| Multilayered superconducting tunnel junctions (MSTJs) or, alternatively, Josephson superlattices, are essentially vertically stacked series arrays of superconducting tunnel junctions. The high integration density of tunnel junctions and the potential strong coupling between these junctions in an MSTJ make it a desirable structure for use in basic research into superconductivity and the Josephson effect as well as for practical applications involving electronic devices. The anisotropic layered structure of engineered MSTJs is quite similar to the intrinsically layered high temperature superconductors, but the parameters of the system are controllable within limits. Thus MSTJs may be useful for investigations into some theories proposed for high T$sb{rm C}$ materials as well as experiments involving parameter regions not accessible with the naturally layered materials. In the area of devices, several devices that would be optimized by the use of MSTJs have been proposed previously, such as Josephson oscillators. This thesis introduces several new application possibilities including quasiparticle and Josephson based single radiation detectors, high integration density flux quantum logic circuits and artificial neural network circuitry. Results on the use of the Nb/Al/AlN materials system for fabrication of MSTJs is also presented. |
