Superconducting Interconnects

For digital electronic computer interconnection fabrics, the advent of superconductivity at T sub c > 90K may hold promise for providing a high performance interconnection fabric for the intermediate interconnection levels characteristic of chip-to-chip, board-to-board and rack-to-rack line lengths, given their intrinsic characteristics are similar to those of the lower temperature superconductors and reliable materials can be developed. In this paper, we present simple models for understanding of the intrinsic behavior of superconducting striplines for frequencies much less than the gap frequency, w sub g, and low reduced temperatures. The effects of extrinsic factors such as nonideal stripline geometries and deilectrics are also examined. Finally possible applications as well as performance questions regarding the use of high-T sub c superconductors within contemporary and future digital systems are discussed.