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arXiv:2101.11697 · Applied Physics Letters

Quasi-phasematching in a poled Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier with three-wave mixing

A. B. Zorin

Published May 31, 2021• 17 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We develop the concept of quasi-phasematching (QPM) by implementing it in the recently proposed Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) with three-wave mixing (3WM). The amplifier is based on a ladder transmission line consisting of flux-biased radio frequency superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) whose nonlinearity is of χ(2)-type. QPM is achieved in the 3WM process, ωp=ωs+ωi (where ωp, ωs, and ωi are the pump, signal, and idler frequencies, respectively) due to designing the JTWPA to include periodically inverted groups of these SQUIDs that reverse the sign of the nonlinearity. Modeling shows that the JTWPA bandwidth is relatively large (∼ 0.4ωp) and flat, while unwanted modes, including ω2p=2ωp, ω+=ωp+ωs, and ω−=2ωp−ωs, are strongly suppressed with the help of engineered dispersion.

DOI
10.1063/5.0050787

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We develop the concept of quasi-phasematching (QPM) by implementing it in the recently proposed Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) with three-wave mixing (3WM). The amplifier is based on a ladder transmission line consisting of flux-biased radio frequency superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) whose nonlinearity is of χ(2)-type. QPM is achieved in the 3WM process, ωp=ωs+ωi (where ωp, ωs, and ωi are the pump, signal, and idler frequencies, respectively) due to designing the JTWPA to include periodically inverted groups of these SQUIDs that reverse the sign of the nonlinearity. Modeling shows that the JTWPA bandwidth is relatively large (∼ 0.4ωp) and flat, while unwanted modes, including ω2p=2ωp, ω+=ωp+ωs, and ω−=2ωp−ωs, are strongly suppressed with the help of engineered dispersion.
The recently proposed Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) based on a ladder transmission line consisting of radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference devices and exploiting three-wave mixing has great potential in achieving both a gain of 20 dB and a flat bandwidth of at least 4 GHz. To realize this concept in practical amplifiers, we model the advanced JTWPA circuit with periodic modulation of the circuit parameters (engineered dispersion loadings), which allow the basic mixing process, i.e., ωs=ωp−ωi, where ωs, ωp, and ωi are the signal, the pump, and the idler frequencies, respectively, and efficiently suppress propagation of unwanted higher tones, including ω2p=2ωp, ωp+s=ωp+ωs, ωp+i=ωp+ωi, etc. The engineered dispersion loadings allow achieving a sufficiently wide 3 dB-bandwidth from 3 to 9 GHz combined with a reasonably small ripple (±2 dB) in the gain-vs-frequency dependence.
We develop a concept of traveling-wave Josephson parametric amplifier based on a ladder-type superconducting transmission line containing serial array of one-junctions SQUIDs. The circuit operates in a three-wave mixing mode and exploits both quadratic and cubic (Kerr) nonlinearities in the current-phase relation of the SQUIDs controlled by external magnetic flux. These two types of nonlinearities allow efficient three-wave mixing and perfect phase matching, respectively. The transmission line exhibits a power gain with exponential dependence on its length (number of cells NNN) in the widest frequency range, 0≲fs,fi≲fp0 \lesssim f_s, f_i \lesssim f_p0≲fs​,fi​≲fp​, where fsf_sfs​, fif_ifi​ and fpf_pfp​ are the signal, idler and pump frequencies, respectively, obeying relation fs+fi=fpf_s + f_i = f_pfs​+fi​=fp​. Estimation of the amplifier characteristics with typical experimental parameters, number of cells NNN = 700, length of 28 mm and pump frequency of 12.5 GHz yields a flat (-3 dB) gain of about 20 dB in the bandwidth from 3.35 GHz to 9.15 GHz and a saturation power of -90 dBm.
Abstract A Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) is indispensable for the high-fidelity readout of superconducting qubits, owing to its broadband gain and near-quantum-limited noise performance. Conventional JTWPAs implemented with 0-Josephson junctions (0-JTWPAs) avoid magnetic-flux bias but rely on Kerr nonlinearity, which leads to pump-power-dependent phase mismatch, gain ripple, and a limited dynamic range. More recently, three-wave-mixing (3WM) JTWPAs employing flux-biased rf-SQUIDs have been proposed to suppress Kerr effects. However, these designs require a significant external flux bias per unit cell, which complicates cryogenic hardware, introduces sensitivity to flux noise, and limits scalability in large arrays. In this study, we propose and analyze a π -junction-based JTWPA ( π -JTWPA) in which the intrinsic π phase shift of the junction effectively displaces the operating point of the current–phase relation. This approach aims to realize 3WM-type nonlinearity with reduced flux bias while preserving broadband amplification, thereby simplifying flux-bias distribution, enhancing robustness against flux noise, and providing a pathway toward scalable, multiplexed quantum readout architectures. In addition, we examine the potential applicability of the π -JTWPA in four-wave-mixing (4WM) operation.
A quantum model for Josephson-based metamaterials working in the three-wave mixing (3WM) and four-wave mixing (4WM) regimes at the single-photon level is presented. The transmission line taken into account, namely Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA), is a bipole composed of a chain of rf-SQUIDs, which can be biased by a DC current or a magnetic field to activate the 3WM or 4WM nonlinearities. The model exploits a Hamiltonian approach to analytically determine the time evolution of the system both in the Heisenberg and interaction pictures. The former returns the analytic form of the gain of the amplifier, while the latter allows recovering the probability distributions vs time of the photonic populations, for multimodal Fock and coherent input states. The dependence of the metamaterial's nonlinearities is presented in terms of circuit parameters in a lumped model framework while evaluating the effects of the experimental conditions on the model validity.
We develop a novel concept of a Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier with three-wave mixing. The proposed amplifier consists of a microwave transmission line formed by a serial array of nonhysteretic one-junction SQUIDs. These SQUIDs are flux-biased such that the phase drops across the Josephson junctions are equal to 90°. This one-dimensional metamaterial possesses large quadratic nonlinearity and minimal cubic (Kerr-like) nonlinearity. This property allows phase matching and exponential power gain in a wide frequency range. The proof-of-principle measurements performed at temperature T = 4.2 K on Nb trilayer samples have demonstrated the validity of our concept of a practical Josephson parametric amplifier with great promise for quantum-limited performance.
This study presents recent advancements in Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers (JTWPAs) developed and tested at INRiM within the DARTWARS project framework. Combining Josephson junctions with superconducting coplanar waveguides, JTWPAs offer advanced capabilities for quantum-limited broadband microwave amplification and the emission of non-classical microwave radiation. The work delves into the architecture, optimization, and experimental characterization of a JTWPA with a Resonant Phase-Matching mechanism, highlighting signal gains and idler conversion factors in relation to pump power and signal frequency.