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Electronics and Communications in Japan (Part II Electronics)

Millimeter wave mixing in thin‐film YBCO Josephson junctions

Takashi Nozue, Yoshizumi Yasuoka, Jian Chen, Tsutomu Yamashita

Published Aug 1, 1995• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Harmonic mixing characteristics were examined in a 94‐GHz millimeter wave region at liquid‐nitrogen temperature (77 K) using thin‐film YBa2Cu3O7 ‐ x (YBCO) Josephson junctions created by laser ablation. As a result, a mixing signal (IF output) with a harmonic number (N) of up to 30 was obtained in harmonic mixing using the LO wave as the microwave. The output depended strongly on the power of the LO wave and the Shapiro step spacing induced by the LO wave. It was approximately proportional to N−2.

DOI
10.1002/ecjb.4420780810

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Abstract Harmonic mixing characteristics were examined in a 94‐GHz millimeter wave region at liquid‐nitrogen temperature (77 K) using thin‐film YBa2Cu3O7 ‐ x (YBCO) Josephson junctions created by laser ablation. As a result, a mixing signal (IF output) with a harmonic number (N) of up to 30 was obtained in harmonic mixing using the LO wave as the microwave. The output depended strongly on the power of the LO wave and the Shapiro step spacing induced by the LO wave. It was approximately proportional to N−2.
Harmonic mixing characteristics in thin-film YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) Josephson junctions fabricated using photolithography were examined at the liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) using 94 GHz millimeter wave radiation. As a result, a mixing signal (IF output) was obtained up to the harmonic number of 55 in harmonic mixing using the local oscillation (LO) wave as the microwave. The output strongly depended on the power of the LO and signal waves, and on the Shapiro step spacing induced by the LO wave. The IF output decreased in proportion to N -2 in the lower harmonic number region. However, the rate of decrease increased with an increase in the harmonic number.
A high-temperature superconducting (HTS) terahertz (THz) heterodyne mixer based on a thin-film antenna-coupled YBa2Cu3O7-xstep-edge Josephson junction is presented. The frequency down-conversion from 0.6 THz to an intermediate frequency (IF) of 2 GHz was achieved using high-order harmonic mixing of a local oscillator (LO), thus removing the need to use a second THz source as the LO pumping source. The DC and RF characteristics of the harmonic mixer as well as the relationship of the IF output power versus the harmonic number were experimentally studied and compared with simulated results. Most of our measurements were made at 40 K, but we also observed stable harmonic mixing at 77 K which we believe has not been reported previously in HTS junction mixers.
Thin film niobium nitride Josephson tunnel junctions have been used as harmonic mixers in experiments to measure the frequency of various submillimetre wavelength laser lines. The Josephson junctions were used as harmonic mixers with an 18-40 GHz microwave synthesiser providing the local oscillator signal. Harmonics up to the 140th of ∼18 GHz, generated within the junction, mixed with optically pumped laser lines up to 2.5 THz to produce output signals around 20 MHz. Results of frequency measurements and data on the performance of the mixing system, including signal to noise ratios and frequency response, will be presented.
Using a superconducting weak link (bridge) made of YBCO, the authors have successfully observed Josephson harmonic mixing between a local oscillation (LO) at X band and a signal at Ka band. Specifically, fourth-order harmonic mixing between 35.47 GHz and 8.843 GHz was observed. For a given signal level, the IF (intermediate frequency) responses depended strongly on both LO level and DC voltage bias across the junction. For zero bias, there is still IF output which is characteristic of even-order harmonic mixing. When the LO power level is such that the zero voltage current is suppressed to the second zero, the IF responses are maximum if the junction is biased between the zeroth and first steps induced by the LO. Also studied is the internal oscillation-mixing. An incoming signal at either X or Ka band gives rise to IF signal peaks if the junction is biased at voltages such that the corresponding internal Josephson frequencies are equal to, or harmonics of, the incoming signal frequency.>
Millimeter-wave detection was investigated using a step-edge microbridge Josephson junction fabricated by a YBaCuO thin film for both the video detection and harmonic mixing detection. Current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, which could be described by the resistively shunted junction (RSJ) model, were obtained up to 70 K with the IcR product of 150 μV at 70 K. The responsivity and noise equivalent input power were calculated as 2400 W/V and 4.4×10−14 W/√Hz, respectively, in the video detection assuming the RSJ model approximation. Clear dependence of the intermediate frequency output on the applied dc bias voltage was observed in the harmonic mixing detection with the harmonic numbers of 5–16, reflecting the change of dynamic resistance at the constant voltage steps induced by the local oscillation signal on the I–V curve. A minimum detection power of −59.4 dB m and a conversion efficiency (η) of −49.6 dB were obtained for the harmonic number (N) of 5 at 60 K. The relationship between the η and N was expressed as η∝N−2.2.