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Applied Physics Letters

YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 Josephson junctions on LaAlO3 bicrystals for terahertz-frequency applications

A. Kaestner, M. Volk, Frank Ludwig, Meinhard Schilling, J. Menzel

Published Nov 6, 2000• 23 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We prepared Josephson junctions made of YBa2Cu3O7 on symmetric 24° LaAlO3 bicrystal substrates. For better coupling of high-frequency radiation, we structured the contacts with logarithmic-periodic antennas made of YBa2Cu3O7. Characterization was done by measuring the voltage–current characteristics to determine the critical current IC, the normal-state resistance RN, the noise parameter Γ, and the Stewart–McCumber parameter βC as predicted by the resistively and capactively shunted junction model (RCSJ). The junctions showed excellent RCSJ-like behavior with ICRN products of up to 2.0 mV at 10 K and 220 μV at 77 K. To demonstrate the possibility to detect high-frequency radiation up to the THz regime, we used the Josephson junction as a detector for radiation from a far-infrared laser and we reconstructed the spectra by Hilbert spectroscopy.

DOI
10.1063/1.1323545

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Softwaretechnik-Trends•Apr 1, 1993•0 citations
We prepared Josephson junctions made of YBa2Cu3O7 on symmetric 24° LaAlO3 bicrystal substrates. For better coupling of high-frequency radiation, we structured the contacts with logarithmic-periodic antennas made of YBa2Cu3O7. Characterization was done by measuring the voltage–current characteristics to determine the critical current IC, the normal-state resistance RN, the noise parameter Γ, and the Stewart–McCumber parameter βC as predicted by the resistively and capactively shunted junction model (RCSJ). The junctions showed excellent RCSJ-like behavior with ICRN products of up to 2.0 mV at 10 K and 220 μV at 77 K. To demonstrate the possibility to detect high-frequency radiation up to the THz regime, we used the Josephson junction as a detector for radiation from a far-infrared laser and we reconstructed the spectra by Hilbert spectroscopy.
Using high-Tc Josephson junctions made of YBa2Cu3O7−δ deposited across MgO bicrystal boundary, at terahertz (THz) frequency band, we demonstrated both fundamental and harmonic mixing. Radiation from a far-infrared laser was coupled to the junction, which was integrated with a planar bow-tie antenna, via an extended hyperhemispherical silicon lens. Fundamental mixing manifested itself in the junction’s dc current–voltage (I–V) curve as a third Shapiro step in addition to those two induced by the THz laser lines from a slightly misaligned resonator. In harmonic mixing between a THz laser line and a microwave local oscillator, the highest harmonic number we could get was 490 with a signal-to-noise ratio of 9 dB at the intermediate frequency.
Using YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 /MgO bicrystal Josephson junctions operating between 6–77 K, we have studied their responses to monochromatic electromagnetic radiation from 50 GHz to 4.25 THz. We have obtained direct detections for radiation at 70 K from 50 GHz to 760 GHz and at 40 K from 300 GHz to 3.1 THz. This indicates that fast detectors can be realized to cover the 10:1 frequency band at one operation temperature, and about 100:1 can be covered by operating only one junction at two different temperatures. Both the highest response frequency and the maximum value of the normalized response are shown to be proportional to the I C R N product of the junction, where I C and R N are the critical current and the normal resistance of the junction, respectively.
Josephson cantilevers, based on high temperature superconducting Josephson junctions, are versatile detectors for the measurement of frequency and power of microwave and terahertz radiation. A Josephson cantilever consists of at least one Josephson junction, which is equipped with an antenna structure for better coupling. The Josephson junctions, made from the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7, are deployed on LaAIO3or MgO bicrystal substrates. Four feedlines are used to carry out four-terminal sensing. The THz microscope was developed, to allow three dimensional measurements [1]. In this measurement setup, the Josephson cantilever is mounted on a 15 × 15 × 15 mm3positioning system inside a vacuum chamber. The Josephson cantilever is cooled by a cryocooler that allows operating temperatures down to 30 K. A triangular current is injected into the junction and the current-voltage characteristic is recorded at each spatial point. The frequency and the power of the external radiation can be determined from the recorded data by evaluating the occurring Shapiro steps using Hilbert spectroscopy [2]. When the Josephson cantilever is irradiated with more than one frequency at a time, it behaves as a frequency mixer, due to its nonlinear current-voltage characteristic. In this work, we investigated the mixing of 40 GHz and 762 GHz signals with the THz microscope.
We have studied the far infrared behavior of high -T/sub c/ superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) microbridges with T/sub c/>85 K and critical current-resistance products (I/sub c/R/sub N/) as high as 10 mV at 4 K. These are the highest I/sub c/R/sub N/ products reported to date for microfabricated Josephson junctions of any material. The junctions were integrated at the feeds of planar log-periodic antennas made from Au thin films. The junctions had dc normal state resistances R/sub N/ between 6 and 38 /spl Omega/, reasonably well matched to the antenna's estimated RF impedance of 53 /spl Omega/. Far infrared laser radiation at 404, 760, and 992 GHz induced distinct Shapiro steps (i.e. constant voltage steps at voltages n(hf/2e), n=1,2,...) in the current voltage characteristics as well as modulation of the critical current. Steps were observed at voltages up to 17 mV and 6 mV, at temperatures of 9 K and 57 K respectively. This corresponds to maximum Josephson oscillation frequencies of 8 and 3 THz at these temperatures. These are the first far infrared measurements performed on high T/sub c/ junctions. Measurements of the power, frequency, and temperature dependence of the Shapiro steps are presented and discussed in the context of a resistively and capacitively shunted junction (RCSJ) model. A value of 4.5 fF for the junction capacitance is inferred from the hysteresis of the slightly underdamped current-voltage characteristics.>
We have studied the far infrared behavior of high -T/sub c/ superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) microbridges with T/sub c/>85 K and critical current-resistance products (I/sub c/R/sub N/) as high as 10 mV at 4 K. These are the highest I/sub c/R/sub N/ products reported to date for microfabricated Josephson junctions of any material. The junctions were integrated at the feeds of planar log-periodic antennas made from Au thin films. The junctions had dc normal state resistances R/sub N/ between 6 and 38 /spl Omega/, reasonably well matched to the antenna's estimated RF impedance of 53 /spl Omega/. Far infrared laser radiation at 404, 760, and 992 GHz induced distinct Shapiro steps (i.e. constant voltage steps at voltages n(hf/2e), n=1,2,...) in the current voltage characteristics as well as modulation of the critical current. Steps were observed at voltages up to 17 mV and 6 mV, at temperatures of 9 K and 57 K respectively. This corresponds to maximum Josephson oscillation frequencies of 8 and 3 THz at these temperatures. These are the first far infrared measurements performed on high T/sub c/ junctions. Measurements of the power, frequency, and temperature dependence of the Shapiro steps are presented and discussed in the context of a resistively and capacitively shunted junction (RCSJ) model. A value of 4.5 fF for the junction capacitance is inferred from the hysteresis of the slightly underdamped current-voltage characteristics. >