General Atomics, Inc.

Richard B Stephens

Tihiro Ohkawa

Frederick H Elsner

Albert J Lieber

A superconducting structure is provided comprising a substrate, a superconductor coating supported by the substrate and a diffusion barrier positioned between the superconductor coating and the substrate to inhibit diffusion of contaminants from the substrate to the superconductor coating. The coating is a ceramic oxide having superconducting properties. The diffusion barrier may likewise be a ceramic oxide, but differs in its specific composition to provide it with a peritectic decomposition temperature greater than the superconductor coating. Accordingly, the diffusion barrier exhibits substantially lower atomic mobility than the superconductor coating during manufacture of the superconducting structure, thereby preventing contamination of the coating by the substrate.

Contaminant diffusion barrier for a ceramic oxide superconductor coating

A barrier supported by an object, such as a satellite or missile for use in space, for scattering a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in a predetermined range of wavelengths which range is within, but does not necessarily fully include, the range of about 0.2 micron to about 11 microns and emanating from a distant source of such radiation. The barrier includes a non-metallic layer formed by a large number of first components and large number of second components with each of the second components spacing adjacent ones of the first components. The first components have a relative high index refraction and the second components have a relatively low index of refraction. The optical thickness of at least a majority of the first and second components is within an order of magnitude of the wavelength of the radiation and both of the components are transparent at the wavelength of the radiation. The layer has a thickness between 0.2 micron and 1000 microns. A method of protecting the object is also disclosed.

Barrier for scattering electromagnetic radiation

A pre-existing superconductor ceramic which is bonded to a substrate is passed through a relatively short heating zone to melt the ceramic superconductor. As the superconductor is subsequently cooled after it has passed through the heating zone, a temperature gradient is established along the superconductor which causes the melted crystals to renucleate and grow along and parallel to the temperature gradient. The resulting crystalline structure exhibits improved superconducting properties when the superconductor is placed in the presence of a magnetic field. For appropriate applications, the substrate can be formed as a wire.

Melt texturing of long superconductor fibers

A method and apparatus for separating at least one superconductive phase from a multiphase material which may contain multiple superconductive phases and a normal phase by the use of diamagnetic force. A material containing multiple phases is pulverized into granules approximately the grain size of a selected superconductive phase and is then subjected to a force to cause movement of the particles in a particular direction. The selected superconductive phase is made superconducting by cooling the material below its transition temperature. Diamagnetic force is then generated by an applied magnetic field which deflects and separates the superconducting granules but has substantially no effect on the nonsuperconducting granules. Conversely, the selected superconductive phase has a magnetic field applied to it and then is made superconducting to cause a separation. Several specialized apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed wherein adjustments to a gravitational or other force and the diamagnetic force can be made to provide efficient separation and classification.

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Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Richard B Stephens