Light detecting superconducting Josephson device

In a device wherein a region which includes a superconducting weak link or a Josephson junction is irradiated with light or an electromagnetic wave so as to detect the light or an electromagnetic wave on the basis of the change of a superconducting critical current or an output voltage; a light-sensitive superconducting device characterized in that the surface of a superconductor lies in contact with a photoconductive semiconductor in at least a part of the whole of the region which is irradiated with the light or the electromagnetic wave.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a superconducting device employing a 
superconductor. More particularly, it relates to a light-sensitive 
superconducting device which detects light or an electromagnetic wave and 
also a superconducting switching device which is switched by irradiation 
with light or an electromagnetic wave. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
As a light-sensitive device employing a superconductor, a microbridge type 
Josephson junction device those bridge portion is irradiated with light is 
described in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, MAG-17, No. 1, January 1981, 
pp. 88-91. A microbridge type Josephson junction device employing a 
superconductor expressed by BaPb.sub.x Bi.sub.1-x O.sub.3, the bridge 
portion of which is irradiated with light, is described in the official 
gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 130182/1985. A 
grain-boundary Josephson junction type light detector which utilizes the 
grain-boundary Josephson junction type light detector which utilizes the 
grain-boundary Josephson junction of a polycrystalline film of BaPb.sub.x 
Bi.sub.1-x O.sub.3, is described in the official gazette of Japanese 
Patent Application Laid-open No. 65582/1985 In addition, the official 
gazette of Japanese Application Laid-open No. 141582/1983 describes a 
sandwich type Josephson device the tunnel barrier of which is irradiated 
with light, whereby the current or voltage change of the tunnel barrier is 
detected owing to the effect of quasiparticle injection into a 
superconductor. Any of these prior-art techniques detects light by 
exploiting the fact that, when irradiated with the light, the 
superconductor constituting the Josephson device is influenced by 
quasiparticles (electrons or holes) excited within this superconductor, 
resulting in the change of the characteristic of the Josephson device. 
Any of the prior-art techniques, however, directly irradiates the 
superconductor with the light and therefore has the problem that the light 
cannot be detected at a high sensitivity due to a high light reflectivity. 
Another problem is that, since the detection sensitivity of any cf the 
devices lowers for the short wavelengths cf the incident light, the device 
is applicable to only specified wavelengths. 
Among the prior-art techniques, the expedient described in the official 
gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 65582/1985 detects 
light by utilizing the fact that, when the polycrystalline film made of 
the oxide-superconductor material is irradiated with the light, the 
Josephson junction produced at the crystal grain boundary thereof 
generates a voltage. In this case, the voltages which are generated at 
such crystal grain boundaries are not always constant, but they are 
somewhat different in the respective devices. Therefore, the expedient has 
the problem that the devices of uniform characteristics are difficult to 
be fabricated. 
As a light-sensitive device employing a superconductor and a semiconductor, 
a sandwich type Josephson device the tunnel portions of which are made cf 
a CdS film having pinholes is described in Physical Review Letters, Vol. 
20, No. 23, pp. 1286-1289. This device forms tunnel junctions through the 
pinholes of the CdS film, and therefore has the problem that the 
characteristics of the junctions vary depending upon the numbers of the 
pinholes and are very difficult of control. 
Further, this prior-art technique does not take into consideration the 
influence of a strain attributed to the thermal expansion of the 
superconductor as exerted on the characteristic of the device. More 
specifically, the strain in the material ascribable to a temperature cycle 
or a thermal shock induces the cracks or lattice defects of the material 
and affords a change to the characteristic of the device, to pose the 
problem that the operation of the device itself becomes unstable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The first object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive 
superconducting device and a superconducting switching device each of 
which has a high detection sensitivity even for light or an 
electromagnetic wave within a range of shorter wavelengths. 
The second object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive 
superconducting device and a superconducting switching device each of 
which permits products of uniform characteristics to be fabricated and can 
generate a great output voltage. 
The third object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive 
superconducting device and a superconducting switching device each of 
which can diminish the variation of the characteristic of the device with 
time and can stabilize the operation of the device. 
The first object mentioned above is accomplished in such a way that the 
weak link portion of a superconducting device to be irradiated with light 
or an electromagnetic wave is at least partially or wholly covered with a 
photoconductive semiconductor. 
In a case where the superconducting weak link portion or a portion 
including a Josephson device is covered using the photoconductive 
semiconductor, carriers are excited in the photoconductive semiconductor 
even with wavelengths shorter than 500 .mu.m, and they diffuse into a 
superconductor side and become quasiparticles in a superconductor. Thus, 
even when the wavelength of the incident light is approximately 0.2-50 
.mu.m, the carriers are efficiently created in the photoconductive 
semiconductor, and hence, the superconductor can be brought into a 
nonequilibrium state even in case of employing the light of the 
wavelengths within the above range at which the efficiency of creation of 
the quasiparticles in the superconductor is essentially low. In 
consequence, the detection of light at a high sensitivity becomes 
possible. 
The photoconductive semiconductor for use in the present invention should 
desirably have a band gap of approximately 1.5-0.2 eV in correspondence 
with the wavelengths of the detection light. Further, even a 
photoconductive semiconductor whose band gap is approximately 0.2-0.01 eV 
operates satisfactorily. Accordingly, any of CdS, Si, InSb, Ge, GaAs, PbS, 
PbTe, etc. can be used as the material of the photoconductive 
semiconductor. 
The second object mentioned above is accomplished in such a way that a 
superconductor and a photoconductive semiconductor are alternately 
arranged to form a plurality of Josephson junctions connected in series, 
and that light is detected by irradiating the junctions with the light. In 
this case, an oxide-superconductor can be employed as the superconductor. 
With, for example, an oxide-superconductor material which has a crystal 
structure similar to the perovskite type and whose composition is 
expressed by YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. or (La.sub.1-x 
Sr.sub.x).sub.2 CuO.sub.4, a device of greater output voltage can be 
realized. 
According to the present invention, the number of Josephson junctions each 
of which is switched between a voltage state and a superconducting state 
in accordance with the presence or absence of a light signal can be 
determined by a design beforehand. Therefore, voltages to be generated by 
individual devices are constant among the devices, and the variation of 
characteristics does not become a problem. Accordingly, the output signal 
of one switching device can be sent to another very easily. Further, the 
device is permitted to operate at a temperature of or above 77K with the 
aforementioned oxide-superconductor material YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. and at a temperature of or above 40K with (La.sub.x 
Sr.sub.1-x).sub.2 CuO.sub.4. 
In general, the output voltage of a Josephson junction decreases as the 
operating temperature of the Josephson junction approaches the 
superconducting transition temperature of a superconductor material 
constructing this Josephson junction. As regards this problem, according 
to the present invention, the number of Josephson junctions is enlarged 
beforehand, whereby a fixed output voltage can be generated. Thus, 
according to the present invention, the light-sensitive superconducting 
device can be operated at a still higher temperature than in the prior 
art. 
It is needless to say that, in the oxide-superconductor materials mentioned 
above, Y may well be replaced with Sc, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, En, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, 
Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Bi, Tl or the like, while Sr may well be replaced with Ba, 
Ca or the like. In addition, even when any of CdS, GaAs, Ge, Si, InSb, 
CdTe, etc. is employed as the photoconductive semiconductor, the object of 
the present invention can be satisfactorily accomplished. 
The third object mentioned above is accomplished in such a way that the 
coefficients of thermal expansion of materials constituting a device are 
substantially equalized. This expedient can be realized by employing an 
oxide material of the same composition as the materials of both a 
superconductor and a semiconductor which constitute the device. 
In a case where the superconductor material is a perovskite type 
superconductor material having a composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta., the semiconductor material may well be a semiconductor 
material having a composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. 
(.alpha.&gt;.delta.) in which oxygen is somewhat decreased. In this case, the 
coefficients of thermal expansion of the semiconductor and the 
superconductor become nearly equal. As the semiconductor material, the use 
of a material containing elements common to those of the superconductor as 
mentioned above is more advantageous for the process of manufacture, but 
this is not always restrictive. The object of the present invention can be 
satisfactorily accomplished when the materials the thermal expansion 
coefficients of which are substantially equal are employed. 
Owing to the substantially equal coefficients of thermal expansion of the 
semiconductor and the superconductor, even when the device has undergone a 
thermal shock such as sudden cooling or temperature change, a great strain 
is not developed by the thermal expansion. Consequently, minute cracks are 
prevented from appearing within the semiconductor and the superconductor, 
the variations of characteristics with time are avoided, and the operation 
of the device can be stabilized. Moreover, since the superconductor and 
the semiconductor can be made of the material of the same composition, the 
variations of the device characteristics ascribable to the diffusion of 
any constituent element, etc. can be prevented. 
As the superconductor material, a perovskite type oxide-superconductor 
material having a composition of (La.sub.x Sr.sub.1-x).sub.2 CuO.sub.4 may 
well be employed apart from YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta.. In 
addition, Sc, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, En, Gd, Td, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Bi, or Tl Lu 
may well be used as a constituent element instead of Y. Besides, Sr may 
well be replaced with Ba or Ca. 
These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this 
invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better 
understood by reference to the following detailed description when 
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference 
to the drawings. 
[Embodiment 1] 
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with 
reference to FIG. 1. 
On an MgO single-crystal substrate 1 having the (001)-plane orientation, a 
stepped portion 2c which has a height or level difference of about 4 .mu.m 
is formed by mechanical polish. Subsequently, an oxide film which is about 
2 .mu.m thick is formed on the substrate 1 including the stepped portion 
2c, by rf-sputtering which employs a target having a composition of 
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta.. The oxide film is annealed in the air 
at a temperature of 950.degree. C. for 2 hours. Thus, the oxide film turns 
into oxide-superconductor portions 2a and 2b. In this case, it is 
desirable for forming the superconducting weak link between the 
oxide-superconductor portions 2a and 2b that the height of the stepped 
portion 2c is selected to be about 1-5 times as great as the thickness of 
the oxide-superconductor portions 2a, 2b. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, 
accordingly, the oxide-superconductor portions 2a and 2b are weakly linked 
in superconducting fashion by the stepped portion 2c. In the above way, 
the superconducting device of the first embodiment is realized. 
In this case, owing to the stepped portion of the substrate or subbing 
material, the oxide-superconductor film is made thinner in the stepped 
portion than in the other portion so as to concentratively form 
superconducting weak link parts in the stepped portion, whereby the 
effective size of the Josephson junction or superconducting weak link can 
be made small. 
As taught in the prior art, the Josephson junction parts or superconducting 
weak link parts are formed at crystal grain boundaries in the 
polycrystalline film of the oxide-superconductor, and the whole film is 
the aggregate of the Josephson junction parts. In order to utilize the 
oxide-superconductor film for an electron device, therefore, the 
microfabrication of the film is required. Usually, the grain diameters of 
the oxide-superconductor film are about 1-5 .mu.m. In case of the 
microfabrication smaller than the grain diameters, the Josephson junction 
parts at the crystal grain boundaries are degraded, and hence, good 
junction characteristics cannot be attained. 
In contrast, in the case of using the stepped portion as in the present 
embodiment, the Josephson junction parts are formed in a manner to 
concentrate in the stepped portion, and the superconducting link of this 
portion is sufficiently weaker than the links of the Josephson junction 
parts formed in the other portions within the film. Accordingly, when the 
oxide-superconductor film is formed on the surface of the substrate 
including the stepped portion, the Josephson junction or superconducting 
weak link can be formed in only a region along the stepped portion. 
Therefore, it becomes possible to diminish the dimensions of the device 
and to heighten the density of integration of circuitry. 
Although YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. was employed as the material 
of the oxide-superconductor in an example of the embodiment, it may well 
be replaced with any of materials such as (La.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x).sub.2 
CuO.sub.4. In this case, Sr may well be replaced with Ba or Ca, and Y may 
well be replaced with any of Sc, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, 
Ho, Er, Tm, Yd Lu, Bi and Tl. 
Although MgO was employed as the substrate or subbing material, any of 
ZrO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, yttrium stabilized zirconium, 
etc. may be alternatively employed, and a material such as SiO.sub.2, Si 
or garnet may well be employed. 
Next, a quantum interference device constructed on the basis of the 
superconducting device in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 
2. 
Using materials and a method similar to those of the embodiment in FIG. 1, 
the surface of a substrate 1 is formed with regions which are partly 
higher or lower than the surroundings, thereby to provide stepped portions 
21c and 22c. Subsequently, an oxide-superconductor 2 is formed on the 
whole surface of the substrate 1. Thereafter, it is processed into a 
hatched pattern by Ar ion etching or by chemical etching with dilute 
nitric acid. In this way, the superconducting quantum interference device 
which includes two Josephson junctions can be realized. This device is 
cooled down to 77K by the use of liquid nitrogen, and is operated as the 
quantum interference device. On this occasion, a signal is detected 
through lead-out electrodes 31 and 32. 
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a 
superconducting device which employs an oxide-superconductor, there are 
produced the effects that the size of a Josephson junction or 
superconducting weak link can be reduced and that the density of 
integration of a circuit employing a superconducting device adapted to 
operate at a higher temperature can be heightened. 
[Embodiment 2] 
Now, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
FIG. 3 is a view showing the vertical sectional structure of the 
light-sensitive superconducting device of the present embodiment. This 
light-sensitive superconducting device has the structure in which a 
photoconductive semiconductor film 3 made of CdS and having a thickness of 
about 3 .mu.m is formed on the stepped portion 2c of a superconducting 
device having the same construction as that of the embodiment in FIG. 1. 
Means 9 for projecting light is provided over the photoconductive 
semiconductor film 3 of the light-sensitive superconducting device. As the 
light projection means 9, an optical fiber connected to an external light 
source is employed. A light signal 10 emerges from the light projection 
means 9, and falls on the photoconductive semiconductor film 3. The 
superconducting critical current of the superconducting device is 
decreased by the incidence of the light signal 10 on the photoconductive 
semiconductor film 3. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 4. In the 
example of FIG. 4, the light signal 10 was light having a wavelength of 
0.7 .mu.m. As seen from FIG. 4, the current to flow through the 
light-sensitive superconducting device, namely, the superconducting 
current to flow across the superconducting electrodes 2a and 2b exhibits 
different magnitudes in accordance with the presence and absence of the 
light signal 10. 
Next, modifications of the present embodiment will be described with 
reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 
The modification in FIG. 5 is fabricated by the same steps as those of the 
device in FIG. 3 except that a groove having a depth of about 5 .mu.m is 
provided in the surface of the MgO single-crystal substrate 1 in order to 
form stepped portions 2c and 2d. Thus, the oxide-superconductor becomes 
thinner and falls into weak-link states on the stepped portions 2c and 2d. 
A photoconductive semiconductor (CdS) film 3 having a thickness of about 
200 nm is formed on oxide-superconductor portions 2a and 2b which include 
parts corresponding to the stepped portions 2c and 2d. In operation, when 
a light signal 10 of visible light is applied from an optical fiber 9 to 
the photoconductive semiconductor (CdS) 3, a nonequilibrium state based on 
the light arises. Further, the photoconductive semiconductor (CdS) 3 
exhibits a photoconductivity owing to carriers created within the film 
thereof. Accordingly, the current-voltage characteristic of the device 
changes through the superconducting proximity effect in which the 
superconductivity of the superconductor films 2a and 2b lying in contact 
with the photoconductive semiconductor (CdS) 3 changes. 
The modification in FIG. 6 has no stepped portions (2c, 2d) in a substrate 
1. Accordingly, an oxide-superconductor 2 (2a, 2b) is partly processed 
over a length of 5-10 .mu.m so as to reduce the thickness of the part to 
1/4-1/10 of that of the other part. A weak link portion 51 is thus 
prepared, and a photoconductive semiconductor 3 is formed thereon. Also in 
this case, the superconducting critical current of the superconducting 
weak link portion 51 decreases owing to the projection of light, so that a 
switching operation can be realized. 
In the above embodiment, a material such as (La.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x).sub.2 
CuO.sub.4 or YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. can be used as the 
material of the oxide-superconductor 2. Further, Sr may well be replaced 
with Ba or Ca, and Y may well be replaced with Sc, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, 
Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Bi and Tl. 
MgO was employed as the material of the substrate 1 or subbing layer in the 
examples. Alternatively, any of ZrO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, 
yttrium stabilized zirconium, etc. is desirably used, but a material such 
as SiO.sub.2, Si or garnet may well be used. 
As the photoconductive semiconductor 3, CdS was employed in the examples. 
Alternatively, a material such as Si, InSb, Ge, GaAs, PbS or PbTe may well 
be used. 
According to the embodiment stated above, in a light-sensitive device 
employing a superconductor, the detection sensitivity of light can be 
heightened in a wider range of wavelengths. As a result, the embodiment 
brings forth the advantages that a laser, a light emitting diode or the 
like in the field of conventional semiconductor devices can be used as a 
light source, and that the function of the light-sensitive device can be 
enhanced. 
[Embodiment 3] 
Now, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 are views each showing the vertical sectional structure of a 
light-sensitive superconducting device. 
Referring to FIG. 7, a film which is about 400 nm thick and which has a 
composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. is formed on a sapphire 
substrate 1 having a thickness of about 500 .mu.m by rf-sputtering which 
employs a target having a composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.6.5. The 
film is annealed at 900.degree. C. in the air for 1 hour in order to turn 
it into an oxide-superconductor having a layered perovskite structure. 
Subsequently, the oxide-superconductor is processed by Ar ion etching or 
by wet etching with dilute nitric acid, thereby to form superconductor 
portions 20, 22, 24 and 26 which are spaced at predetermined intervals. At 
the next step, CdS which is about 20 nm thick is evaporated by resistance 
heating, thereby to form a photoconductive semiconductor 3 so as to cover 
the superconductor portions 20, 22, 24 and 26. The evaporation is carried 
out through a metal mask, and a required pattern is formed. Next, a film 
which is about 400 nm thick and whose composition is YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub. 7-.delta. is formed on the whole area of the photoconductive 
semiconductor 3 by rf-sputtering. Thereafter, this film is annealed at 
400.degree. C. in oxygen for 1 hour, and it is processed by Ar ion etching 
into oxide-superconductor portions 21, 23 and 25. The respective 
oxide-superconductor portions 21, 23 and 25 are formed over the 
interspaces of the adjacent oxide-superconductor portions 20, 22, 24 and 
26 in a manner to cover parts of the corresponding portions. In the above 
way, the light-sensitive superconducting device of the present embodiment 
is fabricated. When the light-sensitive superconducting device is put in 
and cooled by liquid nitrogen and is irradiated with light signals 101-104 
by light projection means 91-94, the current-voltage characteristics of 
this device change as illustrated in FIG. 9, and the light signals can be 
detected to deliver an output signal. FIG. 9 shows the operation of the 
light-sensitive superconducting device. In the absence of the light 
irradiation, an output voltage which is about 12 times as great as .DELTA. 
can be obtained by selecting a load as indicated in FIG. 9. On the other 
hand, in the presence of the light irradiation, the output voltage of the 
device is zero. In the example shown in FIG. 7, six Josephson junctions 
are connected in series. Therefore, letting .DELTA. denote the magnitude 
of the superconducting energy gaps between the oxide-superconductor 
portions 20, 22, 24, 26 and those 21, 23, 25, the output signal which is 
12 times greater than .DELTA. can be produced. The multiplying factor is 
determined by the number of Josephson junctions arrayed in series. 
Accordingly, the value of an output voltage can be determined by a design. 
In general, the superconducting energy gap .DELTA. varies with 
temperatures. In particular, it decreases with a temperature rise when the 
temperature becomes close to a superconducting transition temperature. 
Accordingly, also the output voltage of the light detection decreases. In 
such a case, the number of Josephson junctions to be arrayed in series is 
increased beforehand, whereby an output voltage is fixed, and a 
light-sensitive device operating at a higher temperature can be realized. 
Next, a modification of the third embodiment will be described with 
reference to FIG. 8. On a sapphire substrate 1 which is about 500 .mu.m 
thick, a film which has a composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. and which is about 500 nm thick is formed by 
rf-sputtering and using a target whose composition is YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.6.5. Thereafter, the film is annealed at 950.degree. C. in the 
atmospheric air for 2 hours, to form an oxide-superconductor having a 
layered perovskite structure. Subsequently, the oxide-superconductor is 
processed by Ar ion etching or by wet etching with dilute nitric acid, to 
form superconductor portions 20, 22, 24 and 26 which are spaced at 
predetermined intervals. Each of the intervals has a width of about 0.1 
.mu.m-0.5 .mu.m. Further, a CdS film is deposited to a thickness of about 
300 nm through a metal mask by resistance-heated evaporation, thereby to 
form a photoconductive semiconductor 3. In the present embodiment, 
Josephson junctions are formed by the end parts of the two opposing 
oxide-superconductor portions 20 and 22, 22 and 24, and 24 and 26 and the 
intervening parts of the photoconductive semiconductor. In the present 
embodiment, the device includes the three Josephson junctions connected in 
series. Accordingly, an output voltage which is about 6 times as great as 
the magnitude of a superconducting energy gap .DELTA. can be produced by 
irradiation with a light signal 10. 
Although, in the above examples, YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. was 
used as the oxide-superconductor, it may well be replaced with (La.sub.x 
Sr.sub.1-x).sub.2 CuO.sub.4 as indicated in the second embodiment stated 
before. Besides, any of Si, GaAs, Ge, etc. may well be used as the 
material of the photoconductive semiconductor as also indicated in the 
second embodiment. 
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a 
light-sensitive device employing an oxide-superconductor, an output signal 
can be enlarged, and the extent of the enlargement can be changed by a 
design beforehand. Therefore, the articles of the device can be 
manufactured with uniform magnitudes of output signals, which makes it 
possible to heighten the available percentage of the articles in 
fabrication. Moreover, since the output voltage of the device becomes 
greater, the connections thereof with various devices are facilitated. 
Furthermore, even when the device is operated at a temperature close to 
the critical temperature of the superconductor, the output voltage can be 
rendered sufficiently great, so that the device can be used at a higher 
temperature than in the case of the prior art, and the cooling thereof is 
facilitated. 
[Embodiment 4] 
Now, modifications of Embodiments 2 and 3 will be described in detail. 
The first modification will be detailed with reference to FIG. 10. The 
surface of a substrate 1 which is made of an MgO single crystal having the 
(001)-plane orientation is provided with a protrusion 4 by mechanical 
polish. The height of the protrusion 4 is set at about 4 .mu.m. This value 
may be selected within a range of about 1-10 times, more desirably about 
1-3 times, the thickness of a weak link portion 5 in an 
oxide-superconductor 2 which is subsequently formed. The film of the 
oxide-superconductor 2 having a thickness of about 2 .mu.m is formed by 
rf-sputtering from a target with a composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. and then subjecting the oxide-superconductor to annealing 
at 950.degree. C. for 2 hours. 
The superconducting weak link portion 5 is thus formed on the protrusion 4, 
and it is overlaid with a photoconductive semiconductor 3 which is made of 
CdS and which is about 3 .mu.m thick. The thickness of the photoconductive 
semiconductor 3 was set at 3 .mu.m in this example. However, the thickness 
may well be less, and it is desirable for raising the operating speed of 
the device that the thickness falls within a range of 0.1-1 .mu.m. 
Further, the photoconductive semiconductor 3 may well be larger than the 
top surface of the protrusion 4 in a manner to completely cover this top 
surface, as illustrated in FIG. 11. 
Next, the second modification will be described with reference to FIG. 12. 
The present modification is such that the light-sensitive superconducting 
devices as shown in FIG. 10 are connected in series. The fabrication of 
the device is substantially the same as that of the first modification, 
but a plurality of protrusions 4 need to be formed at the surface of a 
substrate 1. 
Next, the third modification will be described with reference to FIG. 13. A 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS is formed with a protrusion 4 
by reactive ion etching, and an oxide-superconductor 2 having a 
composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. is formed on the 
surface of the photoconductive semiconductor. The height of the protrusion 
4 should desirably be selected at 0.01-1 times the thickness of the film 
of the oxide-superconductor, but it may well be greater. Subsequently, the 
surface of the oxide-superconductor is flattened by an etching process 
based on reactive ion etching, thereby to form a weak link portion 5. 
Next, the resulting structure is subjected to annealing at 950.degree. C. 
for 2 hours. Then, a light-sensitive device is finished up. 
Next, the fourth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 14. 
The present modification is such that the light-sensitive superconducting 
devices as shown in FIG. 13 are connected in series. The fabrication of 
the device is substantially the same as that of the modification in FIG. 
13, but a plurality of protrusions 4 need to be formed. 
Next, the fifth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 15. 
An oxide-superconductor 2 is not formed with the weak link portion as 
shown in the modification of FIG. 11. Two superconducting electrodes are 
spaced with a protrusion 4 held therebetween, and a superconducting weak 
link portion is constructed through a photoconductive semiconductor 3. 
It is desirable that the width of the protrusion 4 lies within a range of 
0.1-1.0 .mu.m. A substrate 1 made of MgO is provided with the protrusion 4 
having a height of 1 .mu.m by reactive ion etching, and the 
oxide-superconductor portions 2 being 1 .mu.m thick and having a 
composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. is provided on both the 
sides of the protrusion. Subsequently, the resulting structure is annealed 
at 950.degree. C. in an oxygen atmosphere for 2 hours. Thereafter, the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS and having a thickness of 2 
.mu.m is formed so as to cover the whole surface of the protrusion 4 and 
parts of the oxide-superconductor portions. Then, a light-sensitive device 
is finished up. 
Next, the sixth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 16. 
The present modification is such that the light-sensitive superconducting 
devices as shown in FIG. 15 are connected in series. The fabrication of 
the device is substantially the same as that of the fifth modification, 
but a plurality of protrusions 4 need to be formed at the surface of a 
substrate 1. 
Next, the seventh modification will be described with reference to FIG. 17. 
This device is not formed with the weak link portion which is prepared by 
thinning a part of the oxide-superconductor 2 as shown in the modification 
of FIG. 13, and the oxide-superconductor portions 2 are spaced through a 
protrusion 4 made of a photoconductive semiconductor 3. The 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS is processed by reactive ion 
etching, to form the protrusion 4 whose height is 1 .mu.m and whose width 
is selected from within a range of 0.1-1.0 .mu.m. Subsequently, the 
oxide-superconductor portions 2 which are 1 .mu.m thick and whose 
composition is YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. are provided on both 
the sides of the protrusion 4, and are annealed at 950.degree. C. in an 
oxygen atmosphere for 2 hours. Then, the light-sensitive device is 
finished up. 
Next, the eighth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 18. 
The present modification is such that the light-sensitive superconducting 
devices as shown in FIG. 17 are connected in series. The fabrication of 
the device is substantially the same as that of the modification in FIG. 
17, but a plurality of protrusions 4 need to be formed. 
Next, the ninth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 19. 
This device is such the device shown in the modification of FIG. 10 is 
additionally provided with a control electrode 7 for exerting an electric 
field effect. A voltage is applied to the control electrode 7 so as to 
subject the photoconductive semiconductor 3 to a fixed amount of carrier 
change beforehand, whereby the great change of a superconducting current 
can be attained in response to a minute signal. That is, the device of the 
present modification utilizes both the field effect and a photoelectric 
effect and has a higher gain to realize the detection of high sensitivity 
and high speed. In addition to the method of fabricating the device in the 
modification of FIG. 10, an insulator film 6 which is made of SiO.sub.2 
and which is 100 nm thick is formed on the surface of the photoconductive 
semiconductor 3 by CVD. Further, the control electrode 7 which is made of 
Nb and which is 500 nm thick is formed by dc magnetron sputtering. When 
this device is irradiated with light, a superconducting weak link type 
light-sensitive device whose superconducting current is changed by the 
incident light can be realized. When light having a wavelength of 0.7 
.mu.m is caused to enter this light-sensitive superconducting device, the 
superconducting current of the device decreases, and the device can effect 
a switching operation. 
Next, the tenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 20. 
The present modification is such that the light-sensitive superconducting 
devices as shown in FIG. 19 are connected in series. It can enlarge an 
output signal based on the projection of light. Accordingly, it has the 
advantage that the light detection sensitivity thereof can be enhanced. 
The fabrication of the device can be readily realized by a method which is 
substantially the same as that of the modification in FIG. 19. 
Next, the eleventh modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
21. This device is such that the device in FIG. 13 is additionally 
provided with a control electrode 7 for exerting an electric field effect. 
Besides the method of fabricating the device in FIG. 13, the control 
electrode 7 which is made of Nb and which is covered with an insulator 
film 6 made of SiO.sub.2 is provided in the rear surface of the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3. 
An example was fabricated as follows: On a substrate 1, an insulator film 8 
made of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and being about 200 nm thick was formed by 
rf-sputtering. Subsequently, a film made of Nb and being about 200 nm 
thick was formed by dc magnetron sputtering and was processed by reactive 
ion etching and using a photoresist as a mask, whereby a control electrode 
7 was provided. Further, a gate insulator film 6 made of SiO.sub.2 and 
having a thickness of 40 nm was formed by sputtering. Thenceforth, the 
same manufacturing steps as those of the device shown in FIG. 13 were 
carried out. Then the light-sensitive superconducting device of the 
present embodiment could be realized. 
When this device is irradiated with light, a superconducting weak link type 
light-sensitive device whose superconducting current is changed by the 
incident light can be realized. When light having a wavelength of 0.7 
.mu.m is caused to enter this light-sensitive superconducting device, the 
superconducting current of the device decreases, and the device can 
perform a switching operation. 
Next, the twelfth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 22. 
The present modification is such that the light-sensitive superconducting 
devices as shown in FIG. 21 are connected in series. The fabrication of 
the device of the present modification can be readily realized by 
substantially the same method as in the modification of FIG. 21. 
Next, the thirteenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
23. This device is such that the device in FIG. 15 is additionally 
provided with a control electrode 7 for exerting an electric field effect. 
Besides the method of fabricating the device in FIG. 15, an insulator film 
6 made of SiO.sub.2 and being 100 nm thick is formed on the surface of the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 by CVD. Further, the control electrode 7 
made of Nb and being 500 nm thick is formed by dc magnetron sputtering. 
Next, the fourteenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
24. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 23 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as in the modification of FIG. 23. 
Next, the fifteenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
25. This device is such that the device in FIG. 17 is additionally 
provided with a control electrode 7 for exerting an electric field effect. 
In addition to the method of fabricating the device in FIG. 17, an 
insulator film 6 made of SiO.sub.2 and being 100 nm thick is formed on the 
top surface of the protrusion 4 of the photoconductive semiconductor 3 by 
CVD. Further, the control electrode 7 made of Nb and being 500 nm thick is 
formed by dc magnetron sputtering. 
Next, the sixteenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
26. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 25 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as in the modification of FIG. 25. 
The seventeenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 27. 
On a substrate 1 which is made of an MgO single crystal having the (001) 
orientation, a photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of Si and having a 
thickness of 500 nm is formed by vacuum evaporation. This photoconductive 
semiconductor is processed by chemical etching which employs a photoresist 
as a mask. Thereafter, an oxide-superconductor 2 having a composition of 
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. and being about 700 nm thick is formed 
by sputtering which employs Ar gas. Subsequently, at least a part of the 
oxide-superconductor 2 overlying a part or the whole of the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 is removed by the ion beam of argon, 
whereby a weak link portion 5 is formed. In the above way, the device of 
the present invention can be realized. When light is projected on the weak 
link portion 5 of the device, the superconducting current of the device 
changes to afford a switching operation. 
Next, the eighteenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
28. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 27 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as in the modification of FIG. 27. Since, however, the 
plurality of devices are connected in series, a plurality of patterns of 
the photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS need to be arrayed and 
formed. 
The nineteenth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 29. On 
a substrate 1 which is made of an MgO single crystal having the (001) 
orientation, a photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of Si and having a 
thickness of 300 nm is formed by vacuum evaporation. This photoconductive 
semiconductor is processed by chemical etching which employs a photoresist 
as a mask. Thereafter, an oxide-superconductor 2 having a composition of 
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. and being about 900 nm thick is formed 
by sputtering which employs Ar gas. Subsequently, at least a part of the 
oxide-superconductor 2 overlying a part or the whole of the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 is removed with the ion beam of argon by 
employing as a mask a resist pattern which has been formed using an 
electron beam resist and electron beam lithography. In the above way, the 
device can be realized. When light is projected on the region of the 
device including the photoconductive semiconductor 3, the superconducting 
current of the device changes to afford a switching operation. The present 
modification is characterized in that the photoconductive semiconductor 3 
is located on the side of the oxide-superconductor 2 closer to the 
substrate 1. In this case, there is the advantage that the boundary of the 
photoconductive semiconductor on the oxide-superconductor side is free 
from contamination etc. and can therefore establish an electrically 
favorable connection with ease. 
Next, the twentieth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
30. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 29 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as in the modification of FIG. 29. Since, however, the 
plurality of devices are connected in series, a plurality of patterns of 
the photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS need to be arrayed and 
formed. 
The twenty-first modification will be described with reference to FIG. 31. 
The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 27. An Si 
single-crystal substrate is employed as the substrate 1, and the control 
electrode 7 is formed by the diffusion of phosphorus. The depth of the 
diffusion is about 300 nm. Subsequently, the front surface of the 
substrate 1 is oxidized at 950.degree. C. in pure oxygen, thereby to form 
a gate insulator film 6. The thickness of the gate insulator film is about 
60 nm. Thenceforth, a fabricating method similar to that of the 
modification in FIG. 27 may be employed. By applying a voltage to the 
control electrode 7, switching which utilizes both a light signal and a 
voltage signal can be realized. 
Next, the twenty-second modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 32. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices in FIG. 31 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 31. Since, however, the 
plurality of devices are connected in series, the control electrodes 7 and 
the gate insulator film portions 6 need to be arrayed and formed. It is 
needless to say that, as the material of the substrate 1, Si may well be 
replaced with a material such as Ge, GaAs, InAs, InP, GaSb or GaP. 
The twenty-third modification will be described with reference to FIG. 33. 
The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 29. An Si 
single-crystal substrate is employed as the substrate 1, and the control 
electrode 7 is formed by the diffusion of phosphorus. The depth of the 
diffusion is about 300 nm. Subsequently, the front surface of the 
substrate 1 is oxidized at 950.degree. C. in pure oxygen, thereby to form 
a gate insulator film 6. The thickness of the gate insulator film is about 
60 nm. Thenceforth, a fabricating method similar to that of the 
modification in FIG. 29 may be employed. By applying a voltage to the 
control electrode 7, switching which utilizes both a light signal and a 
voltage signal can be realized. 
Next, the twenty-fourth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 34. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 33 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 33. Since, however, the 
plurality of devices are connected in series, the control electrodes 7 and 
the gate insulator film portions 6 need to be arrayed and formed. 
Next, the twenty-fifth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 35. In the present modification, oxide-superconductor portions 2 and 
inter-layer insulator film portions 8 are alternately stacked, and a 
photoconductive semiconductor film 3 is formed on the oblique section of 
the stacked structure. An MgO single crystal having the (001) orientation 
is employed for a substrate 1. A film having a composition of YBa.sub.2 
Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. and being about 200 nm thick is employed as the 
oxide-superconductor portion 2, while a film of MgO having a thickness of 
about 100 nm and formed by sputtering is employed as the inter-layer 
insulator film portion 8. The superconductor portions and the insulator 
film portions are stacked and formed, and are thereafter processed into 
the structure shown in FIG. 35 by etching with Ar ions. Lastly, the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS and having a thickness of 
about 300 nm is formed by evaporation. Then, the device is finished up. 
In this case, the two oxide-superconductor portions 2 form a 
superconducting weak link portion through the photoconductive 
semiconductor film 3. When light is projected on the weak link portion 
from the side of the photoconductive semiconductor 3, a switching 
operation can be realized. 
Next, the twenty-sixth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 36. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting device as shown in FIG. 35 are connected in series. The 
device can enlarge an output signal based on the projection of light. 
Accordingly, it has the advantage that the sensitivity of detection of the 
light can be enhanced. The fabrication of the device can be readily 
realized by substantially the same method as that of the modification in 
FIG. 35. 
The twenty-seventh modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
37. The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 
7 is added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 35. After 
the superconducting device in the modification of FIG. 35 has been formed, 
a gate insulator film 8 made of SiO.sub.2 having a thickness of about 60 
nm thick and the gate electrode 7 made of an Al evaporated film having a 
thickness of about 300 nm are formed by sputtering. Switching which 
utilizes both a light signal and a voltage signal can be realized by 
applying a voltage to the control electrode 7. 
Next, the twenty-eighth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 38. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 37 are connected in parallel. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 37. 
The twenty-ninth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 39. 
On a substrate as which a photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of an Si 
single crystal is employed, an oxide-superconductor 2 having a composition 
of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 I.sub.7-.delta. and being about 300 nm thick is 
formed by sputtering. Subsequently, a part of the oxide-superconductor 2 
is removed by Ar-ion etching in which a photoresist is used for a mask, 
whereby a weak link portion 5 is formed. When the thickness of the weak 
link portion 5 is set at about 50 nm, light may well be projected from the 
upper surface of the device. However, the device is operated even by the 
projection of light from the lower surface of the substrate. 
The thirtieth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 40. The 
present modification corresponds to a case where, in the modification of 
FIG. 39, the oxide-superconductor 2 is removed over a predetermined full 
width so as to be separated into two superconducting electrodes. The 
fabrication of the device may be similar to that of the modification in 
FIG. 39. The two oxide-superconductor portions 2 are coupled through the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3, and the coupling part forms a 
superconducting weak link. In the present modification, the 
photoconductive semiconductor itself is used as the substrate, and light 
can be projected from the lower surface of the substrate. Therefore, a 
higher density of integration is possible. 
It is favorable for enhancing the sensitivity of a device that the devices 
shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 are connected in series with each other and are 
operated. 
The thirty-first modification will be described with reference to FIG. 41. 
The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 39. An Si 
single-crystal substrate is employed as a substrate 1, and the control 
electrode 7 is formed by the diffusion of phosphorus. The depth of the 
diffusion is about 300 nm. Subsequently, the front surface of the 
substrate 1 is oxidized at 950.degree. C. in pure oxygen so as to form a 
gate insulator film 6. The thickness of the gate insulator film is about 
60 nm. Further, the photoconductive semiconductor layer 3 made of Si and 
having a thickness of about 50 nm is formed by CVD (chemical vapor 
deposition). Thenceforth, a fabricating method similar to that of the 
modification in FIG. 39 may be employed. Switching which utilizes both a 
light signal and a voltage signal can be realized by applying a voltage to 
the control electrode 7. 
The thirty-second modification will be described with reference to FIG. 42. 
The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 40. An Si 
single-crystal substrate is employed as a substrate 1, and the control 
electrode 7 is formed by the diffusion of phosphorus. The depth of the 
diffusion is about 300 nm. Subsequently, the front surface of the 
substrate 1 is oxidized at 950.degree. C. in pure oxygen so as to form a 
gate insulator film 6. The thickness of the gate insulator film is about 
60 nm. Further, the photoconductive semiconductor layer 3 made of Si and 
having a thickness of about 50 nm is formed by chemical vapor deposition. 
Thenceforth, a fabricating method similar to that of the modification in 
FIG. 40 may be employed. Switching which utilizes both a light signal and 
a voltage signal can be realized by applying a voltage to the control 
electrode 7. 
The thirty-third modification will be described with reference to FIG. 43. 
On an MgO single-crystal substrate 1 having the (001) orientation, an 
oxide-superconductor 2 whose composition is YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. is formed by sputtering. The thickness of the 
oxide-superconductor is about 200 nm. Subsequently, a film of CdS having a 
thickness of about 100 nm is formed as a photoconductive semiconductor 3 
by vacuum evaporation. An oxide-superconductor 2 whose composition is 
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. and which is about 300 nm thick is 
formed again. Then, a light-sensitive superconducting device can be 
realized. By the way, metal masks are used for all the steps of forming 
patterns. 
Next, the thirty-fourth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 44. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 43 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 43. 
The thirty-fifth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 45. 
The present modification has the structure in which the photoconductive 
thin film 3 is held between the portions of the oxide-superconductor 2 
similarly to the modification in FIG. 43, but it is characterized in that 
a stepped portion is formed by providing an inter-layer insulator film 8 
on the substrate 1 beforehand and that the height of a stepped portion 
generated by the first portion of the oxide-superconductor 2 is relieved 
by utilizing the stepped portion of the insulator film. As the material of 
the inter-layer insulator film 8, any of SiO.sub.2, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, MgO, 
etc. can be employed, but these are not restrictive. The other fabricating 
steps may be similar to those of the modification in FIG. 43. 
Next, the thirty-sixth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 46. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 45 are connected in series. It 
can enlarge an output signal based on the projection of light. 
Accordingly, it has the advantage that the light detection sensitivity 
thereof can be readily realized by substantially the same method as that 
of the modification in FIG. 45. 
Next, the thirty-seventh modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 47. At the front surface of an MgO single-crystal substrate 1 having 
the (001) orientation, a stepped portion whose height is about 200 nm is 
formed by mechanical polish. Subsequently, an oxide-superconductor 2 
having a composition of YB.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. and being about 
300 nm thick is formed. A weak link 5 is formed in correspondence with the 
stepped portion. The height of the stepped portion should desirably be 
similar to that in the modification of FIG. 10. Lastly, a photoconductive 
semiconductor 3 made of CdS and having a thickness of about 500 nm is 
formed by vacuum evaporation. In the above way, the superconducting device 
of the present invention can be realized. 
Next, the thirty-eighth modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 48. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 47 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 47. 
The thirty-ninth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 49. 
The present modification basically has the same structure as that of the 
device illustrated as the modification in FIG. 48, but it consists in that 
the photoconductive semiconductor 3 of two adjacent elements of the device 
is kept joined without being separated. Even with such a construction, the 
object of the present invention can be satisfactorily achieved. Since 
microfabrication is dispensed with in this way, the available percentage 
of the articles of the device rises, and the manufacturing process of the 
device can be simplified. In FIG. 49, the photoconductive semiconductor 3 
may be formed so as to cover at least the weak link portions 5 which are 
formed in correspondence with the stepped portions of the substrate 1. 
The fortieth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 50. On a 
substrate 1 which is made of an MgO single crystal having the (001) 
orientation, a photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of CdS and having a 
thickness of 300 nm is formed by vacuum evaporation. Subsequently, an 
oxide-superconductor 2 having a composition of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. and being about 400 nm thick is formed by sputtering with 
Ar gas. In this case, the thickness of the film of the photoconductive 
semiconductor 3 should desirably have a value similar to the height of the 
stepped portion in the modification of FIG. 10, and also the thickness of 
the film of the oxide-superconductor 2 is selected according to the same 
criterion. Thus, a weak link 5 can be formed at the stepped part of the 
oxide-superconductor. It is needless to say that, as the material of the 
substrate 1, MgO may be replaced with the same material as the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3, and that the substrate 1 and the 
photoconductive semiconductor may be formed as being unitary. 
Next, the forty-first modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
51. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 50 are connected in series. It 
can enlarge an output signal based on the projection of light. 
Accordingly, it has the advantage that the light detection sensitivity of 
the device can be enhanced. The fabrication of the device can be readily 
realized by substantially the same method as that of the modification in 
FIG. 50. 
The forty-second modification will be described with reference to FIG. 52. 
A part of a photoconductive semiconductor 3 made of an Si single crystal 
is removed by reactive ion etching, thereby to form a stepped portion 
having a height of about 200 nm. The height of the stepped portion should 
desirably be substantially equal to or less than the thickness of an 
oxide-superconductor 2 which is to be subsequently formed, but the device 
is usable even when the height lies within a range of about 1/2-1/3 of the 
thickness. As the oxide-superconductor 2, YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. is formed to a thickness of about 190 nm by sputtering. 
In the above way, the device of the present invention can be formed. The 
present modification is characterized by spacing two superconducting 
electrodes by means of the stepped portion, and utilizing a 
superconducting weak link in which the two superconductor portions are 
coupled through the photoconductive semiconductor. 
Next, the forty-third modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
53. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 52 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 52. Since, however, the 
plurality of devices are connected in series, a plurality of stepped 
portions need to be formed. 
The forty-fourth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 54. 
A part of a substrate 1 made of an Si single crystal is removed by 
mechanical polish, thereby to form a stepped portion having a height of 
about 200 nm. The height of the stepped portion should desirably be 
substantially equal to or less than the thickness of an 
oxide-superconductor 2 which is to be subsequently formed, but the device 
is usable even when the height lies within a range of about 1/2-1/3 of the 
thickness. As the oxide-superconductor 2, YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 
O.sub.7-.delta. is formed to a thickness of about 190 nm by sputtering. 
Lastly, an evaporated film made of CdS and having a thickness of about 400 
nm is formed as a photoconductive semiconductor 3. In the above way, the 
device of the present invention can be formed. The present modification is 
characterized by spacing two superconducting electrodes by means of the 
stepped portion, and utilizing a superconducting weak link in which the 
two superconductor portions are coupled through the photoconductive 
semiconductor. In the present modification, the material of a 
photoconductive semiconductor may well be used as the substrate 1. In this 
case, light can be projected from both the upper and lower surfaces of the 
device. 
Next, the forth forty-fifth modification will be described with reference 
to FIG. 55. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 54 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 54. Since, however, the 
plurality of devices are connected in series, a plurality of stepped 
portions need to be formed. 
The forty-sixth modifications will be described with reference to FIG. 56. 
The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 52. An 
Si-single-crystal substrate is employed as a substrate 1, and the control 
electrode 7 is formed by the diffusion of phosphorus. The depth of the 
diffusion is about 300 nm. Subsequently, the front surface of the 
substrate 1 is oxidized at 950.degree. C. in pure oxygen so as to form a 
gate insulator film 6. The thickness of the gate insulator film is about 
60 nm. Thenceforth, a fabricating method similar to that of the 
modification in FIG. 52 may be employed. Switching which utilizes both a 
light signal and a voltage signal can be realized by applying a voltage to 
the control electrode 7. 
Next, the forty-seventh modification will be described with reference to 
FIG. 57. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 56 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 56. 
The forty-eighth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 58. 
The present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 50. An Si 
single-crystal substrate is employed as the substrate 1, and the control 
electrode 7 is formed by the diffusion of phosphorus. The depth of the 
diffusion is about 300 nm. Subsequently, the front surface of the 
substrate 1 is oxidized at 950.degree. C. in pure oxygen so as to form a 
gate insulator film 6. The thickness of the gate insulator film is about 
60 nm. Thenceforth, a fabricating method similar to that of the 
modification in FIG. 50 may be employed. Switching which utilizes both a 
light signal and a voltage signal can be realized by applying a voltage to 
the control electrode 7. It is needless to say that the device may well be 
constructed using the same material for the substrate 1 and the 
photoconductive semiconductor 3. 
Next, the forty-ninth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
59. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 58 are connected in series. The 
fabrication of the device can be readily realized by substantially the 
same method as that of the modification in FIG. 58. 
The fiftieth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 60. The 
present modification has a structure in which a control electrode 7 is 
added to the light-sensitive superconducting device in FIG. 47. 
Next, the fifty-first modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
61. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 60 are connected in series. 
The fifty-second modification will be described with reference to FIG. 62. 
Here, the film of an oxide-superconductor 2 is narrowed to form a 
superconducting weak link. The oxide-superconductor 2 is about 300 nm 
thick, and is made of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta.. It is formed by 
sputtering on a substrate 1 made of sapphire. By processing the 
oxide-superconductor with an Ar ion beam, the weak link portion 5 is set 
at a width of 1 .mu.m and a thickness of about 1 .mu.m. The length of the 
weak link portion should desirably be a still less value, about 0.1 
.mu.m-about 2.0 .mu.m, but it may of course be still greater. The width is 
recommended to be about 0.5-2 .mu.m, but it may well be any other value. 
On the part of the oxide-superconductor including the weak link portion 5, 
a CdS film having a thickness of about 300 nm is evaporated as a 
photoconductive semiconductor 3. In the above way, the device of the 
present invention can be realized. When the technique of narrowing the 
superconductor 2 as illustrated in FIG. 62 is conjointly applied to the 
weak link portion of each of the modifications shown in FIGS. 11-61, 
device characteristics can be controlled with ease. 
Next, the fifty-third modification will be described with reference to FIG. 
63. The present modification is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 62 are connected in series. 
The fifty-fourth modification will be described with reference to FIG. 64. 
The present modification consists in that the photoconductive 
semiconductor 3 disposed over the oxide-superconductor 2 in the 
modification of FIG. 62 is provided under the oxide-superconductor. The 
device can be fabricated substantially similarly to the modification in 
FIG. 62. The modifications in FIG. 62 and FIG. 64 have the device 
structures flattened, and therefore have the advantage that the processing 
is easy, so the available percentage of the articles of each device can be 
raised. 
The fifty-fifth modification in FIG. 65 is such that the light-sensitive 
superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 64 are connected in series. 
It is to be understood that both the end electrodes of an assembly in which 
two or more of the devices in the various modifications described above 
are connected in series may be joined to construct a superconducting 
quantum interference device, which can be switched by the projection of 
light. In this case, if the number of the series devices is two, the 
assembly actually fulfills the same function as that of the parallel 
arrangement of the two devices. Using a plurality of such assemblies, the 
parallel arrangement of four or more devices can be readily constructed. 
In the modifications stated above, a material such as (La.sub.1-x 
Sr.sub.x).sub.2 CuO.sub.4 or YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. can be 
used as the material of the oxide-superconductor 2. It is needless to say 
that Sr may well be replaced with Ba or Ca, while Y may well be replaced 
with one or more elements elected from the group consisting of Sc, La, Ce, 
Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Bi and Tl. It is also 
possible to use a material in which fluorine is added to the 
aforementioned material, or a material in which the oxygen of the 
aforementioned material is partly or wholly substituted by fluorine. 
The substrate 1 or subbing material should desirably be any of ZrO.sub.2, 
MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SrTiO.sub.3, yttrium stabilized zirconium or 
zirconia, etc., but it may well be a material such as SiO.sub.2, Si, 
garnet or sapphire. 
It is needless to say that, as the photoconductive semiconductor 3, a 
material such as Si, InSb, Ge, GaAs, InAs, InP, GaSb, GaP, PbS or PbTe may 
well be employed instead of CdS. 
As described above, according to the modifications, in a light-sensitive 
device which employs a superconductor, the detection sensivity of the 
device for light can be heightened in a wider range of wavelengths. As a 
result, the modifications bring forth the advantages that a laser, a light 
emitting diode or the like in the field of conventional semiconductor 
technology can be used as a light source, and that the device can be 
functionally enhanced. 
[Embodiment 5] 
Now, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in 
detail. First, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be 
elucidated with reference to FIG. 66. On a single-crystal substrate 1 made 
of MgO, an oxide having a composition of (La.sub.0.9 Sr.sub.0.1) or 
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. and being about 1 .mu.m thick is 
deposited by sputtering. The oxide is annealed at 900.degree. C. in oxygen 
for about 3 hours, thereby to form an oxide-superconductor material having 
a crystalline structure of the perovskite type. A part of the 
oxide-superconductor material is heated in vacuum by a laser beam, thereby 
to form a semiconductor portion 3 having a large number of oxygen defects 
and superconducting electrodes 2a and 2b. In the above way, the 
light-sensitive superconducting device of the present invention can be 
realized. 
When a laser beam having a wavelength of about 1.3 .mu.m was projected on 
the semiconductor portion 3 of an example of the light-sensitive 
superconducting device, the value of a superconducting current flowing 
across the superconducting electrodes 2a and 2b changed, and the presence 
or intensity of the incident light could be detected. The spacing between 
the two superconducting electrodes 2a and 2b should desirably be selected 
at about 1-100 nm. Even with a greater spacing, however, the value of a 
normal-conducting current flowing across the superconducting electrodes 2a 
and 2b is changed by light or an electromagnetic wave, and hence, the 
device can of course be used for the detection of the presence or 
intensity thereof. In the device, the coefficients of thermal expansion of 
the materials of the semiconductor portion 3 and the superconducting 
electrodes 2a, 2b are substantially equal. Therefore, the example was free 
from the degradations of the characteristics of the device attributed to a 
thermal cycle and a thermal shock arising in the operation of cooling the 
device, etc., and the operation thereof was stable. 
Next, a modification to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will 
be described with reference to FIG. 67. The materials and construction of 
the device are substantially the same as those of the embodiment in FIG. 
66. In the present modification, however, the semiconductor portion 3 does 
not reach the substrate 1, but a weak link portion 5 made of the 
oxide-superconductor is left under the semiconductor portion 3. Such a 
structure can be readily realized by a measure in which, at the step of 
forming the semiconductor portion 3, the energy of the laser beam is 
adjusted to make smaller a region where the oxygen defects appear. In the 
present modification, quasiparticles created by light or an 
electromagnetic wave entering the semiconductor portion 3 change the value 
of a superconducting current which flows through the weak link portion 5. 
In the above two examples, the features concerning the vertical sectional 
structures of the devices have been chiefly described. A planar structure 
will be described with reference to FIG. 68. The structure of a vertical 
section taken along line A--A' in FIG. 68 may well be the same as the 
structure of the example of the present invention in FIG. 66 or FIG. 67. 
In the present modification, parts of superconducting electrodes 2a and 2b 
are narrowed. Thus, a region which functions as a superconducting weak 
link when irradiated with light or an electromagnetic wave can be limited. 
Another advantage is that, since the diffusion of quasiparticles is easy 
even after stopping the irradiation with the light or the electromagnetic 
wave, the operation of the device becomes faster. Although FIG. 68 shows 
the example in which the superconducting electrodes 2a and 2b are partly 
narrowed, it is needless to say that quite the same effects are achieved 
even in case of narrowing a part or the whole of the semiconductor portion 
3 or the weak link portion 5. 
Another modification to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will 
be described with reference to FIG. 69. The present modification is such 
that the light-sensitive superconducting devices as shown in FIG. 66 or 
FIG. 68 are connected in series, thereby to enlarge an output in the case 
of the projection of the light or the electromagnetic wave. This brings 
forth the advantage that the efficiency of the detection can be raised. 
Another modification to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will 
be described with reference to FIG. 70. The present modification has a 
structure in which, on the front surface of a device having the same 
structure as that of the embodiment in FIG. 66, an insulator film 6 and a 
control electrode 7 are provided so as to cover, at least, the front 
surface of the semiconductor portion 3. With the device illustrated in the 
present modification, the operation thereof can be controlled, not only by 
the incidence of light or an electromagnetic wave, but also by an electric 
field effect based on a voltage applied to the control electrode 7. 
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in an 
electromagnetic wave-sensitive device which employs a superconductor and a 
semiconductor, the degradations of the superconductor material and the 
semiconductor material attributed to a thermal cycle or shock can be 
prevented. Therefore, the embodiment has the effect that a light-sensitive 
superconducting device whose characteristics vary little with time and 
whose operation is stable can be realized. 
In the foregoing embodiments, (La.sub.0.9 Sr.sub.0.1).sub.2 CuO.sub.4 or 
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-.delta. was employed as the superconducting 
material. In this material, Y may well be substituted by any of La, Yb, 
Lu, Tm, Dy, Sc, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, Bi,Tl etc., and 
similar effects can be attained. Such examples are listed in Table 1: 
TABLE 1 
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Semiconductor (Normal- 
conductor) Superconductor 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
EuBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
EuBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
EuSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
EuSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
HoBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
HoBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
HoSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
HoSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
GdBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
GdBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
GdSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
GdSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
YbBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
YbBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
YbSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
YbSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
TbBa.sub. 2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
TbBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
TbSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
TbSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
NdCa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
NdCa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
NdSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
NdSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
SmBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
SmBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
SmSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
y &gt; 0.5 
SmSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-y 
0 &lt; y &lt; 0.5 
Ba.sub.2x La.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x La.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Sr.sub.2x La.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Sr.sub.2x La.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Ca.sub.2x La.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Ca.sub.2x La.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x Y.sub. 2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x Y.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Sr.sub.2x Y.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Sr.sub.2x Y.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x Eu.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x Eu.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Sr.sub.2x Eu.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Sr.sub.2x Eu.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x Eu.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x &gt; 0.05 
Ba.sub.2x Eu.sub.2(1-x) CuO.sub.4(1-y) 
x = 0.05 
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