A low-pass or band-rejection filter for microwave frequencies has a
substantially planar structure and is constructed of a transmission line
having inductor portions and wider capacitance portions. The inductor
portions are designed as linear microstrip elements having widths being
varied by making areas at the sides of the linear elements
superconducting. In changing the widths of the transmission line also the
inductances thereof are changed accordingly. The areas at the sides of the
microstrip elements include rather narrow areas located directly at the
central, normal metal conductor. These narrow areas have in the
non-superconducting state some electrical conductivity which can be small
but still not quite insignificant in relation to that of the metal
conductor. However, due to the fact that they contact the normal metal
conductor only at very narrow edges instead of contacting it at a large
surface they do not significantly affect the transmission characteristics
of the transmission line in the normal state of the areas which can be
made superconducting.