arXiv:1202.1315 · Physical Review Letters

Widely Tunable, Nondegenerate Three-Wave Mixing Microwave Device Operating near the Quantum Limit

Nicolas Roch, Emmanuel Flurin, François Nguyen, Pascal Morfin, Philippe Campagne-Ibarcq, Michel Devoret, Benjamin Huard

Published Apr 6, 2012• 153 citations

Abstract

We present the first experimental realization of a widely frequency tunable, nondegenerate three-wave mixing device for quantum signals at gigahertz frequency. It is based on a new superconducting building block consisting of a ring of four Josephson junctions shunted by a cross of four linear inductances. The phase configuration of the ring remains unique over a wide range of magnetic fluxes threading the loop. It is thus possible to vary the inductance of the ring with flux while retaining a strong, dissipation-free, and noiseless nonlinearity. The device has been operated in amplifier mode, and its noise performance has been evaluated by using the noise spectrum emitted by a voltage-biased tunnel junction at finite frequency as a test signal. The unprecedented accuracy with which the crossover between zero-point fluctuations and shot noise has been measured provides an upper bound for the noise and dissipation intrinsic to the device.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.147701

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