Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC)

Fabrication and characterization of a 600-720 GHz resonant distributed SIS junction for fixed-tuned waveguide receiver

T. Matsunaga, Edward Tong, R. Blundell, Takashi Noguchi

Published Nov 13, 2002• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The non-linear quasiparticle tunnel current flowing in a distributed superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) transmission line resonator has been exploited in a low-noise heterodyne fixed-tuned waveguide receiver in the 600-720 GHz band. The mixer employs two 1.4 /spl mu/m wide half-wave or full-wave distributed SIS long junctions that are connected in series. These devices have been fabricated with optical lithography. Noise temperatures of 160-240 K have been measured at around 600 GHz. However, the achieved RF bandwidth is only about 5 % and the center frequency of the resonance is also shifted towards lower end of the target frequencies.

DOI
10.1109/apmc.2001.985396

Related papers

A 650 GHz fixed-tuned waveguide SIS distributed mixer with no integrated tuning circuit

Edward Tong, R. Blundell, Koko G. Megerian +2 more

A Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) distributed mixer with no integrated tuning circuit has been designed for use in a fixed-tuned waveguide mixer block. This mixer employs two half-wave SIS resonators connected in series across the feed point of the waveguide circuit. By selecting appropriate dimensions for the resonators, we can obtain proper impedance matching over a reasonable input bandwidth. Since there is no lossy thin film microstrip line in front of the SIS junction, efficient power transfer from the waveguide feed to the mixer element can be achieved. A receiver noise temperature of 185 K at 650 GHz has been measured with a dual 0.33/spl times/16.8 /spl mu/m SIS resonator. The noise temperature remains below 300 K over an input bandwidth of about 10%. This design can be used at much higher frequency where the loss of tuning circuit becomes significant.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 2003•8 citations

Quantum-limited Mixing in a Transformer-coupled SIS Resonator for the 600 GHz Frequency Band

Edward Tong, R. Blundell, Krikor G. Megerian +2 more

Quantum-limited mixer noise temperature has been achieved in Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) resonant mixer in the 600 — 720 GHz frequency range. Our mixer employs a single full-wave Nb/A1N/Nb tunnel junction resonator, fed by a quarter-wave transformer. The devices have low critical current density (-5 kA/cm 2 ). The mixers were tested in a fixed-tuned waveguide mixer mount. Double-side-band receiver noise temperatures equivalent to a few quanta have been measured for a number of different devices. Using a 0.55 x 25 Inn resonator, a noise temperature of 141 K was recorded at an LO frequency of 700 GHz with the mixer at 4.2 K. The noise temperature dropped to 111 K when the helium bath was pumped down to 2.8 K. High sensitivity has attained over reasonably wide RF bandwidth, —17%. The IF bandwidth of these mixers has also been investigated.

Softwaretechnik-Trends•Mar 1, 2002•3 citations

A 100-GHz fixed-tuned waveguide SIS mixer exhibiting broad bandwidth and very low noise temperature

Sheng-Gai Shi, Takashi Noguchi, Junji Inatani

This paper presents design and performance data for a 100-GHz waveguide superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer, which is incorporated with a twin-junction device (i.e., two identical junctions connected in parallel through a tuning inductance) and a fixed-tuned broad-band waveguide mixer mount. The 100-GHz mixer is actually developed as a prototype of the 500-GHz one. The constructed 100-GHz SIS receiver results in an overall receiver noise temperature (DSB) of less than 40 K over the frequency range from 80-120 GHz, with a minimum value of just 20 K that is four times as large as the quantum limit (i.e., 4/spl planck//spl omega//k). Such a performance is comparable or even superior to those of the best mechanically tunable waveguide SIS receivers at the same frequency band. In addition, some interesting mixing behaviors related to this two-junction device are described in detail.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jan 1, 1997•22 citations

Performance of an SIS receiver over 460 GHz to 640 GHz using submicron Nb junctions with integrated RF tuning circuits

Pascal Febvre

The most sensitive heterodyne receivers used formillimeter wave and submillimeter wave radioastronomyemploy superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS)tunnel junctions as the nonlinear mixing element. Goodperformance has recently been reported for SIS junctionsused in planar mixer circuits and waveguide mixers fromabout 300 GHz to 500 GHz. We have developed asubmillimeter wave SIS heterodyne receiver for observingimportant rotational transitions of molecules in theinterstellar medium near 550 GHz and 630 GHz. Thisreceiver is based on a waveguide mixer with an adjustablebackshort and E-plane tuner [1]. The mixer uses a highcurrent density, 0.25 gm2 Nb-A1Ox-Nb tunnel junctiondefined by electron beam lithography [2]. The capacitanceof the junction is compensated with an integrated RFsuperconductive microstrip tuning circuit. The receiverperformance has been measured over the frequency range460 GHz to 640 GHz. DSB receiver noise temperatures aslow as 200 ± 17 K at 540 GHz and 362 ± 33 K at626 GHz have been obtained. In addition, negativedifferential resistance has been observed in the DC I-Vcurve at frequencies around 491 GHz. These results indicatethat the superconductive Nb microstrip transmission linesused in the tuning circuits are low-loss and perform well upto at least 90% of the superconductor energy gap frequency.

International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)•Aug 30, 1993•0 citations

A 547 GHz SIS receiver employing a submicron Nb junction with an integrated matching circuit

Pascal Febvre, William R. McGrath, P. D. Batelaan +4 more

A heterodyne receiver using an SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) waveguide mixer with two mechanical tuners has been built and characterized over the frequency range of 460 GHz to 630 GHz. This receiver is designed for radioastronomy applications. The mixer uses high-current-density, 0.25- mu m/sup 2/, Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb SIS tunnel junctions with integrated superconductive RF circuits to tune the junction capacitance. A DSB (double sideband) receiver noise temperature as low as 200+or-17 K has been obtained at 540 GHz. In addition, negative differential resistance has been observed in the DC I-V (current-voltage) curve at 487-491 GHz.>

IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium digest•Dec 30, 2002•4 citations

A wideband fixed-tuned SIS receiver for 200-GHz operation

R. Blundell, Edward Tong, D. C. Papa +6 more

We report on the design and development of a heterodyne receiver, designed to cover the frequency range 176-256 GHz. This receiver incorporates a niobium superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction mixer, which, chiefly for reasons of reliability and ease of operation, is a fixed-tuned waveguide design. On-chip tuning is provided to resonate out the junction's geometric capacitance and produce a good match to the waveguide circuit. Laboratory measurements on the first test receiver indicate that the required input bandwidth (about 40%) is achieved with an average receiver noise temperature of below 50 K. Mixer conversion gain is observed at some frequencies, and the lowest measured receiver noise is less than 30 K. Furthermore, the SIS mixer used in this receiver is of simple construction, is easy to assemble and is therefore a good candidate for duplication.>

IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques•Apr 1, 1995•69 citations
The non-linear quasiparticle tunnel current flowing in a distributed superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) transmission line resonator has been exploited in a low-noise heterodyne fixed-tuned waveguide receiver in the 600-720 GHz band. The mixer employs two 1.4 /spl mu/m wide half-wave or full-wave distributed SIS long junctions that are connected in series. These devices have been fabricated with optical lithography. Noise temperatures of 160-240 K have been measured at around 600 GHz. However, the achieved RF bandwidth is only about 5 % and the center frequency of the resonance is also shifted towards lower end of the target frequencies.
A Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) distributed mixer with no integrated tuning circuit has been designed for use in a fixed-tuned waveguide mixer block. This mixer employs two half-wave SIS resonators connected in series across the feed point of the waveguide circuit. By selecting appropriate dimensions for the resonators, we can obtain proper impedance matching over a reasonable input bandwidth. Since there is no lossy thin film microstrip line in front of the SIS junction, efficient power transfer from the waveguide feed to the mixer element can be achieved. A receiver noise temperature of 185 K at 650 GHz has been measured with a dual 0.33/spl times/16.8 /spl mu/m SIS resonator. The noise temperature remains below 300 K over an input bandwidth of about 10%. This design can be used at much higher frequency where the loss of tuning circuit becomes significant.
Quantum-limited mixer noise temperature has been achieved in Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) resonant mixer in the 600 — 720 GHz frequency range. Our mixer employs a single full-wave Nb/A1N/Nb tunnel junction resonator, fed by a quarter-wave transformer. The devices have low critical current density (-5 kA/cm 2 ). The mixers were tested in a fixed-tuned waveguide mixer mount. Double-side-band receiver noise temperatures equivalent to a few quanta have been measured for a number of different devices. Using a 0.55 x 25 Inn resonator, a noise temperature of 141 K was recorded at an LO frequency of 700 GHz with the mixer at 4.2 K. The noise temperature dropped to 111 K when the helium bath was pumped down to 2.8 K. High sensitivity has attained over reasonably wide RF bandwidth, —17%. The IF bandwidth of these mixers has also been investigated.
This paper presents design and performance data for a 100-GHz waveguide superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer, which is incorporated with a twin-junction device (i.e., two identical junctions connected in parallel through a tuning inductance) and a fixed-tuned broad-band waveguide mixer mount. The 100-GHz mixer is actually developed as a prototype of the 500-GHz one. The constructed 100-GHz SIS receiver results in an overall receiver noise temperature (DSB) of less than 40 K over the frequency range from 80-120 GHz, with a minimum value of just 20 K that is four times as large as the quantum limit (i.e., 4/spl planck//spl omega//k). Such a performance is comparable or even superior to those of the best mechanically tunable waveguide SIS receivers at the same frequency band. In addition, some interesting mixing behaviors related to this two-junction device are described in detail.
The most sensitive heterodyne receivers used formillimeter wave and submillimeter wave radioastronomyemploy superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS)tunnel junctions as the nonlinear mixing element. Goodperformance has recently been reported for SIS junctionsused in planar mixer circuits and waveguide mixers fromabout 300 GHz to 500 GHz. We have developed asubmillimeter wave SIS heterodyne receiver for observingimportant rotational transitions of molecules in theinterstellar medium near 550 GHz and 630 GHz. Thisreceiver is based on a waveguide mixer with an adjustablebackshort and E-plane tuner [1]. The mixer uses a highcurrent density, 0.25 gm2 Nb-A1Ox-Nb tunnel junctiondefined by electron beam lithography [2]. The capacitanceof the junction is compensated with an integrated RFsuperconductive microstrip tuning circuit. The receiverperformance has been measured over the frequency range460 GHz to 640 GHz. DSB receiver noise temperatures aslow as 200 ± 17 K at 540 GHz and 362 ± 33 K at626 GHz have been obtained. In addition, negativedifferential resistance has been observed in the DC I-Vcurve at frequencies around 491 GHz. These results indicatethat the superconductive Nb microstrip transmission linesused in the tuning circuits are low-loss and perform well upto at least 90% of the superconductor energy gap frequency.
A heterodyne receiver using an SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) waveguide mixer with two mechanical tuners has been built and characterized over the frequency range of 460 GHz to 630 GHz. This receiver is designed for radioastronomy applications. The mixer uses high-current-density, 0.25- mu m/sup 2/, Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb SIS tunnel junctions with integrated superconductive RF circuits to tune the junction capacitance. A DSB (double sideband) receiver noise temperature as low as 200+or-17 K has been obtained at 540 GHz. In addition, negative differential resistance has been observed in the DC I-V (current-voltage) curve at 487-491 GHz.>
We report on the design and development of a heterodyne receiver, designed to cover the frequency range 176-256 GHz. This receiver incorporates a niobium superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction mixer, which, chiefly for reasons of reliability and ease of operation, is a fixed-tuned waveguide design. On-chip tuning is provided to resonate out the junction's geometric capacitance and produce a good match to the waveguide circuit. Laboratory measurements on the first test receiver indicate that the required input bandwidth (about 40%) is achieved with an average receiver noise temperature of below 50 K. Mixer conversion gain is observed at some frequencies, and the lowest measured receiver noise is less than 30 K. Furthermore, the SIS mixer used in this receiver is of simple construction, is easy to assemble and is therefore a good candidate for duplication.>