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Superconductor Science and Technology

Josephson arrays for dc and ac metrology

J. Niemeyer

Published May 1, 2000• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Large series arrays of underdamped SIS tunnel junctions are the basic element of the primary dc voltage standards used at present. The development of versatile quantum voltmeters for dc and ac metrology requires the preparation of large and perfect series arrays of overdamped Josephson junctions. Overdamped junctions can be realized by externally shunted SIS junctions or by internally shunted SNS or SINIS junctions. Arrays of up to 8000 SINIS junctions or 30000 SNS junctions were successfully operated at the 1 V dc level. In addition to being used in large arrays for voltage metrology and oscillators, the described junction types may become very useful for the preparation of highly integrated single-flux-quantum digital devices.

DOI
10.1088/0953-2048/13/5/324

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Large series arrays of underdamped SIS tunnel junctions are the basic element of the primary dc voltage standards used at present. The development of versatile quantum voltmeters for dc and ac metrology requires the preparation of large and perfect series arrays of overdamped Josephson junctions. Overdamped junctions can be realized by externally shunted SIS junctions or by internally shunted SNS or SINIS junctions. Arrays of up to 8000 SINIS junctions or 30000 SNS junctions were successfully operated at the 1 V dc level. In addition to being used in large arrays for voltage metrology and oscillators, the described junction types may become very useful for the preparation of highly integrated single-flux-quantum digital devices.
The DC voltage across a Josephson junction is exactly determined by the number of single flux quanta Φ0passing the junction per second. By locking this flux train to an external sinusoidal microwave with the frequency f or a pulse train with the pulse rate f in such a way that one flux quantum is transferred per microwave period or per pulse respectively, the junction DC voltage becomes V=Φ0f in the simplest case. The precision of V is only determined by the uncertainty of the frequency control. As the output voltage is relatively small (V=140μV for f=70GHz), large series arrays of n Josephson junctions must be used to increase the voltage to practical levels V=nΦ0f. With a sinusoidal 70 GHz microwave drive and series arrays of up to 14000 SIS tunnel junctions modern DC voltage standards were developed in the past which may reach a reproducibility of a few parts in 10-10. These standards are commercially available and form the basis of the legal voltage metrology of most of the national laboratories worldwide. Because the reference voltages of these standards are widely overlapping it is difficult to rapidly adjust the desired voltage. It was therefore impossible to use these quantum voltmeters for the precise analysis of AC voltages. For this purpose the arrays had to be modified in many respects. The direct way to generate arbitrary Josephson waveforms V(t) is to rapidly alter the frequency f(t) with respect to the desired waveform V(t)=nf(t)Φ0. It requires a precise flux transfer control over a very wide frequency range.
The past few decades have witnessed great progress being made from the first voltage standards based on arrays of Josephson junctions. Continuous improvements in the fabrication process have increased the quality and “user-friendliness” of these superconducting circuits. Combined with the improvements in measuring electronics, the range of applications of Josephson-based measurements with unmatched precision has extended from DC into AC voltage metrology for signal frequencies up to 500 kHz. In this poster we will present several Josephson-based measurement systems developed for metrology applications. Two versions of quantum AC standards will be used as Josephson references: Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards (PJVS), which are based on serial arrays with up to 300,000 Josephson junctions, and pulse-driven arrays with more than 50,000 junctions, typically referred to as Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizers (JAWS). PJVS can reach amplitudes of up to 80 V, while pulse-driven arrays can reach up to 1 V or even 4 V. The advantage of pulse-driven Josephson voltage standards is that they are ideally suited as quantum-based voltage synthesizers for arbitrary waveforms or sine waves with high spectral purity. Therefore, they can be used directly to characterize or calibrate ADCs. In addition, JAWS are particularly useful in Josephson impedance bridges, which perform automated impedance calibrations at the 10-9 uncertainty level over a wide frequency range from 50 Hz to 80 kHz in a single bridge. We will further show how PJVS are used in commercial quantum voltmeters for DC and AC voltages and are typically used as quantum voltage references in measurement systems. Using differential sampling based on PJVS, uncertainties at the level of a few parts in 108 for frequencies up to the kHz range can be achieved. Such quantum-based AC voltage calibrations are at least 30 times faster than conventional AC-DC transfer and offer even better uncertainties. This idea has been quickly adopted by many National Metrology Institutes to establish such systems for AC voltage calibrations. As an example, the BIPM will now start worldwide onsite comparisons to ensure the uniformity of the new method which we introduced in 2006. But developments continue. Recently, a sub-sampling technique was used to extend the frequency range of the AC quantum voltmeter to up to 100 kHz with uncertainties below 5 parts in 106. In addition, a novel method, also for differential sampling, enables the measurement of arbitrary waveforms and the calibration of specific tones. Our poster will provide an overview of these Josephson-based metrological applications and present the latest developments from this fast-developing area.
Arrays of Josephson junctions have been used successfully for many years as the primary standard of voltage. A recent development has been the fabrication of arrays, based on non-hysteretic Josephson junctions, which allows the voltage output to be changed almost instantaneously. When these arrays are divided into binary segments a ‘digital-to-analogue converter’ with quantum accuracy is created. The properties of two types of array, a SINIS array, using intrinsic shunting of the Josephson junctions, and a SIS array with external, on-chip shunting have been investigated. The accuracy of the generated voltages and AC properties of the arrays when driven with a purpose-built, programmable current bias source are discussed. It is anticipated that a Josephson standard having waveforms with calculable rms values of AC voltage will soon be available.
Overdamped Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb Josephson junctions are an intermediate state between the SIS and SNS Josephson junctions. With a proper choice of fabrication parameters, stable and reproducible nonhysteretic curent-voltage characteristics have been obtained Featuring critical current densities up to 70 kA/cm2and characteristic voltages up to 450 μV at 4.2 K, overdamped junctions are suitable for many aplications ranging from RSFQ electronic circuits to programmable and ac voltage standards. Tests on single junctions arrays of series-connected junctions have shown a suitable behaviour when driven by a microwave with frequencies around 75 GHz. The quantized steps have proven to be stable and flat at nV level. These junctions also shown an improved temperature dependence, which can be interesting in view of the development instrumentation with an integrated quantum voltage reference operated in a closed cycle refrigerator.