Microwave/far infrared cavities and waveguides using high temperature superconductors

TLDR: The use of high temperature superconductors removes the constraint of the relatively low energy gaps of conventional, low temperature supercondors which precluded their use at high frequencies as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: The structures for confining or guiding high frequency electromagnetic radiation have surfaces facing the radiation constructed of high temperature superconducting materials, that is, materials having critical temperatures greater than approximately 35°K. The use of high temperature superconductors removes the constraint of the relatively low energy gaps of conventional, low temperature superconductors which precluded their use at high frequencies. The high temperature superconductors also provide larger thermal margins and more effective cooling. Devices which will benefit from the structures of the invention include microwave cavities, millimeter-wave/far infrared cavities, gyrotron cavities, mode converters, accelerators and free electron lasers, and waveguides.