Heat Transfer in Superconducting Films

Thin films that are superconducting above liquid-nitrogen temperature possess promising applications in electronics and sensor technology. The design, the characterization and the processing of devices based on the high-temperature superconductors pose new fundamental heat transfer problems. This article reviews thermal conduction, thermal radiation and thermal stability phenomena in superconducting films. The understanding of these thermal phenomena requires solid-state physics and materials science, in addition to heat transfer and thermodynamics. Future research opportunities are pointed out for thermal problems in superconducting films.