Principles And Applications Of Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices

Principles and applications of SQUIDs serves as a textbook and a multi-author collection of critical reviews. Providing both basic aspects and recent progress in SQUIDs technology, it offers a realistic and stimulating picture of the state of the art. It can also contribute to a further development of the field for commercial applications.

Superconducting Devices presents the theory, qualification, and fabrication of superconducting device elements and integrated circuitry. This book discusses the various uses of superconducting devices in many areas where their sensitivity, speed, or other characteristics stemming from the unique nature of superconductivity make them the device of choice. Organized into 10 chapters, this book begins with an overview of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), which is the main achievement of superconductor electronics. This text then examines the status of dc and rf SQUIDs. Other chapters consider the progress in the fabrication technology for high-quality junctions and it integration technology, which are developed mainly for digital applications. This book discusses as well the increasing need for compact submillimeter sources for use in such applications as satellite communications and receivers for astronomical observation. The final chapter deals with the thin film tunneling experiments. This book is a valuable resource for physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and electrical engineers.

The report is the product of the first two years' work on a project to exploit an entirely new principle for the measurement of rf power and attenuation, namely the Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID). After an elementary exposition of the basic principles of our technique, the authors describe: The SQUIDs themselves; the prototype systems they have developed to measure rf power and attenuation; systematic errors and fundamental limitations of the measurements that can be performed with them; and the obvious and immediate improvements that can be applied to them.

Applications which use wireless sensors are increasing in number. The emergence of wireless sensor networks has also motivated the integration of a large number of small and lightweight nodes which integrate sensors, processors, and wireless transceivers. Existing books on wireless sensor networks mainly focus on protocols and networks and pay little attention to the sensors themselves which the author believes is the main focus. Without adequate knowledge of sensors as well as how they can be designed, realized and used, books on wireless sensor networks become too theoretical and irrelevant. The purpose of this book is to intimately acquaint readers with the technique of sensing (resistive, capacitive, inductive, magnetic, inertial, etc.) and existing sensor technologies. It also discusses how the sensors are used in a wide application domain and how new sensors can be designed and used in a novel way.

This two-volume handbook offers a comprehensive and well coordinated presentation of SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices), including device fundamentals, design, technology, system construction and multiple applications. It is intended to bridge the gap between fundamentals and applications, and will be a valuable textbook reference for graduate students and for professionals engaged in SQUID research and engineering. It will also be of use to specialists in multiple fields of practical SQUID applications, from human brain research and heart diagnostics to airplane and nuclear plant testing to prospecting for oil, minerals and buried ordnance. The first volume contains chapters presenting the theory of SQUIDs, their fabrication from low- and high-temperature superconductors, the necessary readout electronics, and the design and performance of practical direct current (dc) and radio-frequency (rf) SQUIDs. This volume concludes with an overview of the most important SQUID system issues. An appendix summarizes briefly the foundations of superconductivity that are necessary to understand SQUIDs. A glossary and tables of units and constants are also included. The second volume of the handbook will deal with applications of SQUIDs and SQUID systems.

Electricity is an integral part of life in modern society. It is one form of energy and can be transported and converted into other forms. Throughout the world electricity is used to light homes and streets, cook meals, power computers and run industrial plants. Electricity is so integrated with our way of living that electricity consumption per person is used to measure the levels of economic development of countries. Any disruptions to electricity supply or blackouts will lead to huge financial loss and threats to lives well-being in the community. Electrical engineering is the profession and study of generating, transmitting, controlling and using electrical energy. It offers a wide range of exciting opportunities to those looking for a fulfilling, challenging and professional career. Electrical engineers are the designers of modern electrical machinery, power systems, transportation and communication systems. They work in various sectors of the community as well including the building industry, the manufacturing industry, the construction industry, consultancy services, technology development, education services as well as government. In these volumes, the essential aspects and fundamentals of electrical engineering are presented. In depth knowledge of various areas of electrical engineering are disseminated by learned scholars in their fields. It is hoped that readers will find all the writings comprehensive, informative and interesting. It is further hoped that these fundamentals will assist the readers to study advanced topics in electrical engineering. If the readers are electrical engineers themselves, it is hoped that the articles will broaden their horizon in electrical engineering and provide them with the necessary knowledge to further their profession as electrical engineers.