Recent research on superconductors with high critical temperature has
led to results that were not available when the original German edition
was prepared but could be included in the present English edition. This
concerns materials based on bismuth and thallium, as well as
measurements of low microwave loss. The author would like to thank Mr.
A. H. Armstrong for translating the book from German to English in a
very dedicated and competent manner. Thanks are also due once again to
Springer-Verlag for their generous support and cordial cooperation. Bad
Salzdetfurth September 1989 Johann H. Rinken Preface to the German
Edition The development of materials which lose their electrical
resistance when cooled, even before reaching the boiling point of liquid
nitrogen, has considerably in- creased the interest in superconductor
technology, and with it superconductor electronics. This development had
not been foreseen when work on the present book started, just over a
year ago. Nevertheless, recent results of research on materials with
high critical temperature are included to the extent that they seem to
be confirmed and to be of interest to superconductor electronics. The
present book deals with the physical and technological foundations of
superconductor electronics so far as they must be known in order to
under- stand the principal modes of operation of superconductor
electronics components.