Abstract: A superconductor junction includes a normal metal layer having a first side and a second side, an insulating layer overlying the second side of the normal metal layer, and a first superconductor layer formed of a first superconductor material that overlies a side of the insulating layer opposite the side that overlies the normal metal layer. The superconductor junction further includes a second superconductor layer formed of a second superconductor material with a first side overlying a side of the first superconductor material opposite the side that overlies the insulating layer. The second superconductor material has a higher diffusion coefficient than the first superconductor material and/or the second superconductor material has a lower recombination coefficient than the first superconductor metal layer. A normal metal layer quasiparticle trap is coupled to a second side of the second superconductor layer.

Abstract: A jig that may be used to temporarily position a thin adaptor so that it can be attached near the bottom edge of a small, generally planar member such as a card (e.g., a conventional business card or photo, etc.). The jig controls the placement of adaptors and cards with respect to one another, so that each card/adaptor combination will be neatly aligned and spatially balanced. On one of the adaptor's faces there is provided a strip of adhesive that is adequate to permanently attach the adaptor to the bottom portion of a card. The adaptor's lower portion has a set of spaced notches that are designed to mate with (and be held by) a set of rails on a conventional holder, such as a desk-top holder manufactured by the Rolodex Corporation. A generally planar member that makes up the body of the jig, and a set of spatial locating elements is permanently affixed thereto. The generally planar member may be integrally molded into the top of a plastic box that serves as a storage container for a plurality of adaptors.