Patent ID: 8822979

Claim:
A vortex diode, comprising: a substrate; and a superconducting stripline arranged thereon, wherein the stripline has a plurality of perforations arranged in a plurality of non-straight rows and embodying a perforation grid, wherein each one row of said plurality of non-straight rows extends from one edge to an opposite edge of the stripline; wherein for said each one row, the perforations are arranged along a path from a first perforation nearest said one edge to a second perforation at a first traversal of said opposite edge, said second perforation being a nearest perforation to said opposite edge among perforations in said one row; wherein said path has a first reversal in direction formed by at least a third, fourth, and fifth perforation sequentially arranged along said path of said one row wherein the fourth perforation is closer to the opposite edge than the third perforation, and the fifth perforation is farther from the opposite edge than the fourth perforation; wherein said path has a second reversal in direction formed by at least a sixth, seventh, and eighth perforation sequentially arranged along said path of said one row wherein the seventh perforation is closer to the opposite edge than the sixth perforation, and the eighth perforation is farther from the opposite edge than the seventh perforation; and wherein said perforations of said perforation grid define probable locations for nucleation of vortices of the vortex diode, and wherein for a given row said path defines a path of guided motion of said vortices.