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Journal of Physics Conference Series

Utilization of a cryo-prober system for operation of a pulse-driven josephson junction array

Michitaka Maruyama, Chiharu Urano, Nobu‐Hisa Kaneko, Hirotake Yamamori, Alexandre Shoji, Masaaki Maezawa, Y. Hashimoto, Hideo Suzuki, Shuichi Nagasawa, T. Satoh, Mutsuo Hidaka, Shogo Kiryu

Published Jun 1, 2010• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We demonstrated the operation of pulse-driven Josephson junction arrays (JJAs) for AC voltage standard using a wideband cryo-prober system with a 4-K Gifford-MacMahon (GM) cooler. This unique system was originally developed for high-speed network switch applications of rapid-single-flux-quantum (RSFQ) circuits and enables wideband data transmission at bit rates of higher than 10 Gbps between room-temperature and cryogenic environments. JJA chips were fabricated using NbN-based superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) junctions. A 5-mm chip was mounted on a 16-mm chip carrier using flip-chip bonding technology for probe contact. To obtain bipolar output voltages, we tried two types of testing based on the AC coupling technique proposed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A pulse pattern generator (PPG) with a large memory of 134 Mbit was used for covering a wide frequency range of output signals. As a result, we succeeded in bipolar operation of the JJA, generating waveforms at frequencies from 60 Hz to several tens of kilo hertz. The maximum rms voltage obtained for a single array was 12.7 mV. The observed spurious level was lower than -93 dBc at 16 kHz.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/234/4/042020

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We demonstrated the operation of pulse-driven Josephson junction arrays (JJAs) for AC voltage standard using a wideband cryo-prober system with a 4-K Gifford-MacMahon (GM) cooler. This unique system was originally developed for high-speed network switch applications of rapid-single-flux-quantum (RSFQ) circuits and enables wideband data transmission at bit rates of higher than 10 Gbps between room-temperature and cryogenic environments. JJA chips were fabricated using NbN-based superconductor-normal metal-superconductor (SNS) junctions. A 5-mm chip was mounted on a 16-mm chip carrier using flip-chip bonding technology for probe contact. To obtain bipolar output voltages, we tried two types of testing based on the AC coupling technique proposed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A pulse pattern generator (PPG) with a large memory of 134 Mbit was used for covering a wide frequency range of output signals. As a result, we succeeded in bipolar operation of the JJA, generating waveforms at frequencies from 60 Hz to several tens of kilo hertz. The maximum rms voltage obtained for a single array was 12.7 mV. The observed spurious level was lower than -93 dBc at 16 kHz.
The paper is about development of the lumped Josephson junction arrays (JJAs) for the generation of accurate quantum-based ac voltages. By using semiconductor pattern generators, it was possible to synthesize unipolar and bipolar waveforms with amplitudes of almost 10 mV and frequencies of up to 122 kHz. Higher harmonics and other unwanted noise signals were suppressed by -90 dBc. Because of the unique layout of our JJA, it was possible to connect the circuit directly to the ground, thereby eliminating common-mode signals
Superconductor/normal conductor/superconductor (SNS) Josephson junction series arrays are the subject of research for the realization of a Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer (JAWS) based on pulse-driven Josephson junctions. Lumped arrays of SNS Josephson junctions are investigated for this application at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). The series arrays consisting of Nb/HfTi/Nb SNS junctions are embedded in the center line of a coplanar waveguide transmission line. To increase the ac output voltage, the Josephson junction series array is designed as a meander-like structure. A broadband response of the arrays is required for the complex pulse operation of the JAWS. The arrays are investigated by dc measurements and for test purposes under continuous microwave irradiation at different frequencies. Flat Shapiro steps were measured for meander-like series arrays with 21 parallel lines containing up to 10 752 junctions. A sine wave with a frequency of 2.5 kHz and a peak voltage of 214 mV Peak was synthesized under pulse mode operation.
The report describes the most recent PTB developments and applications of large Josephson arrays for the generation of very precise sine waves and arbitrary waveforms. By means of large70 GHz sine-wave-driven binary arrays, AC voltages with frequencies up to 1 kHz and amplitudes of more than 10 V were generated with an uncertainty of better than 1μV/V. For the fabrication of this array type with up to 70000 junctions in series connection, an SNS junction technology with NbxSix-1barriers is now completely installed and permanently in use. With pulse-driven arrays of Josephson junctions, arbitrary waveforms were generated with a level of higher harmonics smaller than -120 dBc for frequencies from 150 Hz to 100 kHz at rms voltages less than 100 mV. These results were achieved with extended arrays of up to 4795 very small SNS junctions with Hf0.5Ti0.5barriers. Also the NbSi-technology technology has successfully been applied for the fabrication of pulse-driven Josephson arrays. As it seems to be difficult to considerably increase the wave amplitude by enhancing the junction number of the arrays, experiments were performed to combine a binary array system with a pulse-driven system with the goal to make use of the high amplitude of stepwise generated waves without losing the low noise and precision of quantum based rf waveforms generated by pulse trains at a clock frequency of 15 GHz.
We have succeeded in synthesizing AC waveforms with the rms voltage of greater than 10 V using an AC-programmable Josephson voltage standard (AC-PJVS) system. The system has a NbN-based junction array, which is cooled with a compact cryocooler. The array is composed of total 524 288 junctions, enabling to generate arbitrary signals with the maximum output level of about 17 V for 15.9 GHz microwave input. In this experiment, we used a modified bias circuit with 6 parts of floating channels for eliminating interferences and also saturation in the output level. We will also discuss about heating effect of the 10 Vrms chip in the situation of using a mechanical cooler.
The Josephson effect is worldwide exploited as the basis for constant reference voltages in National Metrological Institutes (NMIs) and in industry calibration laboratories. Lately, voltage metrology research has been mainly directed towards the application of Josephson effect for the synthesis of very accurate ac and arbitrary voltage signals: pulse-driven Josephson arrays represent the most promising way for linking ac voltage calibrations to a quantum phenomenon. Furthermore, an easy and secure cooling system based on cryocoolers is desirable in order to allow the spread of Josephson standards outside NMIs. A Gifford-McMahon cryocooler is currently in use at INRiM for the operation of ac-Josephson Voltage Standards (JVSs). We employed pulse-driven JVSs for synthesizing sine waves with frequency in the kHz range and amplitudes in the mV range, with distortion around 80 dBc. In this report we present a detailed description of this technique and of the refrigeration system employed.
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.