Abstract: The invention concerns a pickup coil to measure components of gradients. The coil consists of two pairs of loops connected in series; these pairs are then connected in parallel. The coil so formed has a low inductance, and no shielding currents are induced to superconducting coils in homogeneous magnetic fields. One coil can be employed to measure several field components simultaneously when the coil is coupled to current sensing elements, for example to SQUIDS, so that the current components measured by the sensing elements do not couple magnetically because of the symmetry. This can be accomplished by connecting the said elements between terminals between the loops (5, 6 and 7, 8). The inductance of this coil can be further reduced by subdividing the loops into parts connected in parallel.

Abstract: A reliable superconducting contact for superconducting thin film components, based on soft superconducting materials, and a method for making the contacts. A wire blank is squeezed to a thin plate and then this plate is cut into slabs used in the bonding. The ends of the slabs are longitudinally cut so that double or multiple parallel joints can be made. The slabs have elastic, bent central portions for absorbing stresses and stiff ends having a U-beam shape joined to the components. The U-beam shape may be formed by the soldering tool used to make the joints. The ribbon-like character, thinness and other features of the bonding slab permit a precise control of the bonding temperature, reduce the strain and bending forces caused by thermal contraction, and prevent the contact from peeling off while cooling the superconducting component to the operational temperature.