CHARACTERISTICS OF SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX-FLOW TRANSISTORS

The operational characteristics and physics of three superconducting thin-film based transistor structures are compared. The devices are based on the motion of quantized vortices, either Josephson fluxons in a long tunnel junction or Abrikosov fluxons in a superconducting film. The transistor amplification mechanism, in all three cases, is accomplished by controlling magnetic field at the boundaries of the structure. This paper provides an overview of present understanding of device mechanisms and of measured characteristics, including voltampere relations and small and large signal circuit parameters. Demonstrated applications and anticipated limitations are discussed.