Patents Represented by Attorney Tom E. McDonnell
  • Patent number: 5872368
    Abstract: The order parameter of a superconductor is reduced by injecting spin-polarized carriers into the superconductor. The reduction in the order parameter is used to modulate the critical current of the superconductor. In a typical embodiment, a current is caused to flow through a superconductor. Spin polarized electrons are then injected into the path of the current in the superconductor by biasing a magnetic metal with respect to a terminal of the superconductor. The bias current may be varied to modulate the injection and thus the flow of current through the superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael Osofsky, Robert J. Soulen, Jr., Raymond Auyeung, James S. Horwitz, Doug B. Chrisey, Mark Johnson