Active superconducting devices formed of thin films
First Claim
1. A controllable active superconducting device comprising:
- (a) a main conduction channel formed of a film of superconductor on a substrate;
(b) an active weak link region interposed sin the main conduction channel, the active weak link region composed of a plurality of links formed of a thin film of superconductor separated by non-superconductive voids, the thickness and lateral dimensions of the links selected such that magnetic flux can propagate across the weak link region when it is superconducting;
(c) means for providing a magnetic flux to the active weak link region which can propagate across the weak link region to control the resistance of the weak region.
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Abstract
Active superconducting devices are formed of thin films of superconductor which include a main conduction channel which has an active weak link region. The weak link region is composed of an array of links of thin film superconductor spaced from one another by voids and selected in size and thickness such that magnetic flux can propagate across the weak link region when it is superconducting. Magnetic flux applied to the weak link region will propagate across the array of links causing localized loss of superconductivity in the links and changing the effective resistance across the links. The magnetic flux can be applied from a control line formed of a superconducting film deposited coplanar with the main conduction channel and weak link region on a substrate. The devices can be formed of any type to superconductor but are particularly well suited to the high temperature superconductors since the devices can be entirely formed from coplanar films with no overlying regions. The devices can be utilized for a variety of electrical components, including switching circuits, amplifiers, oscillators and modulators, and are well suited to microwave frequency applications.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A controllable active superconducting device comprising:
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(a) a main conduction channel formed of a film of superconductor on a substrate; (b) an active weak link region interposed sin the main conduction channel, the active weak link region composed of a plurality of links formed of a thin film of superconductor separated by non-superconductive voids, the thickness and lateral dimensions of the links selected such that magnetic flux can propagate across the weak link region when it is superconducting; (c) means for providing a magnetic flux to the active weak link region which can propagate across the weak link region to control the resistance of the weak region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A superconducting amplifying device comprising;
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(a) a main conduction channel formed of a film of superconductor on a substrate; (b) an active weak link region interposed in the main conduction channel, the active weak link region composed of at least one link formed of a thin film of superconductor bounded by non-superconductive voids, the thickness and lateral dimensions of the links selected such that magnetic flux can propagate across the weak link region when it is superconducting; (c) a control line having a portion adjacent to the active weak link region such that current in the control line will impose a magnetic flux on the weak link region; (d) means for applying selected biasing current to the main conduction channel when in the superconducting state such that a change in the current applied to the control line will result in a change in the voltage across the weak link region of the main conduction channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33)
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32. A method of controlling the electrical quantities in superconducting circuits comprising the steps of:
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(a) conducting current through a superconducting path including a main conduction channel formed of a film of superconductor on a substrate and an active weak link region interposed in the main conduction channel, with the active weak link region composed of a plurality of links formed of a thin film of superconductor separated by non-superconducting voids with the thickness and lateral dimensions of the links selected such that magnetic flux can propagate across the weak link region when it is superconducting; (b) applying magnetic flux to the weak link region and propagating magnetic flux vortices across the weak links in the weak link region to control the resistance of the weak link region to the current flowing therethrough.
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Specification