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arXiv:2307.01480 · International Siberian workshops and tutorials on electron devices and materials

Expanding Scanning Frequency Range of Josephson Parametric Amplifier Axion Haloscope Readout with Schottky Diode Bias Circuit

Minsu Ko, Sergey V. Uchaikin, Boris I. Ivanov, Jinmyeong Kim, Seonjeong Oh, Violeta Gkika

Published Jun 29, 2023• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The axion search experiments in the microwave frequency range require high sensitive detectors with intrinsic noise close to quantum noise limit. Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs) are the most valuable candidates for the role of the first stage a mplifier in th e me asurement circuit of the microwave frequency range, as they are well-known in superconducting quantum circuits readout. To increase the frequency range, a challenging scientific t ask involves implementing an assembly with parallel connection of several single JPAs, which requires matching the complex RF circuit at microwaves and ensuring proper DC flux bias. I n this publication, we present a new DC flux bias setup based on a Schottky diode circuit for a JPA assembly consisting of two JPAs. We provide a detailed characterization of the diodes at cryogenic temperatures lower than 4 K. Specifically, we selected two RF Schottky diodes with desirable characteristics for the DC flux bias setup, and our results demonstrate that the Schottky diode circuit is a promising method for achieving proper DC flux bias in JPA assemblies.

DOI
10.1109/edm58354.2023.10225136

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The axion search experiments in the microwave frequency range require high sensitive detectors with intrinsic noise close to quantum noise limit. Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs) are the most valuable candidates for the role of the first stage a mplifier in th e me asurement circuit of the microwave frequency range, as they are well-known in superconducting quantum circuits readout. To increase the frequency range, a challenging scientific t ask involves implementing an assembly with parallel connection of several single JPAs, which requires matching the complex RF circuit at microwaves and ensuring proper DC flux bias. I n this publication, we present a new DC flux bias setup based on a Schottky diode circuit for a JPA assembly consisting of two JPAs. We provide a detailed characterization of the diodes at cryogenic temperatures lower than 4 K. Specifically, we selected two RF Schottky diodes with desirable characteristics for the DC flux bias setup, and our results demonstrate that the Schottky diode circuit is a promising method for achieving proper DC flux bias in JPA assemblies.
Abstract Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs) are used in a wide range of applications, including quantum sensing and axion dark matter searches, due to their near-quantum-limited noise performance. In this article, we present a novel amplifier configuration that increases the frequency scanning range for axion search experiments by combining six narrow-band, flux-driven JPAs. The design consists of two subsets, each comprising three JPAs connected in parallel and coupled to one of two circulators. These subsets are arranged in series. A single pump tone is split and distributed across all JPAs. We effectively mitigated challenges associated with frequency tuning and cross-talk arising from JPA band overlap while maintaining low noise performance. To validate this configuration, we implemented a JPA system spanning 1.2–1.5 GHz as the first-stage amplifier in an RF chain, where the total noise was measured to be approximately twice the standard quantum limit.
The axion is a hypothetical particle, a promising candidate for dark matter, and a solution to the strong CP problem.Axion haloscope search experiments deal with a signal power comparable to noise uncertainty at millikelvin temperature.We use a flux-driven Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA) with the aim of approaching a noise level near the theoretically allowed limit of half quanta.In our measurements to characterize the JPA we have found the added noise to the system with a JPA as the first-stage amplifier to be lower than 110 mK at the frequencies from 0.938 GHz to 0.963 GHz.
The cavity haloscope is among the most widely adopted experimental platforms designed to detect dark matter axions with its principle relying on the conversion of axions into microwave photons in the presence of a strong magnetic field. The Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA), known for its quantum-limited noise characteristics, has been incorporated into the detection system to capture the weakly interacting axion signals. However, the performance of the JPA can be influenced by its environment, leading to the potential unreliability of a predefined parameter set obtained in a specific laboratory setting. Furthermore, conducting a broadband search requires the consecutive characterization of the amplifier across different tuning frequencies. To ensure more reliable measurements, we utilize the Nelder–Mead technique as a numerical search method to dynamically determine the optimal operating conditions. This heuristic search algorithm explores the multidimensional parameter space of the JPA, optimizing critical characteristics such as gain and noise temperature to maximize signal-to-noise ratios for a given experimental setup. Our study presents a comprehensive analysis of the properties of a flux-driven JPA to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm. This approach contributes to ongoing efforts in axion dark matter research by offering an efficient method to enhance axion detection sensitivity through the optimized utilization of JPAs.
The axion search experiments based on haloscopes at the Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research (CAPP) of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea are performed in the frequency range from 1 GHz to 6 GHz.In order to perform the experiments in a strong magnetic field of 12 T and a large-volume cavity of close to 40 liters, we use He wet dilution refrigerators with immersed superconducting magnets.The measurements require continuous operation for months without interruptions for microwave component replacements.This is achieved by using different cryogenic engineering approaches including microwave RF-switching.The critical components, defining the scanning rate and the sensitivity of the setup, are the Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPA) and cryogenic low noise amplifiers (cLNA) based on high-electron-mobility-transistor (HEMT) technology.It is desirable for both devices to have a wide frequency range and low noise close to the quantum limit for the JPA.In this paper, we show a recent design of a 4-channel measurement setup for JPA and HEMT measurements.The setup is based on a 4-channel wideband noise source (NS) and is used for both JPA and HEMT gain and noise measurements.The setup is placed at 20 mK inside the dry dilution refrigerator.The NS is thermally decoupled from the environment using plastic spacers, superconducting wires and superconducting coaxial cables.We show the gain and noise temperature curves measured for 4 HEMT amplifiers and 2 JPAs in one cool-down.
Abstract The experimental non-observation of charge-parity (CP) symmetry violation in quantum chromodynamics is commonly referred to as the strong CP problem. The axion, a hypothetical elementary pseudoscalar, is expected to solve the strong CP problem and is also a promising candidate for dark matter. The most sensitive axion search experiments operate at millikelvin temperatures and hence rely on instrumentation that carries signals from a system at cryogenic temperatures to room temperature instrumentation. One of the biggest limiting factors affecting the parameter scanning speed of these detectors is the noise added by the components in the signal detection chain. Since the first amplifier in the chain limits the minimum noise, low-noise amplification is of paramount importance. This paper reports on the operation of a flux-driven Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA) operating at around 2.3 GHz with added noise approaching the quantum limit. The JPA was employed as a first stage amplifier in an experimental setting similar to the ones used in haloscope axion detectors. By operating the JPA at a gain of 19 dB and cascading it with two cryogenic amplifiers operating at 4 K, noise temperatures as low as 120 mK were achieved for the whole signal detection chain.
Many experiments operating at millikelvin temperatures with signal frequencies in the microwave regime are beginning to incorporate Josephson Parametric Amplifiers (JPA) as their first amplification stage.While there are implementations for a wideband frequency response with a minimal need for tuning, designs using resonant structures with small numbers of Josephson elements still achieve the best noise performance.In a typical measurement scheme involving a JPA, one needs to control the resonance frequency, pump frequency and pump power to achieve the desired amplification and noise properties.In this work, we propose a straightforward approach for operating JPAs with the help of a look-up table (LUT) and online fine-tuning.Using the proposed approach, we demonstrate the operation of a flux-driven JPA with 20 dB gain around 5.9 GHz, covering approximately 100 MHz with 20 kHz tuning steps.The proposed methodology was successfully used in the context of a haloscope axion experiment.