Superconducting films in microwave microelectronics (Review)

The properties of superconducting microstrip lines and of devices based on such lines are examined. An analysis is made of the characteristics of superconducting microwave filters having low losses in the passband and high rectangularity of the amplitude-frequency response characteristics. The possibility of constructing control and limiting elements on the basis of superconducting films is investigated. Consideration is given to the parameters of broadband and selective microwave switches and limiters which operate by switching the film from the superconducting state to the normal one and vice versa. Attention is also given to prospects for the use of Josephson elements for the construction of low-noise detectors, mixers, and amplifiers in the microwave range.