Advances in focused ion beam technology including higher current densi
ty, finely focused beams under computer control are making micromachin
ing an excellent prototyping route for devices and a commercial possib
ility for production. This paper concentrates on new applications of f
ocused ion beam processing in Si based microdevices and in sensors, in
cluding high-resolution patterning of YBaCuO superconducting Josephson
junction devices. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.