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Applied Physics Letters

Direct detection of the parametrically generated half-harmonic voltage in a Josephson tunnel junction

J. Mygind, N. F. Pedersen, O. H. Soerensen

Published Sep 1, 1976• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The first direct observation of the parametrically generated half-harmonic voltage in a Josephson tunnel junction is reported. A microwave signal at f=17.25 GHz is applied to the junction dc current biased at zero voltage such that the Josephson plasma resonance fp=f/2. Under these conditions a large-amplitude microwave signal is emitted at fp provided the input power exceeds a threshold value. The results are compared to existing theory.

DOI
10.1063/1.89061

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Period three generation on microwave-induced constant-voltage steps of Josephson tunnel junctions

J. Mygind, J. Bindslev-Hansen, John L. Clarke +2 more

Abstl'act W& l'epol't the obsel'vation of one-thil'd hal'monic .genel'ation in small Josephson tunnel junctions dl'iven with a micl'owave signal in the fl'equency range 8 to 18 GHz.This phenomenon was observed both with the• junction biased in the zero voltage state and• on micl'owave-induced constant-voltage steps in the.CUl'l'ent-voltage chal'acteristic.With high levels of applied microwave power the period-tl'ipled signal was detected on steps up to order 120.''~

•Oct 1, 1986•0 citations
The first direct observation of the parametrically generated half-harmonic voltage in a Josephson tunnel junction is reported. A microwave signal at f=17.25 GHz is applied to the junction dc current biased at zero voltage such that the Josephson plasma resonance fp=f/2. Under these conditions a large-amplitude microwave signal is emitted at fp provided the input power exceeds a threshold value. The results are compared to existing theory.
A new parametric mode in a Josephson tunnel junction biased in the zero-voltage mode is suggested. It is a nondegenerate parametric excitation where the junction plasma resonance represents the input circuit, and a junction geometrical resonance represents the idler circuit. This nondegenerate mode has been observed in analog experiments. In a real junction the realization of this mode of operation depends on the coupling between the plasma resonance and the geometrical resonance, and it is argued that without an external dc magnetic field the even geometrical resonances are most favorable for such a coupling.
One-third harmonic signals have been generated in the zero voltage state of a Josephson tunnel junction driven with a microwave current in the frequency range 8–20 GHz. The signal was as much as 50 dB above the noise level of the detector with a linewidth of less than 100 Hz. The junction parameters and microwave current were measured in situ in separate experiments. The subharmonic generation occurred for ranges of microwave current and frequency that were in reasonable agreement with the results of digital computer simulations.
The capacitance of a Josephson tunnel junction is an important parameter, which determines its plasma frequency ωp and thus the energy level spacing in the quantum regime. When a microwave signal at the frequency of ω is applied to a current-biased junction in its zero-voltage state, the escape rate from this state is somehow enhanced. The enhancement is expected to go through a pronounced maximum when ωp=ω. Making use of such microwave generated resonant activation in the thermal regime, we have developed a time-resolved measurement scheme for determining the junction capacitance with an uncertainty of less than 2%.
Abstl'act W& l'epol't the obsel'vation of one-thil'd hal'monic .genel'ation in small Josephson tunnel junctions dl'iven with a micl'owave signal in the fl'equency range 8 to 18 GHz.This phenomenon was observed both with the• junction biased in the zero voltage state and• on micl'owave-induced constant-voltage steps in the.CUl'l'ent-voltage chal'acteristic.With high levels of applied microwave power the period-tl'ipled signal was detected on steps up to order 120.''~