The History of ISTEC

Shoji Tanaka

International Superconductivity Technology Center
Superconductivity Research Laboratory (retired)
10-13, Shinonome 1-chome, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0062, Japan
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract - In this article I address the origins and evolution of the International Superconductivity Technology Center (ISTEC) of Japan, in which I was involved since its day one until recently.   My group at the University of Tokyo played the decisive role in the confirmation of the discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) and this led to me accepting the leading role in the Japanese R&D effort towards the development and practical applications of HTS superconductors.   At the Superconductivity Research Laboratory of ISTEC, remarkable results have been obtained in the previous projects such as the development of coated conductors and SFQ devices.   These results have been inherited by new projects, which continue on our road towards the practical applications of superconductivity. 

Keywords - Superconductivity, high-temperature superconductivity, cuprate, coated conductor, electric power grid,  grid components, electronics, single flux quantum

IEEE/CSC & ESAS European Superconductivity News Forum (ESNF), No. 16, April 2011
Received November 29, 2010; accepted February 11, 2011.  Reference No. RN18; Category 13.