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arXiv:2004.07422 · Physical Review Applied

Mutually Synchronized Macroscopic Josephson Oscillations Demonstrated by Polarization Analysis of Superconducting Terahertz Emitters

Manabu Tsujimoto, S. Fujita, Genki Kuwano, K. Maeda, Asem Elarabi, J. Hawecker, J. Tignon, Juliette Mangeney, Sukhdeep S. Dhillon, Itsuhiro Kakeya

Published May 13, 2020• 24 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Despite its potential for $e.g.$ medical imaging, wireless communication, and ultrasensitive analysis of biological materials, the terahertz frequency range of light cannot be suitably utilized without practical solid-state sources. A naturally formed stack of superconducting junctions emits terahertz radiation, owing to synchronization of macroscopic wave functions, and the authors propose a means to manipulate that synchronization, which is the most promising way to attain a versatile superconducting terahertz source. Their findings also give insight into the quantum physics of entangled photons emitted from superconductors.

DOI
10.1103/physrevapplied.13.051001

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Despite its potential for e.g.e.g.e.g. medical imaging, wireless communication, and ultrasensitive analysis of biological materials, the terahertz frequency range of light cannot be suitably utilized without practical solid-state sources. A naturally formed stack of superconducting junctions emits terahertz radiation, owing to synchronization of macroscopic wave functions, and the authors propose a means to manipulate that synchronization, which is the most promising way to attain a versatile superconducting terahertz source. Their findings also give insight into the quantum physics of entangled photons emitted from superconductors.
We examine coupling interactions used to synchronize macroscopic Josephson oscillations induced in intrinsic Josephson-junction (IJJ) mesa stacks made of a Bi2212\mathrm{Bi}2212Bi2212 single crystal. Synchronized radiations of terahertz electromagnetic (EM) waves are detected under common voltage and current bias operations of two connected mesas with close individual radiation frequencies, while uncoupled and bimodal radiations are frequently observed in two mesas with different individual radiation frequencies. Detailed observations of the polarizations of the EM waves emitted when two mesas are biased in parallel or series allow us to reveal the coupling matrix components, which include ratios of synchronized IJJs in the mesas and phase delay between the macroscopic Josephson oscillations. A frequency evolution of the phase delay implies that the coupling between the Josephson oscillations is mediated by the small amplitude Josephson plasmon inside the superconducting substrate. This finding stimulates systematic survey on polarization of EM wave emitted from synchronized multiple mesa devices in order to realize powerful terahertz emissions from superconductors.
We examine coupling interactions used to synchronize macroscopic Josephson oscillations induced in intrinsic Josephson junction (IJJ) mesa stacks made of a Bi2212 single crystal. Synchronized radiations of terahertz electromagnetic (EM) waves are detected under common voltage and current bias operations of two connected mesas with close individual radiation frequencies, while uncoupled and bimodal radiations are frequently observed in two mesas with different individual radiation frequencies. Detailed observations of the polarizations of the EM waves emitted when two mesas are biased in parallel or series allow us to reveal the coupling matrix components, which include ratios of synchronized IJJs in the mesas and phase delay between the macroscopic Josephson oscillations. A frequency evolution of the phase delay implies that the coupling between the Josephson oscillations is mediated by the small amplitude Josephson plasmon inside the superconducting substrate. This finding stimulates systematic survey on polarization of EM wave emitted from synchronized multiple mesa devices in order to realize powerful terahertz emissions from superconductors.
Sources of light in the terahertz (THz) wavelength range are extensively researched, and tunable planar Josephson junctions seem promising.They can be used e.g.e.g.e.g. to calibrate sensitive detectors, but not all of the energy poured into the junctions is converted to THz light. Knowing how many photons come out is not simply a matter of knowing how much energy went in. To address this problem, the authors employ a detector that discriminates between coherent THz radiation and thermally induced blackbody radiation, with single-photon sensitivity.
Abstract Terahertz (THz) technology is a rapidly developing field that explores the use of electromagnetic waves in the THz frequency range. The unique properties of THz waves have great application prospects in electromagnetic sensing, security inspection, non-destructive testing, medical diagnostics, biology, high-speed wireless communication, space science and so on. At present, the application of THz technology is still under continuous research and development, and its broad scientific prospects are recognized worldwide. THz frequency falls into the gap on the electromagnetic spectrum of electronics and optics, thus both classic microwave and optical technologies cannot be directly applied to the THz systems. New components, circuits and application systems are being developed for THz technology. Superconductivity is a quantum mechanical phenomenon and offers unique advantages for applications in high-frequency electromagnetic domains. Novel superconducting quantum devices are being exploited for THz wave radiation and detection, and many THz application systems. The high-T c superconducting (HTS) electronic devices have great potential in emerging THz technologies due to its very high-energy bandgap (well into THz regions) and much relaxed cooling requirement, and they offer strong prospect for the development of practical and portable THz systems. This paper provides an overview of the state-of-art development of HTS THz quantum devices and their application for THz sensing, imaging and communication. The review will start with a brief introduction about cutting-edge THz technology, the fundamental of superconductivity, Josephson effects and the HTS Josephson junctions. Then, the research progress and the latest achievement of HTS Josephson THz emitters, detectors and mixers will be reviewed, followed by their application examples in some THz systems. Finally, the conclusion, challenges and outlooks of the HTS technologies in THz applications are discussed.
Compared with neighboring microwave and infrared bands, terahertz (THz) frequencies offer unique advantages for imaging applications. In particular, characteristic THz spectral fingerprints of chemicals enable nondestructive evaluation and imaging of biological objects, materials, components, electronic circuits, and systems, with broad relevance to security, medical diagnostics, materials science, pharmaceutical inspection, aeronautics, and electronics industries. Despite this potential, practical THz imaging systems have been limited by the scarcity of compact, power-efficient, and tunable THz sources. In this work, we employ high-temperature superconducting monolithic sources—Josephson plasma emitters (JPEs)—as chip integrated, coherent, monochromatic, and broadly tunable THz wave emitters, and demonstrate nondestructive THz imaging of concealed metallic surgical blades, floppy disks, dandelion leaves, and sliced pork meat. The resulting images exhibit high contrast between metallic and non-metallic regions, reveal fine structural features of diverse objects, and enable selective visualization of different powdered materials. These results establish the feasibility of a compact THz imaging system based on on-chip superconducting sources for nondestructive, contactless, rapid, and accurate applications in environmental monitoring, security screening, medical diagnostics, materials characterization, and quantum science and technology.