cryotron
/ˈkraɪəˌtrɑn/
noun
- A type of electronic switch that works at very low temperatures using superconductivity.
- Early computers experimented with the cryotron as a faster alternative to vacuum tubes.
- Engineers found that the cryotron was too difficult to keep cold for everyday use.
- The cryotron relies on the property of superconductivity to switch between states.