ABSTRACT
While this book was being written the tempo of research into squids, and superconducting electronics in general, was raised dramatically. It has been estimated that the numbers of people involved in full-time research into superconductivity in general increased by an order of magnitude between 1987 and 1989. This arose from the discovery by Bednorz and Müller (1986) of a completely new class of superconductors made up of ternary and quaternary copper oxides. (The discoverers were awarded the Nobel prize the following year. This unprecedented turn of speed by the award committee is regarded by many as recognition of the expected dramatic technological impact of their work.)
