Superconducting logic components

An electric circuit, comprising:

• a superconducting component having a plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions;
• a plurality of heat sources, each heat source of the plurality of heat sources coupled to a corresponding narrow portion of the plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions and configured to selectively provide heat to the corresponding narrow portion;
• a bias current source coupled to each narrow portion of the plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions, the bias current source configured to selectively provide:
• a first current adapted to bias each narrow portion of the plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions such that a combination of the first current and heat from any heat source of the plurality of heat sources causes each narrow portion of the plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions to transition from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state;
• and
• a second current adapted to bias each narrow portion of the plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions such that (1) a combination of the second current and heat from each heat source of the plurality of heat sources causes each narrow portion of plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions to transition from the superconducting state to the non-superconducting state, and (2) a combination of the second current and heat from each heat source of only a subset of the plurality of heat sources does not cause one or more narrow portions of plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions to transition to the non-superconducting state;
• and
• an output node adapted to output a respective current while each narrow portion of plurality of alternating narrow and wide portions is in the non-superconducting state.

A method, comprising:

• at an electric circuit having a plurality of circuits coupled in parallel with one another, each circuit of the plurality of circuits including a respective superconducting component of a plurality of superconducting components:
• operating the electric circuit in a first mode by providing a first bias current to the electric circuit;
• while operating the electric circuit in the first mode:
• providing a first input current to any of the plurality of superconducting components;
• and
• obtaining a first output in response to providing the first input current, the first output indicative of the plurality of superconducting components being in a non-superconducting state;
• and
• transitioning the electric circuit from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode by providing a second bias current to the electric circuit;
• and
• while operating the electric circuit in the second mode:
• providing the first input current to each of one or more superconducting components, less than all, of the plurality of superconducting components;
• obtaining a second output in response to providing the first input current to each of one or more superconducting components, but less than all, of the plurality of superconducting components, the second output indicative of at least one of the plurality of superconducting components being in a superconducting state:
• providing the first input current to each superconducting component of the plurality of superconducting components;
• and
• obtaining a third output in response to providing the first input current to each superconducting component of the plurality of superconducting components, the third output indicative of the plurality of superconducting components being in the non-superconducting state.