i+1", disposed is an electrical conductor spiralling in a first direction, wherein;

(i) i=1, 3, 5, 7, . . . n-2 if "n" is an odd number; and

,

(ii) i=1, 3, 5, 7, . . . n-1 if "n" is an even number;

(c) between each successive insulator pair "i+1" and "i+2", disposed is an electrical conductor spiralling, in a second direction opposite to said first direction, wherein;

(i) i=1, 3, 5, 7, . . . n-2 if "n" is an odd number; and

,

(ii) i=1, 3, 5, 7, . . . n-3 if "n" is an even number;

wherein current flow through each of the conductors between each pair of said insulators "i" and "i+1", in a direction which transports charge toward a centre of said conductor spirals, produces a magnetic field distribution B₁ (x,y,z), and current flow through each of the conductors between said successive pairs of insulators "i+1" and "i+2", in a direction which transports charge away from the centre of said successive insulator pair conductor spirals, produces a magnetic field distribution B₂ (x,y,z), where B₁ (x,y,z) and B₂ (x,y,z) are substantially similar in the sense that a coupling coefficient "C" defined as C"∫

∫

∫

B₁ (x,y,z)·

B₂ (x,y,z)dxdydz has the property that C>

0.

9. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) an electrical insulator having opposed first and second sides;

(b) a first electrical conductor on said first side, said first conductor spiralling in a first direction;

(c) a second electrical conductor on said second side, said second conductor spiralling in a second direction opposite to said first direction;

wherein current flow through said first conductor, in a direction which transports charge toward a centre of said first conductor spiral, produces a magnetic field distribution B₁ (x,y,z), and current flow through said second conductor, in a direction which transports charge away from a centre of said second conductor spiral, produces a magnetic field distribution B₂ (x,y,z), where B₁ (x,y,z) and B₂ (x,y,z) are substantially similar in the sense that a coupling coefficient "C" defined as C=∫

∫

∫

B₁ (x,y,z)·

B₂ (x,y,z)dxdydz has the property that C>

0.

10. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical insulators stacked atop one another, wherein every second one of said insulators comprises:

(a) a first electrical conductor on one side of said one insulator, said first conductor spiralling in a first direction; and

,

(b) a second electrical conductor on the opposite side of said one insulator, said second conductor spiralling in a second direction opposite to said first direction;

wherein current flow through said first conductor, in a direction which transports charge toward a centre of said first conductor spiral, produces a magnetic field distribution B₁ (x,y,z), and current flow through said second conductor, in a direction which transports charge away from a centre of said second conductor spiral, produces a magnetic field distribution B₂ (x,y,z), where B₁ (x,y,z) and B₂ (x,y,z) are substantially similar in the sense that a coupling coefficient "C" defined as C=∫

∫

∫

B₁ (x,y,z)·

B₂ (x,y,z)dxdydz has the property that C>

0.

11. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10 or 8, wherein the displacement between opposed sides of each of said insulators is substantially constant.

12. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10, or 8, wherein said conductors are formed of superconductor material.

13. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10, or 8, wherein said conductors are formed o f thin film, high temperature superconductor material.

14. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10 or 8, wherein said insulators have substantially planar opposed surfaces.

15. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10 or 8, wherein said insulators are discs.

16. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10 or 8, wherein said conductors respectively cover a substantial portion of the area of said respective sides.

17. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 9, 10 or 8, wherein adjacent insulators are of substantially similar size and shape.

18. An electromagnetic resonator, comprising:

(a) two or more non-intersecting, substantially overlapping surfaces each having a respective physical extent, and each being of approximately similar size and shape and separated from one another by a distance which is small in comparison to said physical extent of said surfaces; and

,

(b) on each of said surfaces, one or more substantially non-intersecting, electrically conductive paths each having a respective width, and each covering substantial portions of said respective surfaces, said path widths being substantially smaller than said physical extent of said surfaces;

wherein said conductive paths are oriented such that;

(i) no path on any one of said surfaces is electrically connected to a path on any of said other surfaces;

(ii) for each of said surfaces, macroscopic current flows, with respect to said surfaces, in a direction other than the direction in which microscopic current flows in said paths; and

,

(iii) said resonator supports at least one mode of electromagnetic oscillation between a first state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by said resonator is substantially electrostatic energy, and a second state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by said resonator is substantially magnetostatic energy, said oscillations being at a frequency which is substantially lower than any characteristic self-resonant frequency of electromagnetic oscillation of any on e of said paths, taken alone;

wherein said surfaces are spiral rolls.

19. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 18, wherein said paths:

(i) are substantially parallel to one another, when said paths lie on the same surface; and

,

(ii) overlap one another, when said paths lie on different surfaces immediately adjacent one another.

20. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 18, wherein said paths are formed of superconductor material.

21. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 18, wherein said paths are

formed of thin film, high temperature superconductor material.

22. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 18, wherein:

(a) on at least one of said surfaces, at least one of said paths extends around an outer region of said one surface in a spiral fashion, when said one surface is unrolled and laid flat; and

,

(b) said paths are substantially parallel to one another on another of said surfaces immediately adjacent said one surface.

23. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 18, wherein

on one side of each of said surfaces said paths are spirals when said surfaces are unrolled and laid flat;

and, on the opposite sides of each of said surfaces said paths are substantially parallel to one another.

24. An electromagnetic resonator, comprising:

(a) two or more non-intersecting, substantially overlapping surfaces each having a respective physical extent, and each being of approximately similar size and shape separated from one another by a distance which is small in comparison to said physical extent of said surfaces; and

,

(b) on each of said surfaces, one or more substantially non-intersecting, electrically conductive paths each having a respective width, and each covering substantial portions of said respective surfaces, said path widths being substantially smaller than said physical extent of said surfaces;

wherein said conductive paths are oriented such that;

(i) no paths on any one of said surfaces is electrically connected to a path on any of said other surfaces;

(ii) for each of said surfaces, macroscopic current flow, with respect to said surfaces, in a direction other than the direction in which microscopic current flows in said paths; and

,

(iii) said resonator supports at least one mode of electromagnetic oscillation between a first state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by said resonator is substantially electrostatic energy, and a second state in which the electromagnetic energy stored by said resonator is substantially magnetostatic energy, said oscillations being at a frequency which is substantially lower than any characteristic self-resonant frequency of electromagnetic oscillation of any one of said paths, taken alone;

wherein said surfaces are spiral rolls and said paths are spirals when said surfaces are unrolled and laid flat.

25. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 24, wherein said surfaces are spiral rolls and said paths are

formed of thin film, high temperature superconductor material.

26. An electromagnetic resonator as defined in claim 24, wherein:

(a) said surfaced are spiral rolls; and

,

(b) on each of said surfaces, said paths are substantially parallel to one another.