Abstract: A method of independently producing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary cell having thin films of lithium and a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte begins with a negative electrode base material and an inorganic solid electrolyte source material being removed from closed containers in a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium and insulated from air. The materials are transferred into an adjacent thin film deposition system without being exposed to the air. In the system, the source material is used to form a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte on the base material, to make the electrode. The electrode is transferred, without being exposed to the air, into a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium, where the electrode is placed into a closed container. Thus, a negative electrode can be produced without being degraded by air.

Abstract: A method of producing a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte having a relatively high ionic conductance is provided. In the method, a thin film made of an inorganic solid electrolyte is formed, by a vapor deposition method, on a base member being heated. The thin film obtained through the heat treatment exhibits an ionic conductance higher than that of the thin film formed on the base member not being heated. The ionic conductance can also be increased through the steps of forming the thin film made of the inorganic solid electrolyte on the base member at room temperature or a temperature lower than 40° C. and then heating the thin film of the inorganic solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of producing a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte having a relatively high ionic conductance is provided. In the method, a thin film made of an inorganic solid electrolyte is formed, by a vapor deposition method, on a base member being heated. The thin film obtained through the heat treatment exhibits an ionic conductance higher than that of the thin film formed on the base member not being heated. The ionic conductance can also be increased through the steps of forming the thin film made of the inorganic solid electrolyte on the base member at room temperature or a temperature lower than 40° C. and then heating the thin film of the inorganic solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A superconducting thin film pattern (20) formed from an oxide superconducting thin film is formed on a sapphire substrate (10) having a step (11) via a CeO2 buffer layer, and the step (11) and superconducting thin film pattern (20) are formed such that the step (11) crosses a predetermined portion of a square thin film pattern (22) having an opening portion (23) at the central portion. Step-edge Josephson junctions (26, 27) are formed at the portion crossed by the step (11), and a SQUID is obtained. The sapphire substrate is relatively inexpensive, and a large substrate can be used.

Abstract: A method of producing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary cell having thin films of lithium and a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte is provided. In the method, are used a negative electrode base material and an inorganic solid electrolyte source material respectively placed in closed containers. The base material has a surface of lithium metal. The base material and the source material are respectively taken out from the closed containers in a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium and which is insulated from air and provided adjacent to a thin film deposition system. The base material and the source material are transferred into the thin film deposition system without being exposed to the air. In system, the source material is used and a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte is formed on the base material. The base material having the thin film is transferred, without being exposed to the air, into a chamber space, which is substantially inactive to lithium.

Abstract: A member having a lithium metal thin film is provided, which is extremely thin, uniform, and not degraded by air. The member includes a substrate and a thin lithium metal film formed on the substrate by a vapor deposition method. The thin film typically has a thickness of 0.1 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m. The substrate is typically made of a metal, an alloy, a metal oxide, or carbon. The substrate typically has a thickness of 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m. The member is used as an electrode member for a lithium cell.

Abstract: A lithium-secondary-battery negative electrode having a protective layer to prevent the surface deterioration of the inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The negative electrode comprises metallic lithium or a lithium-containing metal, a first inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: a) formed on the metal, and a second inorganic solid electrolytic layer (thickness: b) formed on the first inorganic solid electrolytic layer. The thickness ratio b/a is specified to be more than 0.5.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor has a SQUID, which is made of thin film of oxide superconductor deposited on a substrate, and a magnetic flux guide that has a higher permeability than vacuum to increase the effective capture area. The flux guide is positioned and aligned over a hole that is surrounded with superconducting current loop formed in a washer thereof. The SQUID also has a pair of Josephson junction formed on the washer and a pair of opposite terminals for connecting the washer to an outer circuit. In the SQUID, a variation in magnetic flux passing through the hole is detected in a form of variation in output voltage.

Abstract: This magnetic sensor comprises a flux transformer 2 having a superconducting thin film 2f formed on a sapphire substrate 2s, and a SQUID 1 disposed on the flux transformer 2 opposite thereto. In this magnetic sensor, since the sapphire substrate 2s, which can be obtained in a large size, is used for the flux transformer 2, even when the SQUID 1 is made smaller, the magnetic flux introduced from the flux transformer 2 into the SQUID 1 can be enhanced so as to increase the effective magnetic flux capturing area, whereby the detecting performance is improved, while the manufacturing cost can be reduced due to the smaller size of the SQUID 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detecting apparatus for detecting a magnetic minute substance. The detecting apparatus of the present invention can detect continually at a high sensitivity an entity of fine particle, without destroying an object to be inspected. The detecting apparatus comprises a magnetic field generator and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field having a right angle to the traveling direction of the object to be inspected. The magnetic sensor includes a SQUID for inspecting a drift of the magnetic field that is parallel to the magnetic field.

Abstract: A non-destructive testing equipment comprises a magnetic field generator for generating a uniform magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor accommodated in a thermal insulation container and filled with a liquid nitrogen. The thermal insulation container is located within a magnetic shield container having an opening. The magnetic sensor includes a SQUID that is a magnetic sensor having very high sensitivity. The magnetic sensor can detect, through the opening, an appreciable variation of the magnetic field that is caused by small impurities or minor defects contained in the object to be tested.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprises a SQUID made of a superconducting thin film. The superconducting thin film has a washer pattern and a terminal portion. The washer pattern has a non-square one hole pattern and a pair of slit patterns. The hole pattern has rectangle shape and includes the center of the washer pattern. The slit patterns having a straight shape growing parallel to the long side of the hole pattern, from the outside edge of the washer pattern toward the inside of the washer pattern. This outside edge of the washer pattern is the nearest to the hole pattern. There is an artificial grain boundary in the domain that spacing between the hole pattern and the slit pattern is narrowest. There is no artificial grain boundary in the other domain at all.

Abstract: A nondestructive testing equipment comprises a magnetic sensor located within a magnetic shield container. The magnetic sensor includes a SQUID that is a magnetic sensor having a very high sensitivity. A magnetically uniform inspection zone is formed in the magnetic shield container. While a rod-like material to be tested passes through the inspection zone at a uniform velocity, the magnetic sensor can detect an appreciable magnetic field variation that is caused by impurities or minor defects contained in the object to be tested.

Abstract: In a Josephson junction device comprises two superconducting electrodes formed of an oxide superconductor and connected through a Josephson junction, a temperature dependent noise of the Josephson junction becomes the minimum at a liquid nitrogen temperature.

Abstract: A non-destructive testing equipment comprises a magnetic sensor located within a magnetic shield container. The magnetic sensor includes a SQUID that is a magnetic sensor having a very high sensitivity. A magnetically uniform inspection zone is formed in the magnetic shield container. While a rod-like material to be tested passes through the inspection zone at a uniform velocity, the magnetic sensor can detect an appreciable magnetic field variation that is caused by impurities or minor defects contained in the object to be tested.

Abstract: A stabilized carbon cluster conducting material comprising (i) a core comprising a conducting or superconducting carbon cluster and (ii) a sheath covering the core; a device comprising a substrate having thereon a film of a conducting or superconducting carbon cluster covered with a protective film capable of substantially preventing permeation of oxygen and water in the atmosphere; and processes for producing the stabilized carbon cluster conducting material and the device.

Abstract: A stabilized carbon cluster conducting material comprising (i) a core comprising a conducting or superconducting carbon cluster and (ii) a sheath covering the core; a device comprising a substrate having thereon a film of a conducting or superconducting carbon cluster covered with a protective film capable of substantially preventing permeation of oxygen and water in the atmosphere; and processes for producing the stabilized carbon cluster conducting material and the device.

Abstract: A non-destructive testing equipment comprises a magnetic field generator for generating a uniform magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor accommodated in a thermal insulation container and filled with a liquid nitrogen. The thermal insulation container is located within a magnetic shield container having an opening. The magnetic sensor includes a SQUID that is a magnetic sensor having very high sensitivity. The magnetic sensor can detect, through the opening, an appreciable variation of the magnetic field that is caused by small impurities or minor defects contained in the object to be tested.

Abstract: A stabilized carbon cluster conducting material comprising (i) a core comprising a conducting or superconducting carbon cluster and (ii) a sheath covering the core; a device comprising a substrate having thereon a film of a conducting or superconducting carbon cluster covered with a protective film capable of substantially preventing permeation of oxygen and water in the atmosphere; and processes for producing the stabilized carbon cluster conducting material and the device.

Abstract: A flux transformer comprises a pickup coil 1, an input coil 2 and a pair of lines 3, 4. The line 4 contains a bridge part 4a intersecting the input coil 2. The pickup coil 1, input coil 2 and a pair of lines 3, 4 are formed of a first and a second oxide superconducting thin films 11, 13. Furthermore, the flux transformer comprises a non-superconducting thin film 12. The non-superconducting thin film 12 is disposed between the first and the second oxide superconducting thin films 11, 13 and is located in a domain wherein the line 4 intersects the input coil 2. A pattern of the first oxide superconducting thin film 11 corresponds to the pickup coil 1, the input coil 2 and the lines 3,4 except the bridge part 4a. The pattern of the second oxide superconducting thin film 13 corresponds to the input coil 2 except the domain where the non-superconducting thin film exits, the pickup coil 1 and the lines 3,4.