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

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

Performance limits of the Josephson junction microwave receivers

V. P. Zavaleev, Konstantin K. Likharev

Published Jan 1, 1981• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The performance limits are found for the Josephson junction microwave receivers: self- and externally-pumped mixers, as well as self-selecting and wideband quadratic detectors. The effect of the signal source impedance upon the Josephson junction properties is considered in two extreme approximations for the junc-, tion matching with the source, the approximations yielding close results. It has become possible to find the device characteristics for the arbitrary values of ratios RE/RNand F/Fc, where REis the reduced source resistance, RNis the junction normal resistance, F is the signal frequency and FCis the junction characteristic frequency. The performance factors obtained are optimized and their ultimate limits are found. The relatively poorly-developed devices without external pumping (self-pumped mixer and self-selecting detector) occur to have the best performance limits. Achievement of these limits is possible, however, only if the recently proposed specially-designed multi-junction arrays are used.

DOI
10.1109/tmag.1981.1061122

Related papers

Performance of Wideband Receiving Devices with Josephson Junctions

V. P. Zavaleev, Konstantin K. Likharev

In recent experiments, fairly high sensitivity of some Josephson junction receivers has been demonstrated (see reviews [1-3]). The theoretical analysis of their performance limits, however, has not been completed even within the framework of the simple and convenient “Resistively Shunted Junction” (RSJ) model (e.g., see [4]). The reason is that the best sensitivity can be achieved in the case most difficult for calculations, when the reduced signal source resistance REis comparable with the normal resistance of the Josephson junction [5], and the signal frequency f is of the order of the junction “characteristic frequency” fC, typically from 100 to 500 GHz. The adequate analysis in the case of arbitrary REand f, occurs to be possible for wideband source-junction coupling with no essential reactances for all frequencies comparable with f. Following are the results of the analysis of noise performance limits for the most principal types of the Josephson-effect-based receivers (see [6] for details of calculations).

International Conference on Submillimeter Waves and Their Applications•Dec 1, 1979•0 citations

Microwave receivers using SQUIDs and Josephson junction arrays

L. S. Kuzmin, K. K. Likharev, V. V. Migulin

Performance of various microwave receiving devices, using the Josephson junctions closed with superconducting loops and/or united in arrays, is discussed. These composite nonlinear elements enable us to eliminate problem of their matching with the signal source, to increase the saturation power and to come close to ultimate limits of the device noise performance. For internally-pumped devices, connection of several junctions in a closed-loop (ring) array turns out to be most effective, with coherent junction self-oscillations. For externally-pumped devices, the use of low-inductance (non-hysteretic) SQUIDs is of the greatest interest, enabling one to avoid the difference in junction dynamics due to parameter random spread.

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Jan 1, 1981•21 citations

Performance limits of a Josephson-junction mixer

J. H. Claassen, P. L. Richards

We present the results of extensive analog-computer simulations of a Josephson junction used as a mixer with an external local oscillator. The resistively shunted junction model was used throughout, and the effects of intrinsic junction noise were included. When the source impedance is much greater than the junction resistance R, our simulations permit predictions of conversion efficiency, noise temperature, and saturation level to be made for a wide range of experimental parameters. The possibility of harmonic mixing has also been considered. With a source resistance comparable to R (i.e., conventional ’’matching’’) the behavior of the system is too complicated to permit such general predictions of performance. From the results of simulations for a particular set of parameters, it appears that the best noise temperature will usually be achieved for a source impedance somewhat greater than R. An upper limit for the mixer-noise temperature is ∼40T over a broad range of junction parameters, where T is the effective temperature of the junction. The conversion efficiency under these circumstances should be comparable to what is potentially available from Schottky-diode mixers. Our simulations show that with stronger microwave coupling it is possible to obtain conversion gain—i.e., a conversion efficiency exceeding unity. This, however, will probably be at the expense of a higher mixer-noise temperature. Saturation can be important even for source temperatures ∼300 K. To avoid saturation it is necessary either to restrict the coupling bandwith or use an array of junctions.

Journal of Applied Physics•Jul 1, 1978•42 citations

Performance limits of a Josephson junction mixer

J. H. Claassen, P. L. Richards

The results of extensive analog computer simulations of a Josephson junction used as a mixer with an external local oscillator are presented. The Resistively Shunted Junction model was used throughout, and the effects of intrinsic junction noise were included. When the source impedance is much greater than the junction resistance R our simulations permit predictions of conversion efficiency, noise temperature, and saturation level to be made for a wide range of experimental parameters. The possibility of harmonic mixing has also been considered. With a source resistance comparable to R (i.e., conventional matching) the behavior of the system is too complicated to permit such general predictions of performance. From the results of simulations for a particular set of parameters it appears that the best noise temperature will usually be achieved for a source impedance somewhat greater than R. An upper limit for the mixer noise temperature is approximately 40 T over a broad range of junction parameters, where T is the effective temperature of the junction. The Conversion efficiency under these circumstances should be comparable to what is potentially available from Schottky diode mixers. Our simulations show that with stronger microwave coupling it is possible to obtain conversion gain - i.e., a conversion efficiency exceeding unity. This, however, will probably be at the expense of a higher mixer noise temperature.

California Univ., Berkeley Report•Sep 1, 1977•0 citations

Microwave coupling of frequency-locked Josephson junction arrays

Insang Song, Yongheum Eom, Gwangseo Park +2 more

A high temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy array of five Josephson junctions designed with additional coupling lines has been developed to demonstrate the effects of frequency locking and impedance matching for applications such as oscillators, mixers, and detectors. The Josephson self-radiation power was directly detected by a superheterodyne receiver, and Shapiro steps were also measured. The Josephson self-radiation properties reveal good quality of phase locking and microwave coupling with external circuits. The maximum self-radiation power of our array is about 50 pW which is several ten times higher than that of a single Josephson junction, and its peak point exactly satisfies the Josephson current-voltage relation. The Shapiro-step measurements show that the behavior of current-voltage curve depends on the effective inductance of coupling lines which affects the total impedance of Josephson junction array and microwave coupling. The Josephson oscillation frequency was obtained up to about 880 GHz which is 73% of the maximum available frequency calculated from the characteristic voltage of the Josephson junctions. Experimental results show that this type of Josephson junction array can improve the Josephson self-radiation power and increase the maximum detectable frequency.

Applied Physics Letters•Jun 16, 1997•8 citations

Negative resistance effects with Josephson junctions

Helmut Kanter

Conventional negative resistance effects can be generated with a Josephson junction quite similar to that obtained with Varactor diodes, with the additional advantage that the internal, self-generated oscillations serve as a pump, i. e., only a dc source is needed instead of a high frequency pump source. However, another negative resistance effect typical for a Josephson junction is possible as has been predicted recently for the current controlled, highly damped junction model. The effect has recently been demonstrated experimentally at 9 GHz. Characteristically, the pump (Josephson) frequency is smaller than the frequency of the amplified signal and the pump mechanism is effective over a broad range of frequencies in contrast to the conventional parametric negative resistance effect where the pump frequency exceeds that of the signal and idler and where the frequency of operation is limited to a narrow range. The broad-band feature renders the amplifier operation uncritical to tuning and bias voltage fluctuations. The fact that the junction is the element of lowest impedance in the circuit alleviates to a degree the matching problem generally encountered with Josephson contacts. An assessment of the competitiveness of this effect in microwave technology is given.

Revue de Physique Appliquée•Jan 1, 1974•0 citations
The performance limits are found for the Josephson junction microwave receivers: self- and externally-pumped mixers, as well as self-selecting and wideband quadratic detectors. The effect of the signal source impedance upon the Josephson junction properties is considered in two extreme approximations for the junc-, tion matching with the source, the approximations yielding close results. It has become possible to find the device characteristics for the arbitrary values of ratios RE/RNand F/Fc, where REis the reduced source resistance, RNis the junction normal resistance, F is the signal frequency and FCis the junction characteristic frequency. The performance factors obtained are optimized and their ultimate limits are found. The relatively poorly-developed devices without external pumping (self-pumped mixer and self-selecting detector) occur to have the best performance limits. Achievement of these limits is possible, however, only if the recently proposed specially-designed multi-junction arrays are used.
In recent experiments, fairly high sensitivity of some Josephson junction receivers has been demonstrated (see reviews [1-3]). The theoretical analysis of their performance limits, however, has not been completed even within the framework of the simple and convenient “Resistively Shunted Junction” (RSJ) model (e.g., see [4]). The reason is that the best sensitivity can be achieved in the case most difficult for calculations, when the reduced signal source resistance REis comparable with the normal resistance of the Josephson junction [5], and the signal frequency f is of the order of the junction “characteristic frequency” fC, typically from 100 to 500 GHz. The adequate analysis in the case of arbitrary REand f, occurs to be possible for wideband source-junction coupling with no essential reactances for all frequencies comparable with f. Following are the results of the analysis of noise performance limits for the most principal types of the Josephson-effect-based receivers (see [6] for details of calculations).
Performance of various microwave receiving devices, using the Josephson junctions closed with superconducting loops and/or united in arrays, is discussed. These composite nonlinear elements enable us to eliminate problem of their matching with the signal source, to increase the saturation power and to come close to ultimate limits of the device noise performance. For internally-pumped devices, connection of several junctions in a closed-loop (ring) array turns out to be most effective, with coherent junction self-oscillations. For externally-pumped devices, the use of low-inductance (non-hysteretic) SQUIDs is of the greatest interest, enabling one to avoid the difference in junction dynamics due to parameter random spread.
We present the results of extensive analog-computer simulations of a Josephson junction used as a mixer with an external local oscillator. The resistively shunted junction model was used throughout, and the effects of intrinsic junction noise were included. When the source impedance is much greater than the junction resistance R, our simulations permit predictions of conversion efficiency, noise temperature, and saturation level to be made for a wide range of experimental parameters. The possibility of harmonic mixing has also been considered. With a source resistance comparable to R (i.e., conventional ’’matching’’) the behavior of the system is too complicated to permit such general predictions of performance. From the results of simulations for a particular set of parameters, it appears that the best noise temperature will usually be achieved for a source impedance somewhat greater than R. An upper limit for the mixer-noise temperature is ∼40T over a broad range of junction parameters, where T is the effective temperature of the junction. The conversion efficiency under these circumstances should be comparable to what is potentially available from Schottky-diode mixers. Our simulations show that with stronger microwave coupling it is possible to obtain conversion gain—i.e., a conversion efficiency exceeding unity. This, however, will probably be at the expense of a higher mixer-noise temperature. Saturation can be important even for source temperatures ∼300 K. To avoid saturation it is necessary either to restrict the coupling bandwith or use an array of junctions.
The results of extensive analog computer simulations of a Josephson junction used as a mixer with an external local oscillator are presented. The Resistively Shunted Junction model was used throughout, and the effects of intrinsic junction noise were included. When the source impedance is much greater than the junction resistance R our simulations permit predictions of conversion efficiency, noise temperature, and saturation level to be made for a wide range of experimental parameters. The possibility of harmonic mixing has also been considered. With a source resistance comparable to R (i.e., conventional matching) the behavior of the system is too complicated to permit such general predictions of performance. From the results of simulations for a particular set of parameters it appears that the best noise temperature will usually be achieved for a source impedance somewhat greater than R. An upper limit for the mixer noise temperature is approximately 40 T over a broad range of junction parameters, where T is the effective temperature of the junction. The Conversion efficiency under these circumstances should be comparable to what is potentially available from Schottky diode mixers. Our simulations show that with stronger microwave coupling it is possible to obtain conversion gain - i.e., a conversion efficiency exceeding unity. This, however, will probably be at the expense of a higher mixer noise temperature.
A high temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy array of five Josephson junctions designed with additional coupling lines has been developed to demonstrate the effects of frequency locking and impedance matching for applications such as oscillators, mixers, and detectors. The Josephson self-radiation power was directly detected by a superheterodyne receiver, and Shapiro steps were also measured. The Josephson self-radiation properties reveal good quality of phase locking and microwave coupling with external circuits. The maximum self-radiation power of our array is about 50 pW which is several ten times higher than that of a single Josephson junction, and its peak point exactly satisfies the Josephson current-voltage relation. The Shapiro-step measurements show that the behavior of current-voltage curve depends on the effective inductance of coupling lines which affects the total impedance of Josephson junction array and microwave coupling. The Josephson oscillation frequency was obtained up to about 880 GHz which is 73% of the maximum available frequency calculated from the characteristic voltage of the Josephson junctions. Experimental results show that this type of Josephson junction array can improve the Josephson self-radiation power and increase the maximum detectable frequency.
Conventional negative resistance effects can be generated with a Josephson junction quite similar to that obtained with Varactor diodes, with the additional advantage that the internal, self-generated oscillations serve as a pump, i. e., only a dc source is needed instead of a high frequency pump source. However, another negative resistance effect typical for a Josephson junction is possible as has been predicted recently for the current controlled, highly damped junction model. The effect has recently been demonstrated experimentally at 9 GHz. Characteristically, the pump (Josephson) frequency is smaller than the frequency of the amplified signal and the pump mechanism is effective over a broad range of frequencies in contrast to the conventional parametric negative resistance effect where the pump frequency exceeds that of the signal and idler and where the frequency of operation is limited to a narrow range. The broad-band feature renders the amplifier operation uncritical to tuning and bias voltage fluctuations. The fact that the junction is the element of lowest impedance in the circuit alleviates to a degree the matching problem generally encountered with Josephson contacts. An assessment of the competitiveness of this effect in microwave technology is given.