Radio frequency-assisted fast superconducting switch
First Claim
1. A superconducting switch, comprising:
- a superconducting tape;
a radio frequency (RF) coil strongly coupled to the superconducting tape, where the superconducting tape is tightly wrapped around the RF coil with at least one undulation forming at least one smooth turn around the RF coil; and
an RF inverter that induces a voltage burst in the RF coil, where the voltage burst induces a RF-induced current in the superconducting tape, where the RF-induced current and a direct current in the superconducting tape exceed a critical current of the superconductor tape at an operating temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency-assisted fast superconducting switch is described. A superconductor is closely coupled to a radio frequency (RF) coil. To turn the switch “off,” i.e., to induce a transition to the normal, resistive state in the superconductor, a voltage burst is applied to the RF coil. This voltage burst is sufficient to induce a current in the coupled superconductor. The combination of the induced current with any other direct current flowing through the superconductor is sufficient to exceed the critical current of the superconductor at the operating temperature, inducing a transition to the normal, resistive state. A by-pass MOSFET may be configured in parallel with the superconductor to act as a current shunt, allowing the voltage across the superconductor to drop below a certain value, at which time the superconductor undergoes a transition to the superconducting state and the switch is reset.
14 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A superconducting switch, comprising:
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a superconducting tape; a radio frequency (RF) coil strongly coupled to the superconducting tape, where the superconducting tape is tightly wrapped around the RF coil with at least one undulation forming at least one smooth turn around the RF coil; and an RF inverter that induces a voltage burst in the RF coil, where the voltage burst induces a RF-induced current in the superconducting tape, where the RF-induced current and a direct current in the superconducting tape exceed a critical current of the superconductor tape at an operating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of fabricating a fast superconducting switch, the method comprising:
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strongly coupling a radio frequency (RF) coil to a superconducting tape by tightly wrapping the superconducting tape around the RF coil with at least one undulation forming at least one smooth turn around the RF coil; connecting the RF coil to an RF inverter, such that the RF inverter is operable to induce a voltage burst in the RF coil, where the voltage burst induces a RF-induced current in the superconducting tape, where the RF-induced current and the direct current in the superconducting tape exceed a critical current of the superconducting tape at an operating temperature.
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12. A method of operating a superconducting switch, the method comprising:
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applying a high-frequency voltage burst to a radio frequency (RF) coil, wherein the RF coil is strongly coupled to a superconducting tape by tightly wrapping the superconducting tape around the RF coil with at least one undulation forming at least one smooth turn around the RF coil, the superconducting tape has flowing through it a direct current with a magnitude less than a critical current of the superconducting tape at an operating temperature, the high-frequency voltage burst is sufficient to induce a RF-induced current in the superconducting tape, the sum of the RF-induced current and the direct current exceeding the critical current of the superconducting tape at the operating temperature, and whereby the superconducting tape excited with the RF-induced current undergoes a transition from a superconducting state to a normal state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification