Cryotron
The
cryotron is a switch that operates using
superconductivity. The cryotron works on the principle that magnetic fields destroy superconductivity. The cryotron is a piece of
tantalum wrapped with a coil of
niobium placed in a liquid
helium bath. When the
current flows through the tantalum wire it is superconducting, but when a current flows through the niobium a magnetic field is produced. This destroys the superconductivity which makes the current slow down or stop.