Abstract: A superconductor having at least one Hg—M—Cu—O (M=Ba, Sr and/or Ca) superconducting film provided on a substrate and having a thickness of between 300 Å to 950 Å. The superconductor may be prepared by forming, on a substrate, a precursor laminate composed of a first, M—Cu—O film and a second, Hg—O film. The precursor laminate film-bearing substrate is placed in a closed vacuum chamber together with a first pellet of HgO, MO and CuO and a second pellet of MO and CuO. The contents in the chamber are heated to form, on the substrate, a superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film. The thickness of the first M—Cu—O film of the precursor is controlled so that the thickness of the superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film is in the range of between 300 Å to 950 Å.

Abstract: A high temperature superconductor film having a smooth surface is constituted from A, B, C, Cu and oxygen in a composition that is represented by the chemical formula AxB(3-x-y)CyCuzO7-d (where x≦0.99, y≦1.99, 2.60≦(x+y)≦2.98, 2.70≦z≦3.30 and (7-d) is a value that satisfies the requirement of valence), when one or more element selected from the group of Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y is represented by A, one or more element selected from the group of La, Nd, Sm and Eu is represented by B and Ba1-sSrs (where 0≦s≦0.50) is represented by C.

Abstract: When program data is distributed to users across an open network, such as the Internet, a licensing agreement concluded between a server for the program data and a manager is maintained and the unauthorized copying of program data is prevented. Therefore, to fulfill such the situation, a program data distribution system includes an open network; a file server, connected to the open network, for distributing encrypted program data; a key server, connected to the open network, for distributing a decryption key used to decode the encrypted program data; and a terminal, connected to the open network, for processing program data, the terminal employing the decryption key distributed by the key server to decode the encrypted program data obtained from the file server.

Abstract: A superconductor having at least one Hg-M-Cu—O (M=Ba, Sr and/or Ca) superconducting film provided on a substrate and having a thickness of between 300 Å to 950 Å. The superconductor may be prepared by forming, on a substrate, a precursor laminate composed of a first, M-Cu—O film and a second, Hg—O film. The precursor laminate film-bearing substrate is placed in a closed vacuum chamber together with a first pellet of HgO, MO and CuO and a second pellet of MO and CuO. The contents in the chamber are heated to form, on the substrate, a superconducting Hg-M-Cu—O film. The thickness of the first M-Cu—O film of the precursor is controlled so that the thickness of the superconducting Hg-M-Cu—O film is in the range of between 300 Å to 950 Å.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a Josephson device includes the steps of forming a first superconducting layer and forming a second superconducting layer to form a Josephson junction therebetween, wherein the step of forming the second superconducting layer includes the steps of conducting a first step of forming the second superconducting layer with improved uniformity and conducting a second step of forming the second superconducting layer on the second superconducting layer formed in the first step with improved film quality.

Abstract: A superconductor having at least one Hg—M—Cu—O (M=Ba, Sr and/or Ca) superconducting film provided on a substrate and having a thickness of between 300 Å to 950 Å. The superconductor may be prepared by forming, on a substrate, a precursor laminate composed of a first, M—Cu—O film and a second, Hg—O film. The precursor laminate film-bearing substrate is placed in a closed vacuum chamber together with a first pellet of HgO, MO and CuO and a second pellet of MO and CuO. The contents in the chamber are heated to form, on the substrate, a superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film. The thickness of the first M—Cu—O film of the precursor is controlled so that the thickness of the superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film is in the range of between 300 Å to 950 Å.

Abstract: ?I! An optically active compound of the formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a linear alkyl group, each of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or one of X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, each of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or one of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom and the other is a fluorine atom, m is an integer of 3 to 10, and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom,?II! an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of the optically active compound of the above formula (1) and a compound of the formula (2), ##STR2## and ?III! a ferrielectric liquid crystal composition consisting essentially of the optically active compound of the formula (1) and a compound of the formula (3).

Abstract: In order to provide a Tl--Ba--Ca--Cu--O superconductive material which can obtain a stable superconducting state and a method of preparing the same, the oxide superconductive material is expressed in the following composition formula:Tl.sub.x Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.y Cu.sub.3 O.sub.zwhere x, y and z are in relations satisfying 1.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2.0, 2.0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2.5, x+y=4.0 and 9.0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.11.0, and comprises tetragonal system superconducting phases having lattice constants of a=0.385 to 0.386 nm and c longer than 3.575 nm, to exhibit zero resistance under a temperature of at least 125 K, while the method comprises a step of mixing powder raw materials in blending ratios for satisfying the above composition formula, a step of sintering the as-formed mixed powder in an oxygen jet or in the atmosphere to obtain a sintered body, and a step of annealing the sintered body in a closed atmosphere at 700.degree. to 800.degree. C. for at least 10 hours.

Abstract: The present invention is an oxide superconductor containing alkaline earth metal M (where M is at least one element of Ba, Sr, and Ca) and having a crystalline structure in which a portion based on two rock-salt structures including the alkaline earth metal M, oxygen, and chlorine, and a 2n-1 piece of infinite layer structure portion are alternately layered on each other, said 2n-1 piece of infinite layer structure portion having an atom layer including copper atoms and oxygen atoms in a ratio of 1 to 2 and of an atom layer including only M atoms layered on each other (where n is an integer of 1 or more and where copper atoms and oxygen atom are contained in a ratio of 1 to 2 if n is 1).

Abstract: The present invention provides an oxide superconductor which is expressed in the composition formula(Pb.sub.1-x-y M.sub.x (A1).sub.y)(A2).sub.2 (A3).sub.n-1 (Cu).sub.n (O).sub.2n+3+z(wherein 0.ltoreq.0.6, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.6, x+y.ltoreq.0.6, n denotes integers of 1 or more, -0.6.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.5, M denotes Cu or Cd, and A1, A2 and A3 denote at least one element of Ba, Sr, and Ca, respectively) and which has a crystal structure stacking rock salt structure based portions and infinite layer structure portions, wherein the rock salt structure based portion has a structure that an atoms layer having 0.5-1.5 oxygen atoms, in case the total atoms number of Pb, M and A1 is one, and an atoms layer having one or less oxygen atoms per one A2 atom, are stacked and the infinite layer structure portion has a structure that an atoms layer having 2 oxygen atoms per one Cu atom and an atoms layer of A3 atoms only, are stacked.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor composed of Cu, O and M (M is Ba, Sr and/or Ca) and including alternately arranged at least one rock-salt structure section and at least one infinite layer structure section, wherein the rock-salt structure section consists of two atomic layers each consisting of O and M and each having an atomic ratio O/M of 1 or less, and the infinite layer structure section consists of alternately arranged, first and second atomic layers. Each of the first atomic layers consists of O and Cu and has an atomic ratio O/Cu of 2, while each of the second atomic layers consists of the element M. The infinite layer structure section may consist of only one first atomic layer.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor composed of Cu, O and at least one of Ba, Sr and Ca and including alternately arranged at least one oxygen-deficient perovskite structure section and at least one infinite layer structure section, wherein the perovskite structure section consists of two first atomic layers and a second atomic layer sandwiched between the first layers, and wherein the infinite layer structure section consists of alternately arranged, third and fourth atomic layers. Each of the first layers consists of O and an element M.sup.1 selected from Ba, Sr and Ca and has an atomic ratio O/M.sup.1 of 1 or less, while the second layer consists of O and Cu and has an atomic ratio O/Cu of 2 or less. Each of the third layers consists of O and Cu and has an atomic ratio O/Cu of 2, while each of the fourth layers consists of an element M.sup.2 selected from Ba, Sr and Ca. A superconductor having a superconducting critical temperature of over 100 K. may be produced by heat treatment at 800.degree.-1,200.degree.C.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an oxide superconductor, including the steps of mixing oxide materials of the metals contained in an oxide superconductor represented by HgBa.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.8+y to prepare a powder mixture of the composition noted above, molding the powder mixture to prepare a molded body of a desired shape, and applying a heat treatment to the molded body within a hermetic container at a temperature sufficient for bringing about a solid phase reaction of the oxide materials for at least 20 hours.

Abstract: Provided is an Hg--Ba--Ca--Cu--O oxide superconductor having a high superconductivity transition temperature Tc and a method which can prepare the same in excellent reproducibility. This oxide superconductor consists essentially of Hg, Ba, Ca, Cu and O, and is expressed in a chemical formula (Hg.sub.1-X Cu.sub.X)Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.y, wherein X=0.05 to 0.7 and Y=8 to 8.75. A method of preparing the oxide superconductor comprises a step of mixing raw materials of Hg, Ba, Ca and Cu with each other so that (Hg+Ba):Ca:Cu =b:1:C and Hg:Ba=(1-a):a, wherein 0.625.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.714, 1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.3 and 1.667.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.3.444, in mole ratio, and compression-molding the mixture, and a step of heat treating a compact obtained by the compression molding. This oxide superconductor has a superconductivity transition temperature Tc of 134 K, which is the highest at present.

Abstract: Provided is an Hg-Ba-Ca-Cu-O oxide superconductor having a high superconductivity transition temperature Tc and a method which can prepare the same in excellent reproducibility. This oxide superconductor consists essentially of Hg, Ba, Ca, Cu and O, and is expressed in a chemical formula (Hg.sub.1-X Cu.sub.X)Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.Y, wherein X=0.05 to 0.7 and Y=8 to 8.75. A method of preparing the oxide superconductor comprises a step of mixing raw materials of Hg, Ba, Ca and Cu with each other so that (Hg+Ba):Ca:Cu=b:1:C and Hg:Ba=(1-a):a, wherein 0.625.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.714, 1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.3 and 1.667.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.3.444, in mole ratio, and compression-molding the mixture, and a step of heat treating a compact obtained by the compression molding. This oxide superconductor has a superconductivity transition temperature Tc of 134 K., which is the highest at present.

Abstract: A superconductive oxide material having an infinite layer structure and having the following formula:A.sub.p B.sub.q Cu.sub.2 O.sub.4.+-.rwherein A and B are different and each represent an element selected from lanthanoid elements and elements belonging to Groups IA, IIA and IIIA of the Periodic Table, p is between 0.9 and 1.1, q is between 0.9 and 1.1 and r is between 0 and 0.6. The oxide material has a crystal structure belonging to a tetragonal system of P4/mmm and 1-123 having the following lattice parameters:3.8.ANG..ltoreq.a.ltoreq.4.0.ANG.7.6.ANG..ltoreq.c.ltoreq.8.0.ANG.or to an orthorhombic system of Pmmm and I-47 having the following lattice parmeters:3.8.ANG..ltoreq.a.ltoreq.3.95.ANG.3.82.ANG..ltoreq.b.ltoreq.4.0.ANG.7.6.ANG..ltoreq.c.ltoreq.8.0.ANG..

Abstract: The oxide superconductor according to the present invention is represented by (Hg.sub.1-x Pb.sub.x)Ba.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub..delta. (0.08.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.41, 7.625.ltoreq..delta..ltoreq.9.15), and has a crystal structure in which a lamination unit of (Hg, Pb)O.sub.z -BaO-CuO.sub.2 -Ca-CuO.sub.2 -Ca-CuO.sub.2 -BaO is laminated in a c-axial direction of the crystal structure (0.625.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.2.15). Further, the method of manufacturing an oxide superconductor, according to the present invention, includes the steps of: mixing material powders of HgO, PbO, BaO, CaO and CuO at a mole ratio of (Hg.sub.1-x Pb.sub.x):Ba:Ca:Cu=a:2:b:c (1.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.2.5, 2.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.3, 2.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.4) and compression-molding the mixture powder into a compact; and subjecting the compact to a thermal treatment at 600.degree.-750.degree. C.

Abstract: An oxide superconductive material comprising constituent elements mainly composed of ABiCuO in which A comprises at least one element of alkaline earth metals, and having a C-plane orientation, and a method of orienting such superconductive materials by hot extrusion from a rectangular nozzle.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a porous body comprising zirconium oxide and a metal carbide is described. The method comprises mixing a metallic zirconium powder, a metal oxide, and a carbon powder, shaping the mixture in a desired form, and igniting a part or portion of the shaped mixture in an atmosphere inert to a combustion reaction of the shaped mixture. The combustion reaction is caused to continue by the heat of the reaction, so that the zirconium is converted to zirconium oxide, and the metal oxide is reduced with zirconium and converted to a metal carbide to obtain a porous body. This body may be readily divided into fine pieces. If the above procedure is effected under a molding compression pressure, a composite sintered product comprising zirconium oxide and the metal carbide is obtained.