A Cryogenic Oscillator

Two superconducting oscillators have been reported in the patent literature. F. E. Steele* of the Northrup Aircraft Corporation developed an oscillator based on a superconducting tank circuit. The device is characterized by high stability and low-energy outputs. Another oscillator was developed by E. A. Ericsson
^†
of Sweden. This device also uses a tuned circuit but it is somewhat more complicated in design. The oscillator described in this communication, however, is much simpler in design than either of these and is based on a relaxation process in the transition between the superconducting and conducting phases of a Pb film.