Patent ID: 7471169

Claim:
An arrangement for a gigahertz or terahertz frequency oscillator comprising: a length of a continuous, superconductor material, at least part of said superconductor material being maintained in a first state wherein the at least part of said superconductor material is cooled under the critical temperature for superconductivity but wherein the at least part of said superconductor material is not in a superconducting state, and the at least part of said superconductor material being in a state of negative differential conductivity, an electric energy source and oscillation means coupled to said at least part of said superconductor material and adapted for generating gigahertz or terahertz frequency electric oscillations in at least part of said superconductor material, wherein the at least part of said continuous, superconductor material is a nanostructured or microstructured superconductor material.