Abstract: A superconducting device is disclosed with the device having multiple layers of thin film configured to achieve highly sensitive measurements based upon temperature. The device is implemented, in simplest form, as a stripline having a ground plane layer of superconductor, a configured layer of superconductor, and a dielectric layer between the ground plane layer and the configured layer. The device is operated at a temperature just below the transition temperature of the superconducting materials utilized so that the inductance of the device depends substantially upon temperatures encountered, with highest sensitivity resulting when at least one of the superconducting layers has a thickness that is small relative to the magnetic penetration depth of the superconducting material utilized.

Abstract: A Josephson junction amplifier comprising an array of series connected Josephson junctions which are maintained in a finite voltage, mutually electromagnetically phase-locked state. An input signal is applied across a first group of one or more but less than all of the Josephson junctions, and the output is taken across a second group of the junctions which has a greater number of junctions than the first group. Alternatively, two arrays may be connected in parallel to provide stable electromagnetic phase locking.

Abstract: A picosecond pulse generator for producing pulses having widths in the or of 10.sup.-12 seconds utilizes a Josephson junction that has an external load resistor connected in shunt therewith by a balanced transmission line. The Josephson junction is driven by a high frequency oscillator, and the AC current, I.sub.1, flowing through it is adapted to have its amplitude varied with respect to I.sub.c, the critical current of the junction. As the value of I.sub.1 /I.sub.c exceeds one and increases, first a single and then an increasing number of picosecond pulses are produced during each half cycle of the high frequency oscillator.