A revolution in the field of superconductivity occurred in 1986 with the discovery of superconductors with a transition temperature greater than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, and many laboratories around the world began the exciting work of developing these materials. This book stems from one such laboratory, which has been looking at the microwave aspects of these materials, not only from a basic science view point, but also from a desire to demonstrate their potential for new applications. The development of microwave applications has proceeded very rapidly, and in less than ten years superconducting communication and signal processing systems are being flown in space, with many other microwave devices and systems to be found in the market place. This book essentially charts this development from the basic fundamental considerations of superconductors in high-frequency fields to the use of superconductors in microwave passive applications.

The book should be suitable as a basic introduction to the microwave applications of superconductors, and can be read independently of any previous knowledge of superconductors. However, the reader is recommended to consult one of the many texts about superconductivity in general in order to obtain a balanced view of the subject. It is expected that a number of different groups will find this book of interest. It could form the text for a specialized undergraduate course or be used in a more general course on microwaves.