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arXiv:1009.4673 · Applied Physics Letters

Noise performance of lumped element direct current superconducting quantum interference device amplifiers in the 4–8 GHz range

Lafe Spietz, K. D. Irwin, Minhyea Lee, José Aumentado

Published Oct 4, 2010• 23 citations
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Abstract

We report on the noise of a lumped element direct current superconducting quantum interference device amplifier. We show that the noise temperature in the 4–8 GHz range over ranges of tens of megahertz is below 1 K (three photons of added noise), characterize the overall behavior of the noise as a function of bias parameters, and discuss potential mechanisms which determine the noise performance in this amplifier. We show that this device can provide more than a factor of 10 improvement in practical system noise over existing phase-preserving microwave measurement systems in this frequency band.

DOI
10.1063/1.3497008

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We report on the noise of a lumped element direct current superconducting quantum interference device amplifier. We show that the noise temperature in the 4–8 GHz range over ranges of tens of megahertz is below 1 K (three photons of added noise), characterize the overall behavior of the noise as a function of bias parameters, and discuss potential mechanisms which determine the noise performance in this amplifier. We show that this device can provide more than a factor of 10 improvement in practical system noise over existing phase-preserving microwave measurement systems in this frequency band.
We describe the performance of amplifiers in the 4–8 GHz range using direct current (dc) superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) in a lumped element configuration. We have used external impedance transformers to couple power into and out of the dc SQUIDs. By choosing appropriate values for coupling capacitors, resonator lengths and output component values, we have demonstrated useful gains in several frequency ranges with different bandwidths, showing over 27 GHz of power gain-bandwidth product. In this work, we describe our design for the 4–8 GHz range and present data demonstrating gain, bandwidth, dynamic range, and drift characteristics.
A series of about twenty superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) has been operated as microstrip-SQUID amplifiers (MSAs) at frequencies ranging from 100 MHz to 2 GHz to study the dependence of their gain and noise temperature on bias current and flux. The measured values were in good agreement with theory. The observed dependence of MSA gain and noise temperature on bias current and flux resembled the static transfer function of the SQUIDs. The gains are relatively insensitive to changes in bias current and bias flux; the noise temperature is strongly dependent on the bias flux.
Due to their superior noise performance, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are an attractive alternative to high electron mobility transistors for constructing ultra-low-noise microwave amplifiers for cryogenic use. We describe the use of a lumped element SQUID inductively coupled to a quarter wave resonator. The resonator acts as an impedance transformer and also makes it possible to accurately measure the input impedance and intrinsic microwave characteristics of the SQUID. We present a model for input impedance and gain, compare it to the measured scattering parameters, and describe how to use the model for the systematic design of low-noise microwave amplifiers with a wide range of performance characteristics.
The fundamental noise limit of a phase-preserving amplifier at frequency [Formula: see text] is the standard quantum limit [Formula: see text]. In the microwave range, the best candidates have been amplifiers based on superconducting quantum interference devices (reaching the noise temperature [Formula: see text] at 700 MHz), and non-degenerate parametric amplifiers (reaching noise levels close to the quantum limit [Formula: see text] at 8 GHz). We introduce a new type of an amplifier based on the negative resistance of a selectively damped Josephson junction. Noise performance of our amplifier is limited by mixing of quantum noise from Josephson oscillation regime down to the signal frequency. Measurements yield nearly quantum-limited operation, [Formula: see text] at 2.8 GHz, owing to self-organization of the working point. Simulations describe the characteristics of our device well and indicate potential for wide bandwidth operation.
We characterized a microstrip superconducting quantum interference device amplifier (MSA) as a function of frequency and temperature. At 40 mK, with optimal current and flux biases, the maximum gain of 20.4 dB was at 620 MHz; the bandwidth was 21 MHz. The minimum noise temperature TN=48±5 mK occurred at 612 MHz, slightly below the frequency of maximum gain. This value of TN is within a factor of 1.6 of the quantum limit TQ=hf/kB (f is frequency) for a linear, phase-preserving amplifier. Incorporating the MSA into the axion detector at the University of Washington will increase the scan rate by two to three orders of magnitude.
A series of five dc superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) have been operated as microstrip amplifiers at frequencies ranging from 2.2 to 7.4 GHz. In these devices, the signal is connected between the SQUID washer and coil, which acts as a microstrip resonator. The gain measured at 4.2 K ranged from 12±1 to 6±1 dB. The noise temperature of three devices at 4.2 K in the frequency range 2.2–4 GHz was between 1 and 2 K, and the saturation temperature was between 150 and 250 K. Applications of these devices include readout for axion detectors, and intermediate-frequency amplifiers for superconductor–insulator–superconductor and hot-electron bolometer mixers.