A device and methods for use thereof in low-temperature thermal scanning microscopy, providing non-contact, non-invasive localized temperature and thermal conductivity measurements in nanometer scale ranges with a temperature resolution in the micro-Kelvin order. A superconductive cap mounted on the tip of an elongated support probe is electrically-connected to superconductive leads for carrying electrical current through the cap. The critical superconducting current of the leads is configured to be greater than the critical current supported by the cap, and the cap's critical current is configured to be a function of its temperature. Thus, the temperature of the cap is measured by measuring its critical superconducting current. In a related embodiment, driving a current greater than the critical current of the cap quenches the cap's superconductivity, and permits the cap to dissipate resistive heat into the sample being scanned. Scanning of the sample in this mode thus images its thermal conductivity patterns.

Electrical, mechanical, computing, and/or other devices that include components formed of extremely low resistance (ELR) materials, including, but not limited to, modified ELR materials, layered ELR materials, and new ELR materials, are described.

A Meissner-Effect Transition-Edge-Sensor (ME-TES) microcalorimeter device may have one or more microcalorimeter elements, each including an absorber body composed of a superconductive element that is arranged to absorb incoming photons or radiative particles. A planar pickup coil substantially surrounds the absorber body and is located within a magnetic sensing distance of the absorber body. Absorption of incoming photons or radiative particles increases the temperature of the superconductive element, resulting in a change in magnetic flux through the superconductive element. This change in magnetic flux induces a transient electric current in the planar pickup coil that may be sensed using a readout circuit. A method is provided for fabricating an ME-TES microcalorimeter device.

A method for determining temperature in the environment of an assembly includes at least one passive component, the passive component being integrated into a monolayer or multilayer assembly, including the following steps: determining the geometric inductance of the passive component, based on the dimensions of the passive component; measuring the inductance of the passive component, referred to as total inductance, the passive component being used in a temperature range such that it is in a superconducting state; determining the kinetic inductance of the passive component, based on the total inductance and the geometric inductance; determining the temperature based on the kinetic inductance of the component.

Electrical, mechanical, computing, and/or other devices that include components formed of extremely low resistance (ELR) materials, including, but not limited to, modified ELR materials, layered ELR materials, and new ELR materials, are described.