Abstract: There are provided an intermetallic-compound superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature, and an alloy superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature and excels in malleability and ductility, as well as a method of making such a superconductor with good reproducibility and at a low cost of manufacture. This entirely new intermetallic compound superconductor is made of magnesium (Mg) and beryllium (Be) and has a chemical composition expressed by formula: Mg1Be2, has a hexagonal AlB2 type crystallographic structure and has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 35 K. An alloy containing this intermetallic compound excels in malleability and ductility and constitutes the alloy superconductor having a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 35 K and being low in specific resistance for normal conduction at a temperature ranging from the superconducting transition temperature to a room temperature.

Abstract: The invention includes superconducting titanium-containing compositions having less than 200 ppm, by weight, of a combined total of interstitial materials selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods of forming superconducting titanium-containing superconducting compositions containing less than 100 ppm, by weight, of a combined total of interstitial materials selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen.

Abstract: There are provided an intermetallic compound superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature, and an alloy superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature and excels in malleability and ductility, as well as a method of making such a superconductor with good reproducibility and at a low cost of manufacture. This entirely new intermetallic compound superconductor is made of magnesium (Mg) and boron (B) and has a chemical composition expressed by formula: Mg1B2, has a hexagonal AlB2 type crystallographic structure and has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 39 K. An alloy containing this intermetallic compound excels in malleability and ductility and constitutes the alloy superconductor having a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 39 K. In the method of manufacture, a Mg containing feedstock powder and a B containing feedstock powder are mixed together to form a mixture thereof which is, e.g., hot pressed to produce a semiconductor product.

Abstract: There are provided an intermetallic compound superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature, and an alloy superconductor that is high in superconducting transition temperature and excels in malleability and ductility, as well as a method of making such a superconductor with good reproducibility and at a low cost of manufacture. This entirely new intermetallic compound superconductor is made of magnesium (Mg) and boron (B) and has a chemical composition expressed by formula: Mg1B2, has a hexagonal AlB2 type crystallographic structure and has a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 39 K. An alloy containing this intermetallic compound excels in malleability and ductility and constitutes the alloy superconductor having a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 39 K. In the method of manufacture, a Mg containing feedstock powder and a B containing feedstock powder are mixed together to form a mixture thereof which is, e.g., hot pressed to produce a semiconductor product.

Abstract: A process of preparing superconducting magnesium diboride powder by heating an admixture of solid magnesium and amorphous boron powder or pellet under an inert atmosphere in a Mg:B ratio of greater than about 0.6:1 at temperatures and for time sufficient to form said superconducting magnesium diboride. The process can further include exposure to residual oxygen at high synthesis temperatures followed by slow cooling. In the cooling process oxygen atoms dissolved into MgB2 segregated to form nanometer-sized coherent Mg(B,O) precipitates in the MgB2 matrix, which can act as flux pinning centers.

Abstract: A novel intermetallic superconductor with surprisingly high transition temperature is disclosed. The material comprises B and C, and can form a bulk superconductor. Exemplary of the novel superconductors is material of nominal composition YPd.sub.5 B.sub.3 C.sub.x, with x chosen such that the C:B ratio is in the range 0.05-2. An exemplary bulk sample of such composition has T, (onset) of 22.5 K, with more than 15 volume % of the sample being superconducting.

Abstract: A novel intermetallic superconductor with surprisingly high transition temperature is disclosed. The material comprises B and C, and can form a bulk superconductor. Exemplary of the novel superconductors is material of nominal composition YPd.sub.5 B.sub.3 C.sub.x, with x chosen such that the C:B ratio is in the range 0.05-2. An exemplary bulk sample of such composition has T.sub.c (onset) of 22.5 K, with more than 15 volume % of the sample being superconducting.

Abstract: The production of compact molded bodies of rare-earth transition-metal boron carbide and boron nitride compounds configured so as to avoid a selective evaporation of individual components in the production process and enable an exact adjustment of the desired stoichiometry. The process is characterized in thata) a powder mixture with particles sizes from 1 to 250 .mu.

Abstract: Material comprising an effective amount of a novel intermetallic bulk superconductor compound is disclosed. The compound has the composition LnNi.sub.2 B.sub.2 C, with Ln being Y or a rare earth (atomic number 57-71), preferably Tm, Er, Ho or Ln. A compound of composition XPt.sub.2 B.sub.2 C, with X=Y and/or La, is also a superconductor.

Abstract: A novel intermetallic superconductor with surprisingly high transition temperature is disclosed. Exemplary of the novel superconductor is material of overall composition Y.sub.1.5 Pd.sub.4.5 B.sub.4. A bulk sample of that composition has T.sub.c (onset) of 22.6K, with about 0.5 volume % of the sample being superconducting.

Abstract: A superconducting tunnel junction radiation sensing device includes first and second superconductor electrodes and a tunnel barrier layer interposed therebetween. The tunnel barrier layer is made up of a thin-wall portion and a thick-wall portion each formed of a semiconductor or an insulator, and each having opposite surfaces respectively contacting the first and second superconductor electrodes, and each extending adjacent each other in a same horizontal plane between the first and second electrodes. The thick-wall portion has a vertical thickness which is at least twice that of the thin-wall portion. Furthermore, the thickness of the thin-wall portion is such that a tunnel effect is enabled therethrough form the first electrode to the second electrode, and the thickness of the thick-wall portion is such that a tunnel effect is substantially prohibited therethrough from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: A non-linear superconducting junction device comprising a layer of high transient temperature superconducting material which is superconducting at an operating temperature, a layer of metal in contact with the layer of high temperature superconducting material and which remains non-superconducting at the operating temperature, and a metal material which is superconducting at the operating temperature and which forms distributed Sharvin point contacts with the metal layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides a process for decreasing the resistivity of an electrical conductor.The process involves the application of high temperature and an external field to a conductor to induce a current flow and physicochemical transition in the conducting matrix.

Abstract: A metal oxide-type superconductive material is produced by a process which comprises a first step of subjecting a powder raw material containing given proportions of metal elements to be contained in said metal oxide-type superconductive material, to mechanical grinding and alloying simultaneously to obtain an alloy powder and a second step of heat-treating the alloy powder in an oxygen-containing gas atmosphere to obtain a metal oxide.The superconductive material obtained has a high density, a low porosity, a high strength and a high critical current density.

Abstract: A superconductor is produced by electric discharge explosion flame spraying of a composite body of constituents of an immiscible alloy. The electrically discharged composite body is deposited on a substrate and the resultant alloy is oxidized to yield an oxide of the alloy having superconductive property. This process can be applied to the Ln-Ba-Cu system (Ln is at least one of the rare earth elements including Y), typically the Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 - or Y.sub.2 Ba.sub.4 Cu.sub.8 system, or other immiscible alloy systems such as the Bi-(Ca, Sr)-Cu system to form an oxide thereof.

Abstract: Conductor in strip, sheet or wire form with an electrical conductivity of at least 0.85.times.10.sup.6 .OMEGA..sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 at 77.degree. K. composed of a composite material of a metal matrix (1) and particles (2) composed of a high-temperature superconductor of the type RE Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.6.5-7.5 embedded therein and arranged rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction, RE generally denoting a rare earth metal. Preferably RE=yttrium and specifically the substance YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 and the particle diameter=0.1-100 .mu.m, more narrowly 0.2-20 .mu.m. Optionally an additional metal sheath which envelops the body forming the matrix (1).

Abstract: A level gauge and measurement method are provided using a sensing element comprising a superconductive alloy represented by the formula:Mo.sub.a Ru.sub.b Z.sub.cwherein Z is phosphorous, boron, or a mixture of phosphorous and boron,b has a value of about 20 to about 40,c has a value of about 10 to about 30, anda+b+c=100.The sensing element has a superconductivity critical temperature of at least 4.2K and is useful for measuring the level of liquid helium independently of pressure fluctuations in the reservoir vessel.