Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating superconducting circuits. In one aspect, an electric circuit includes: (1) a superconductor component having a first terminal at a first end and a second terminal at a second end; (2) a gate component thermally-coupled to the superconductor component at a first location between the first terminal and the second terminal, where the gate component is thermally-coupled via a first section of the gate component; and where the gate component has a smallest width at the first section so as to focus resistive heating toward the superconductor component.

Abstract: A programmable circuit includes a superconducting multi-dimensional array. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of photon detectors coupled to respective portions of the superconducting multi-dimensional array, each photon detector configured to selectively provide input to a corresponding respective portion sufficient to transition the corresponding respective portion from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. The programmable circuit also includes one or more electrical terminals coupled to respective second portions of the superconducting multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: A programmable circuit includes a superconducting component arranged in a multi-dimensional array of alternating narrow and wide portions. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of heat sources, each heat source configured to selectively provide heat to a respective narrow portion sufficient to transition the respective narrow portion from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of electrical terminals, each electrical terminal coupled to a respective wide portion of the multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating diodes. In one aspect, an electrical circuit includes: (1) a diode component having a particular energy band gap; (2) an electrical source electrically coupled to the diode component and configured to bias the diode component in a particular state; and (3) a heating component thermally coupled to a junction of the diode component and configured to selectively supply heat corresponding to the particular energy band gap.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circuit that includes a first component and a plurality of superconducting wires thermally-coupled to the first component. The superconducting wires of the plurality of superconducting wires are arranged and configured such that a threshold superconducting current for each superconducting wire is dependent on an amount of heat received from the first component. The circuit further includes a dielectric material separating the plurality of superconducting wires from one another. A superconducting wire nearest the first component among the plurality of superconducting wires is more than a phonon mean free path of the dielectric material from the first component. The circuit further includes control circuitry electrically-coupled to the plurality of superconducting wires and configured to provide current to each of the plurality of superconducting wires.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting circuitry. In one aspect, an amplification circuit includes: (1) a superconducting component; (2) an amplifier coupled in parallel with the superconducting component such that the superconducting component is in a feedback loop of the amplifier; (3) a voltage source coupled to a first input of the amplifier; (4) one or more resistors coupled to a second input of the amplifier; and (5) an output terminal coupled to an output of the amplifier.

Abstract: A programmable circuit includes a superconducting component arranged in a multi-dimensional array of alternating narrow and wide portions. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of heat sources, each heat source configured to selectively provide heat to a respective narrow portion sufficient to transition the respective narrow portion from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of electrical terminals, each electrical terminal coupled to a respective wide portion of the multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and circuits for reducing switch transition time of superconductor switches. In some embodiments, an electrical circuit includes: (i) an input component configured to generate heat in response to an electrical input; and (ii) a first superconducting component thermally-coupled to the input component. The electrical circuit is configured such that, in the absence of the electrical input, at least a portion of the first superconducting component is maintained in a non-superconducting state in the absence of the electrical input; and, in response to the electrical input, the first superconducting component transitions to a superconducting state.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting circuitry. In one aspect, an amplification circuit includes: (1) a superconducting component; (2) an amplifier coupled in parallel with the superconducting component such that the superconducting component is in a feedback loop of the amplifier; (3) a voltage source coupled to a first input of the amplifier; (4) one or more resistors coupled to a second input of the amplifier; and (5) an output terminal coupled to an output of the amplifier.

Abstract: An electric circuit includes a first superconducting component, a second superconducting component, a first electrically-insulating component that thermally couples the first superconducting component and the second superconducting component such that heat produced in response to the first superconducting component transitioning to a non-superconducting state is transferred through the first electrically-insulating component to the second superconducting component, and a photon detector coupled to the first superconducting component. The photon detector is configured to output a first current to the first superconducting component upon detection of a threshold number of photons. The electric circuit further includes an output component coupled to the second superconducting component. The output component is configured to be responsive to a voltage drop across the second superconducting component.

Abstract: A programmable circuit includes a superconducting component arranged in a multi-dimensional array of alternating narrow and wide portions. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of heat sources, each heat source configured to selectively provide heat to a respective narrow portion sufficient to transition the respective narrow portion from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of electrical terminals, each electrical terminal coupled to a respective wide portion of the multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating diodes. In one aspect, an electrical circuit includes: (1) a diode component having a particular energy band gap; (2) an electrical source electrically coupled to the diode component and configured to bias the diode component in a particular state; and (3) a heating component thermally coupled to a junction of the diode component and configured to selectively supply heat corresponding to the particular energy band gap.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of superconducting wires connected in parallel with one another. The plurality of superconducting wires includes a first superconducting wire and a second superconducting wire. The plurality of superconducting wires are configured to, while receiving a bias current provided to the parallel combination of the plurality of superconducting wires, operate in a superconducting state in the absence of a trigger current. The first superconducting wire is configured to, while receiving the bias current, transition to a non-superconducting state in response to receiving the trigger current. The second superconducting wire is configured to, while receiving the bias current, transition to a non-superconducting state in response to the first superconducting wire transitioning to the non-superconducting state.

Abstract: A programmable circuit includes a superconducting component arranged in a multi-dimensional array of alternating narrow and wide portions. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of heat sources, each heat source configured to selectively provide heat to a respective narrow portion sufficient to transition the respective narrow portion from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state. The programmable circuit further includes a plurality of electrical terminals, each electrical terminal coupled to a respective wide portion of the multi-dimensional array.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating superconducting circuitry. In one aspect, a superconducting component includes: (1) a superconductor having a plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions, each wide portion having a corresponding terminal; and (2) a plurality of heat sources, each heat source thermally coupled to a corresponding narrow portion such that heat from the heat source is transmitted to the corresponding narrow portion; where the plurality of heat sources is electrically isolated from the superconductor.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting circuitry. In one aspect, an amplification circuit includes: (1) a superconducting component; (2) an amplifier coupled in parallel with the superconducting component such that the superconducting component is in a feedback loop of the amplifier; (3) a voltage source coupled to a first input of the amplifier; (4) one or more resistors coupled to a second input of the amplifier; and (5) an output terminal coupled to an output of the amplifier.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting circuits. In one aspect, an electric circuit includes: (1) a first superconducting component having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a constriction region between the first terminal and the second terminal; (2) a second superconducting component having a third terminal and a fourth terminal; and (3) a first electrically-insulating component that thermally couples the first superconducting component and the second superconducting component such that heat produced at the constriction region is transferred through the first component to the second superconducting component.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating superconducting circuits. In one aspect, an electric circuit includes: (1) a superconductor component having a first terminal at a first end and a second terminal at a second end; (2) a gate component thermally-coupled to the superconductor component at a first location between the first terminal and the second terminal, where the gate component is thermally-coupled via a first section of the gate component; and where the gate component has a smallest width at the first section so as to focus resistive heating toward the superconductor component.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for operating superconducting circuitry. In one aspect, a superconducting component includes: (1) a superconductor having a plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions, each wide portion having a corresponding terminal; and (2) a plurality of heat sources, each heat source thermally coupled to a corresponding narrow portion such that heat from the heat source is transmitted to the corresponding narrow portion; where the plurality of heat sources is electrically isolated from the superconductor.

Abstract: A system includes a first superconducting wire and a second superconducting wire connected in parallel. The system includes a first current source coupled to the first superconducting wire and configured to supply a first current in response to a trigger event. The system includes a second current source coupled in series with the parallel combination of the first superconducting wire and the second superconducting wire and configured to supply a second current. The superconducting wires are configured to, while receiving the second current, operate in a superconducting state in the absence of the first current. The first superconducting wire is configured to, while receiving the second current, transition to a non-superconducting state in response to the first current. The second superconducting wire is configured to, while receiving the second current, transition to a non-superconducting state in response to the first superconducting wire transitioning to the non-superconducting state.