The Cryotron-A Superconductive Computer Component
- 1 April 1956
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in Proceedings of the IRE
- Vol. 44 (4) , 482-493
- https://doi.org/10.1109/jrproc.1956.274927
Abstract
The study of nonlinearities in nature suitable for computer use has led to the cryotron, a device based on the destruction of superconductivity by a magnetic field. The cryotron, in its simplest form, consists of a straight piece of wire about one inch long with a single-layer control winding wound over it. Current in the control winding creates a magnetic field which causes the central wire to change from its superconducting state to its normal state. The device has current gain, that is, a small current can control a larger current; it has power gain so that cryotrons can be interconnected in logical networks as active elements. The device is also small, light, easily fabricated, and dissipates very little power.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Low-Temperature ElectronicsProceedings of the IRE, 1954
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