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Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

Submillimeter-Wave Response of Nb-YBaCuO Point-Contact Josephson Junctions

Syozo Imai, Tadayuki Tozawa, Gin-ichiro Oya, Tokukō Sugai, Yosihisa Takeuti, Nobuo Mikoshiba

Published Apr 1, 1988• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Shapiro steps in the submillimeter-wave (SMMW) range were observed in junctions made of a high-T c superconductor, YBa2Cu3O x (YBaCuO), and niobium. Junctions were made by pressing a Nb needle on a sintered YBaCuO disk. Shapiro steps up to the fifth order were observed for SMMWs of wavelength 871.6 µm (frequency 344.0 GHz). The dependence of the Shapiro step width on the SMMW power is in accordance with the Bessel function dependence. For SMMWs of wavelength 570.6 µm (525.4 GHz), Shapiro steps up to the second order were observed.

DOI
10.1143/jjap.27.l522

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Shapiro steps in the submillimeter-wave (SMMW) range were observed in junctions made of a high-T c superconductor, YBa2Cu3O x (YBaCuO), and niobium. Junctions were made by pressing a Nb needle on a sintered YBaCuO disk. Shapiro steps up to the fifth order were observed for SMMWs of wavelength 871.6 µm (frequency 344.0 GHz). The dependence of the Shapiro step width on the SMMW power is in accordance with the Bessel function dependence. For SMMWs of wavelength 570.6 µm (525.4 GHz), Shapiro steps up to the second order were observed.
The Shapiro steps in the submillimeter wave (SMMW) region were measured in point-contact Josephson junctions made of a Nb strip with a sharpened edge and a YBaCuO thin film. The thin film was prepared by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The dependence of the Shapiro step width on the SMMW power was measured for the wavelength of 570.6 µm (525.4 GHz). The dependence was similar to that found in microbridges made of low T c superconductors. The first-order Shapiro step was observed for the wavelength of 232.9 µm (1.287 THz).
We have fabricated tunnel-type Josephson junctions with very small junction area by pressing the tip of a sharpened Nb wire onto a thinly oxidized Sn film, and studied their submillimeter-wave responses. It turns out that the junctions have a very high cutoff frequency, and are suitable for the investigation of the response to the submillimeter waves with the frequency higher than 1 THz. From the frequency and laser-power dependence of the Shapiro step, it is found that the tunnel-type junction shows much larger higher-order steps, and accordingly has much stronger nonlinearity than the bridge-type junction in the submillimeter-wave region. The large enhancement of the steps due to the Riedel singularity is also observed in the tunnel-type junction. In addition to the Shapiro steps, photon-assisted tunneling steps are observed clearly, reflecting the large and sharp gap structure in the dc IV curves of the tunnel-type junctions.
Microwave and millimeterwave dependences of ac Josephson effect were investigated in YBaCuO ceramic superconductors. We observed very clear constant-voltage steps (Shapiro steps) on the current-voltage curve of YBaCuO/Nb junctions at signals of 14.1,25.5 and 35.0 GHz. The observed step voltages were frequency dependent in accordance with the (h/2e)f rule. This strongly suggests that pair-electrons serve as the superconducting particle even in ceramic materials. In addition, the ac Josephson effect was also observed in point-contact ErBaCuO ceramics containing a magnetic element Er.
We have fabricated YBCO step-edge Josephson junctions and measured the responses to millimeter and submillimeter irradiation. In the substrate milling process for the purpose of fabricating the step, the step angle was controlled using a Nb metal mask. At a step angle of 20 degrees, we obtained Josephson junctions, the characteristics of which are consistent with the RSJ model. We estimated the capacitance to be 4.4 fF using the RSJ model, but such a value for an 8 /spl mu/m wide and 300 nm thick junction seems too small. When the junctions were irradiated by 300 GHz radiation, Shapiro steps up to the 4th were observed. The junctions were used as mixers in the 100 GHz band, and as harmonic mixers in the 100 GHz LO and 700 GHz RF bands. Beat signals were observed in both cases. We also estimated the quasi-optical conversion losses of the step-edge junctions as mixers.>