Photodetector with Superconductor Nanowire Transistor Based on Interlayer Heat Transfer

A transistor, comprising:

• a first wire including a semiconducting component configured to operate in an on state at temperatures above a semiconducting threshold temperature;
• and
• a second wire including a superconducting component configured to operate in a superconducting state while:
• a temperature of the superconducting component is below a superconducting threshold temperature;
• and
• a first input current supplied to the superconducting component is below a current threshold;
• wherein the semiconducting component is located adjacent to the superconducting component;
• wherein, in response to a first input voltage, the semiconducting component is configured to generate an electromagnetic field sufficient to lower the current threshold such that the first input current exceeds the lowered current threshold, thereby transitioning the superconducting component to a non-superconducting state;
• wherein the transistor is configured to operate in an on state while the superconducting component is in the superconducting state;
• and
• wherein the transistor is configured to operate in an off state while the superconducting component is in the non-superconducting state.

A method for operating a superconductor-based transistor, comprising:

• operating the superconductor-based transistor in a first mode, including:
• maintaining the superconductor-based transistor in an off state, including:
• maintaining a superconducting component of the superconductor-based transistor in a superconducting state;
• and
• maintaining a semiconducting component of the superconductor-based transistor in an off state;
• and
• transitioning the superconductor-based transistor from the off state to an on state, including supplying current to the superconducting component, wherein the current exceeds a superconducting current threshold for the superconducting component;
• wherein, in response to the current supplied to the superconducting component, the superconducting component transitions to a non-superconducting state and generates heat sufficient to increase a temperature of the semiconducting component above a semiconducting threshold temperature and enable current flow through the semiconducting component.

A transistor, comprising:

• a first wire including a semiconducting component configured to operate in an on state at temperatures above a semiconducting threshold temperature;
• and
• a second wire located adjacent to the semiconducting component;
• wherein, in response to an input current, the second wire is configured to generate heat sufficient to increase a temperature of the semiconducting component above the semiconducting threshold temperature;
• wherein the transistor is configured to operate in an off state while the semiconducting component is maintained at a temperature below the semiconducting threshold temperature, and
• wherein the transistor is configured to operate in an on state while the semiconducting component is at a temperature above the semiconducting threshold temperature.