Fluxon oscillators utilizing a ring shaped Josephson junction

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5469779

Scott, A C

The fluxon oscillators for producing electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength shorter than the shortest radio waves, but longer than the longest infrared radiation are described. The oscillators are comprised of two closely spaced superconductive ring-shaped members having a ring-shaped Josephson junction barrier therebetween capable of supporting the tunnelling of superconductive electrons across such barrier, a source of magnetic flux for initially producing at least one fluxon in the barrier, a power supply for producing an electrical biasing current between the superconductive members and across the barrier for causing movement of the fluxon along and around the ring-shaped barrier in a closed path, and a plurality of centers to produce enhanced superconductive electron current across the barrier. These centers are spaced around the ring-shaped barrier for causing cyclical variations in the velocity of the fluxon and thereby causing the radiation of electromagnetic energy at a frequence corresponding to the frequency of such cyclical variations. Such centers may comprise localized microshorts or weak links which are conductive to normal tunnelling electrons and exhibit enhanced tunnelling by superconductive electrons. Such weak links may be made of a normally conductive metal, such as copper, silver or gold.

• Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
• Patent Number(s): US 4181902
• OSTI ID: 5469779
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

420201* -- Engineering-- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
OSCILLATORS
RINGS
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS