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IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

Fabrication of NbN/Pb Josephson tunnel junctions with a novel integration method

S. Kosaka, Fujitoshi Shinoki, S. Takada, Hisao Hayakawa

Published Jan 1, 1981• 24 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have developed a new integration method for Josephson tunnel junctions based on high Tc superconducting compound materials such as NbN. In this method, a sputtered ZnO film has been employed as a resist mask which can be used in high substrate temperatures during the film deposition. It has been found that fine patterns of the refractory superconducting film can be obtained by this method and the patterning processes have no interference with other integration processes. We have applied this method to patterning base electrode of NbN and formed high quality NbN-oxide-Pb Josephson tunnel junctions by using an rf plasma oxidation. The fabricated junctions have been found to have a relatively large gap ( ∼ 4.0 mV ) and low current leak in the subgap region, and to be quite stable for thermal cyclings and storage. We have also fabricated quantum interference memory devices by integrating these junctions and the operation has been successfully demonstrated.

DOI
10.1109/tmag.1981.1060972

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A novel process suitable for fabrication superconducting circuitry based on the all refactory material NbN is described. In this process, and in-situ trilayer film composed of NbN/MgO/NbN is used to fabricate Josephson tunnel junctions. Reactive ion etching processes are used to delineate devices and pattern insulators and metallizations. Fabricated junctions have yielded good tunneling characteristics with reasonable current density uniformity and reproducibility. Devices with gap voltages close to 3mV have been achieved for high quality junctions (Vm 20 mV). In addition to the trilayer, there are two wiring layers, two resistor depositions, and two insulation layers, constituting a full NbN based fabrication technology. Using this process, we fabricated and successfully tested thin film DC SQUID and time domain reflectometer (TDR) circuits. Preliminary measurements suggest that the critical temperature of these circuits is well within the operating temperature of commercial two-stage closed cycle refrigerators. (Author)

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We have developed a new integration method for Josephson tunnel junctions based on high Tc superconducting compound materials such as NbN. In this method, a sputtered ZnO film has been employed as a resist mask which can be used in high substrate temperatures during the film deposition. It has been found that fine patterns of the refractory superconducting film can be obtained by this method and the patterning processes have no interference with other integration processes. We have applied this method to patterning base electrode of NbN and formed high quality NbN-oxide-Pb Josephson tunnel junctions by using an rf plasma oxidation. The fabricated junctions have been found to have a relatively large gap ( ∼ 4.0 mV ) and low current leak in the subgap region, and to be quite stable for thermal cyclings and storage. We have also fabricated quantum interference memory devices by integrating these junctions and the operation has been successfully demonstrated.
A procedure is described for fabricating thin film Nb/Nb oxide/Pb-alloy Josephson tunnel junctions that satisfies the principal requirements for integrated circuit design and fabrication. A deposited Nb film, evaporated from an e-gun heated source, was patterned by chemical etching to form a base electrode. A junction was completed by plasma etching and plasma oxidizing the Nb junction area to form a tunnel barrier and by depositing a Pb alloy counterelectrode. Josephson tunnel junctions with Nb/Nb oxide/Pb-Au-In structures were prepared with low excess subgap currents in the current-voltage (I-V) curve and with reproducible and stable I-V characteristics. Variations in junction current density from run-run were ± 15%. Seven 3-junction interferomeeters out of a population of 50,000 were shorted (99.99% yield) for causes not immediately attributable to photoresist-related defects. No changes in Josephson current were detected after thermal cycling 17,000 interferometers 1,800 × between room temperature and 4.2°K, after storing them for 2 years at 5°C, or after annealing 5,000 interferometers for 4.5 hours at 70°C.
A novel process suitable for fabricating superconducting circuitry based on the all refractory material NbN is described. In this process, an in-situ trilayer film composed of NbN/MgO/NbN is used to fabricate Josephson tunnel junctions. Reactive ion etching processes are used to delineate devices and pattern insulators and metallizations. Fabricated junctions have yielded good tunneling characteristics with reasonable current density uniformity and reproducibility. Devices with gap voltages close to 5mV have been achieved for high quality junctions. In addition to the trilayer, there are two wiring layers, two resistor depositions, and two insulation layers, constituting a full NbN based fabrication technology. Using this process, we fabricated and successfully tested thin film DC SQUID and time domain reflectometer (TDR) circuits. Preliminary measurements suggest that the critical temperature of these circuits is well within the operating temperature of commercial two-stage closed cycle refrigerators.
All-NbN Josephson tunnel junctions with sputter-deposited magnesium oxide barriers have been fabricated using single-crystal NbN films for the base electrodes. Fabricated Josephson junctions have shown good tunneling characteristics with large gap voltages (5.6-5.8 mV), narrow gap widths (0.1-0.2 mV, from 30 to 70%), and small subgap leakage currents (V/sub m/=20-30 mV, measured at 3 mV). The results of a measurement of a subgap structure for a fabricated junction suggest that the excess leakage currents of fabricated junctions are due to multiparticle tunneling through locally thin areas in the MgO barriers.
A novel process suitable for fabrication superconducting circuitry based on the all refactory material NbN is described. In this process, and in-situ trilayer film composed of NbN/MgO/NbN is used to fabricate Josephson tunnel junctions. Reactive ion etching processes are used to delineate devices and pattern insulators and metallizations. Fabricated junctions have yielded good tunneling characteristics with reasonable current density uniformity and reproducibility. Devices with gap voltages close to 3mV have been achieved for high quality junctions (Vm 20 mV). In addition to the trilayer, there are two wiring layers, two resistor depositions, and two insulation layers, constituting a full NbN based fabrication technology. Using this process, we fabricated and successfully tested thin film DC SQUID and time domain reflectometer (TDR) circuits. Preliminary measurements suggest that the critical temperature of these circuits is well within the operating temperature of commercial two-stage closed cycle refrigerators. (Author)