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arXiv:2110.10585 · Physical Review Applied

Temperature-Biased Double-Loop Josephson Flux Transducer

Claudio Guarcello, R. Citro, Francesco Giazotto, Alessandro Braggio

Published Jul 15, 2022• 2 citations

Abstract

We theoretically study the behavior of the critical current of a thermally biased tunnel Josephson junction with a particular design, in which the electrodes of the junction are enclosed in two different superconducting loops pierced by independent magnetic fluxes. In this setup, the superconducting gaps can be modified independently through the magnetic fluxes threading the loops. We investigate the response of the device as a function of the magnetic fluxes, by changing the asymmetry parameter, i.e., the ratio between the zero-temperature superconducting gaps $\ensuremath{\delta}={\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{10}/{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{20}$ and the temperatures of the two rings. We show a magnetically controllable steplike response of the critical current, which emerges even in a symmetric junction, $\ensuremath{\delta}=1$. Finally, we discuss the optimal working conditions and the high response of the critical current to small changes in the magnetic flux, reporting good performance of a magnetic flux-to-critical current transducer, with a high transfer function that depends on the operating point, the temperature gradient, and the quality of the junction.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.18.014037

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中国物理B：英文版•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations

We theoretically study the behavior of the critical current of a thermally biased tunnel Josephson junction with a particular design, in which the electrodes of the junction are enclosed in two different superconducting loops pierced by independent magnetic fluxes. In this setup, the superconducting gaps can be modified independently through the magnetic fluxes threading the loops. We investigate the response of the device as a function of the magnetic fluxes, by changing the asymmetry parameter, i.e., the ratio between the zero-temperature superconducting gaps

\ensuremath{\delta}={\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{10}/{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{20}

and the temperatures of the two rings. We show a magnetically controllable steplike response of the critical current, which emerges even in a symmetric junction,

\ensuremath{\delta}=1

. Finally, we discuss the optimal working conditions and the high response of the critical current to small changes in the magnetic flux, reporting good performance of a magnetic flux-to-critical current transducer, with a high transfer function that depends on the operating point, the temperature gradient, and the quality of the junction.

We theoretically put forward the concept of a phase-controlled superconducting heat-flux quantum modulator. Its operation relies on phase-dependent heat current predicted to occur in temperature-biased Josephson tunnel junctions. The device behavior is investigated as a function of temperature bias across the junctions, bath temperature, and junctions asymmetry as well. In a realistic Al-based setup the structure could provide temperature modulation amplitudes up to ∼50 mK with flux-to-temperature transfer coefficients exceeding ∼125 mK/Φ0 below 1 K, and temperature modulation frequency of the order of a few MHz. The proposed structure appears as a promising building-block for the implementation of caloritronic devices operating at cryogenic temperatures.

Superconducting double-loop interferometers (bi-SQUIDs) have been introduced to produce magnetic flux sensors specifically designed to exhibit an ultrahighly linear voltage response as a function of the magnetic flux. These devices are very important for quantum sensing and for signal processing of signals oscillating in the radio-frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, we report an

\mathrm{Al}

double-loop bi-SQUID based on proximitized mesoscopic

\mathrm{Cu}

Josephson junctions. Such a scheme provides an alternative fabrication approach to conventional tunnel-junction-based interferometers, where the junction characteristics and, consequently, the magnetic-flux-to-voltage and magnetic-flux-to-critical-current device responses can be largely and easily tailored by the geometry of the metallic weak links. We discuss the performance of such sensors by showing a full characterization of the device switching current and voltage drop versus the magnetic flux for operation temperatures ranging from 30 mK to approximately

1\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}

. The figures of merit of the transfer function and of the total harmonic distortion are also discussed. The latter provides an estimate of the linearity of the flux-to-voltage device response, which attains values as large as 45 dB. Such a result lets us foresee a performance already on par with that achieved in conventional tunnel-junction-based bi-SQUIDs arrays composed of hundreds of interferometers.

The low-current fluctuations at cryogenic temperatures together with the low dynamical resistance in the resonant states of Josephson tunnel junctions allow for the realization of superconducting oscillators up to the THz range with ultra-low spectral linewidth. By virtue of the Josephson frequency-voltage relationship, we show that the same properties can be exploited for the practical realization of magnetic flux-to-voltage transducers based on the flux–flow in long Josephson tunnel junctions whose intrinsic low-frequency voltage fluctuations at amount to few , that is, too small to be measured by any present semiconductor electronics. Nevertheless, by using a double transformer SQUID amplifier we demonstrate that the (amplitude) voltage spectral density, , of an all-niobium sensor does not exceed the level of and is not affected by excess noise at least down to few hertz. Such ultra-low white noise, corresponding to a magnetic field noise , together with a highly linear and broadband voltage responsivity over a wide magnetic flux range, makes the flux–flow magnetometers potentially competitive with SQUID-based devices.

We present the design of a superconducting flux qubit with a large loop inductance. The large loop inductance is desirable for coupling between qubits. The loop is configured into a gradiometer form that could reduce the interference from environmental magnetic noise. A combined Josephson junction, i.e., a DC-SQUID is used to replace the small Josephson junction in the usual 3-JJ (Josephaon junction) flux qubit, leading to a tunable energy gap by using an independent external flux line. We perform numerical calculations to investigate the dependence of the energy gap on qubit parameters such as junction capacitance, critical current, loop inductance, and the ratio of junction energy between small and large junctions in the flux qubit. We suggest a range of values for the parameters.

We present the design of a superconducting flux qubit with a large loop inductance. The large loop inductance is desirable for coupling between qubits. The loop is configured into a gradiometer form that could reduce the interference from environmental magnetic noise. A combined Josephson junction, i.e., a DC-SQUID is used to replace the small Josephson junction in the usual 3-JJ (Josephaon junction) flux qubit, leading to a tunable energy gap by using an independent external flux line. We perform numerical calculations to investigate the dependence of the energy gap on qubit parameters such as junction capacitance, critical current, loop inductance, and the ratio of junction energy between small and large junctions in the flux qubit. We suggest a range of values for the parameters.