There are advantageous, unique applications of superconductivity that are already in use and others that will be realized in the coming years and decades. The quantum nature of superconductivity that fascinated many of us in the 1960s continues to lead to new inventions in electronics. And the remarkable current carrying properties of superconductors, including the high temperature materials, will continue to lead to new, more efficient power applications.

The gap between logic speed and memory access is a growing problem in all computing systems and it is exacerbated for ultra-high speed processors such as the proposed cryogenic Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) logic working at 50 .100 GHz. The Superconducting Technology Assessment (STA) Panel considered two levels in a hierarchy of cryogenic memory located off of the processor chip. The first level of off-chip memory would be located on the MCM at 4 Kelvin (4 K) with the processor chip in order to minimize propagation-time delays. We are planning for a 1 Mb memory for this stage. The second-level memory would be much larger and could be located on a more efficient refrigerator stage at 40-77 K.

Provides an overview of the technical articles and features presented in this issue.