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IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

Detection of Far-Field Radio-Frequency Signals by Niobium Superconducting Quantum Interference Device Arrays

Marcio C. de Andrade, Anna Leese de Escobar, B. J. Taylor, Susan A. E. Berggren, Brian Higa, Son Dinh, Robert L. Fagaly, John Talvacchio, Bettina A. Nechay, John X. Przybysz

Published Aug 31, 2015• 32 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The capability of an all-niobium superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) array to operate as an electrically small antenna capable of detecting radio frequency from distant sources was demonstrated. The measurements were performed in three different arrays, with each array consisting of 2400 identical cells. The intrinsic broadband characteristics of the device were confirmed by the flat frequency response of the ratio of the output and input voltages (the S21 parameter) of the array between 300 kHz and 1 GHz. Setting the device to its optimal operating parameters allowed the detection of signals from local frequency-modulation stations.

DOI
10.1109/tasc.2015.2470677

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The capability of an all-niobium superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) array to operate as an electrically small antenna capable of detecting radio frequency from distant sources was demonstrated. The measurements were performed in three different arrays, with each array consisting of 2400 identical cells. The intrinsic broadband characteristics of the device were confirmed by the flat frequency response of the ratio of the output and input voltages (the S21 parameter) of the array between 300 kHz and 1 GHz. Setting the device to its optimal operating parameters allowed the detection of signals from local frequency-modulation stations.
Superconducting Quantum Arrays (SQAs), homogenous arrays of Superconducting Quantum Cells, are developed for implementation of broadband radio frequency (RF) systems capable of providing highly linear magnetic signal to voltage transfer with high dynamic range, including active electrically small antennas (ESAs). Among the proposed quantum cells which are bi-SQUID and Differential Quantum Cell (DQC), the latter delivered better performance for SQAs. A prototype of the transformer-less active ESA based on a 2D SQA with nonsuperconducting electric connection of the DQCs was fabricated using HYPRES niobium process with critical current density 4.5 kA/cm 2 . The measured voltage response is characterized by a peak-to-peak swing of ~100 mV and steepness of ~6500 μV/μT.
A dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) was used to amplify radio-frequency signals that were coupled to one end of the microstrip formed by the input coil and the SQUID washer. For one device, the resonant frequency of the microstrip was increased from about 200 to 620 MHz by progressively shortening the length of the coil. At an operating temperature of 4.2 K, the gain was typically 18 dB, and the system noise temperature ranged from 0.5±0.3 K at 80 MHz to 3.0±0.7 K at 500 MHz.
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SQUID arrays are promising candidates for low-profile antennas and low-noise amplifier applications. We present the integrated circuit designs and results of dc and radio frequency measurements of wideband serial arrays based on the integration of linear bi-SQUID cells forming a superconducting quantum interference filter (bi-SQUID SQIF). Various configurations of serial array designs are described. The measured linearity, power gain, and noise temperature are analyzed and compared. The experimental results are matched to results of mathematical modeling. A serial bi-SQUID SQIF arrays are integrated into a coplanar waveguide, and symmetrically grounded to corresponding sides of the coplanar waveguide. The radio frequency output comes out from the central common line, which is also used for dc biasing, and forms a symmetrical balanced output. The signal and dc flux biasing line is designed as coplanar lines passed in parallel over each bi-SQUID cell in a bidirectional fashion concentrating magnetic flux inside of each cell. Serial bi-SQUID SQIF arrays are fabricated on 5 mm$\times5mmchipsusingastandardHYPRESniobium4.55 mm chips using a standard HYPRES niobium 4.55mmchipsusingastandardHYPRESniobium4.5 \hbox{kA/cm}^{2}$fabrication process.
Measurements have been made on an array of six niobium/aluminum-aluminum oxide/niobium junctions with an integrated bow-tie antenna at 584 GHz. These measurements include examining the response of current-voltage curves at different incident radiation powers, both with and without an applied magnetic field. The measurements also include the responsivity and the noise of the devices as direct detectors. A planar superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) was used as the low-frequency amplifier, and a chopped far infrared (FIR) laser generated the radiation. Comparisons with theoretical predictions show good fits to the current-voltage curves, except at the highest powers where there is evidence of heating and possibly nonequilibrium processes. Current responsivities of greater than one-half of the quantum limit and a noise equivalent power of 2*10/sup 1-4/ W/ square root Hz have been obtained.>