Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Applied Physics Letters

HARMONIC GENERATION AND SUBMILLIMETER WAVE MIXING WITH THE JOSEPHSON EFFECT

Donald G. McDonald, V. Kose, K. M. Evenson, Joseph S. Wells, J. D. Cupp

Published Aug 15, 1969• 66 citations
Publisher

Abstract

By observing constant-voltage steps from Josephson junctions at voltages as high as 17 mV we deduce that junctions can generate harmonics up to frequencies as high as 8200 GHz. In consonance with this, submillimeter wave laser detection, harmonic generation, and mixing are demonstrated. These results suggest a model for the upper frequency limit of the Josephson effect.

DOI
10.1063/1.1652930

Related papers

HARMONIC MIXING OF MICROWAVE AND FAR-INFRARED LASER RADIATION USING A JOSEPHSON JUNCTION

Donald G. McDonald, Allan S. Risley, J. D. Cupp +1 more

Simultaneous irradiation of a Josephson junction with ≈ 10 GHz microwave power and 891-GHz laser radiation produces a 60-MHz beat between the fundamental laser frequency and harmonics of the klystron, ranging from the 84th to the 100th as the klystron is tuned. Observation of such high-order harmonic mixing of klystron and laser signals is unprecedented.

Applied Physics Letters•Feb 15, 1971•60 citations

Millimeter-Wave Mixing with Josephson Junctions

C. C. Grimes, Sidney Shapiro

Experiments are reported in which two millimeter-wave signals incident on point-contact Josephson junctions produced changes in the junction dc voltage versus current characteristic and an intermediate frequency output whose amplitude depended sensitively on both junction bias and applied power. Equations are derived, based on Josephson's phenomenological equations, for the Josephson current in a junction exposed to two applied rf signals. When the applied signals differ appreciably in frequency, additional constant-voltage steps in the $V\ensuremath{-}I$ curve are predicted which are spaced at the difference frequency. These steps have been observed in experiments employing sources at 64 and 72 Gc/sec. Results of mixing experiments utilizing two sources nearly equal in frequency are reported at 23 and at 72 Gc/sec. In this case the two waves beat together and are equivalent in their effect to a single signal amplitude modulated at the difference frequency. Also explained on the same basis are experiments in which the third harmonic of a signal at 24 Gc/sec mixed with a signal at 72 Gc/sec. These results demonstrate the existence of the Josephson mixing mechanism as opposed to classical nonlinear mixing, and they show that it is operative at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies over a wide range of power.

Physical Review•May 10, 1968•158 citations

THE JOSEPHSON JUNCTION AS A 100 GHz OSCILLATOR-MIXER,

Andrew Longacre, Sidney Shapiro

Abstract : The term 'Josephson effects' refers to a number of unusual properties of current flow through a barrier or weak link between two superconductors. Such a structure--called a Josephson junction--gives rise to frequency conversion effects that suggest its use as an oscillator-mixer in the millimeter and submillimeter region. Such a device would offer high sensitivity, broad bandwidth, tunability, and, in certain modes of operation, the possibility of conversion gain. These frequency conversion effects were observed in the range of 100 GHz to 600 GHz and beyond. The junctions were driven by a 75 GHz or 25 GHz klystron while coupled either to a coaxial cavity resonant at 20 GHz or to a resonance at about 500 GHz associated with the junction structure. Lines in the junction voltage-current characteristic were observed which demonstrated that, at certain values of junction bias, power at the rf--or its harmonics--was converted to power at the resonance frequency. An explanation of the experiment is given together with the necessary background, which provides the basis for a discussion of such operational considerations as upper frequency limit, sensitivity, temperature of operation, and saturation behavior at high signal levels. (Author)

•Apr 1, 1970•1 citation

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

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

We report the observation of one-third harmonic generation in small Josephson tunnel junctions driven with a microwave signal in the frequency range 8 to 18 GHz. This phenomenon was observed both with the junction biased in the zero voltage state and on microwave-induced constant-voltage steps in the current-voltage characteristic. With high levels of applied microwave power the period-tripled signal was detected on steps up to order 120.

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Mar 1, 1987•3 citations

The Josephson junction as a frequency analyser and mixer of submillimetre radiation sources

T. G. Blaney, C. C. Bradley

In an extension of earlier work, the response of niobium-niobium point-contact Josephson junctions to radiation from hydrogen cyanide and deuterium cyanide lasers has been studied. Constant voltage steps corresponding to the 805, 891 and 964 GHz lines from a HCN laser have been observed as well as steps corresponding to the frequency mixtures of all these lines. In addition, subharmonic and harmonics of `mixed-frequency' steps have also been observed. The first observation of Josephson step structure corresponding to the 1540 and 1578 GHz emissions of a DCN laser is reported.

Journal of Physics D Applied Physics•Jan 1, 1972•15 citations

Frequency conversion with superconducting point contacts operating as oscillator-mixers and its application to the measurement of the linewidth of the Josephson current at very high frequency

G. Vernet, Robert Adde

The Josephson frequency conversion in the millimeter and submillimeter wave region is studied with superconducting Nb-Nb point contact junctions at 4.2 K, using the contact both as the local oscillator and the mixer with intermediate frequencies of 0.1 and 9.2 GHz. Frequency conversion signals are only detected in the latter case with a microwave receiver at 9.2 GHz in a range of Josephson frequencies between 145 and 1 600 GHz. The experiments with intermediate frequency fi of 0.1 GHz indicate for this small value of f i that the observed signals are not related to frequency conversion but noise effects. An analysis of the frequency conversion mechanism in a Josephson junction operated as an oscillator-mixer is proposed which includes the noise effects and also the feedback effects induced in a junction driven by a constant current source. We have then investigated the noise properties up to 450 GHz of superconducting point-contacts using the junction as an oscillator-mixer where the Josephson current is mixed with harmonics of an externally applied signal. The emitted intermediate frequency is detected at 9.2 GHz and its linewidth is measured. In the very high frequency range the dc quasiparticle current dominates in a Josephson weak-link and we compare the corresponding theoretical linewidth calculated by Scalapino with our experimental results.

Revue de Physique Appliquée•Jan 1, 1974•3 citations
By observing constant-voltage steps from Josephson junctions at voltages as high as 17 mV we deduce that junctions can generate harmonics up to frequencies as high as 8200 GHz. In consonance with this, submillimeter wave laser detection, harmonic generation, and mixing are demonstrated. These results suggest a model for the upper frequency limit of the Josephson effect.
Experiments are reported in which two millimeter-wave signals incident on point-contact Josephson junctions produced changes in the junction dc voltage versus current characteristic and an intermediate frequency output whose amplitude depended sensitively on both junction bias and applied power. Equations are derived, based on Josephson's phenomenological equations, for the Josephson current in a junction exposed to two applied rf signals. When the applied signals differ appreciably in frequency, additional constant-voltage steps in the $V\ensuremath{-}I$ curve are predicted which are spaced at the difference frequency. These steps have been observed in experiments employing sources at 64 and 72 Gc/sec. Results of mixing experiments utilizing two sources nearly equal in frequency are reported at 23 and at 72 Gc/sec. In this case the two waves beat together and are equivalent in their effect to a single signal amplitude modulated at the difference frequency. Also explained on the same basis are experiments in which the third harmonic of a signal at 24 Gc/sec mixed with a signal at 72 Gc/sec. These results demonstrate the existence of the Josephson mixing mechanism as opposed to classical nonlinear mixing, and they show that it is operative at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies over a wide range of power.
Abstract : The term 'Josephson effects' refers to a number of unusual properties of current flow through a barrier or weak link between two superconductors. Such a structure--called a Josephson junction--gives rise to frequency conversion effects that suggest its use as an oscillator-mixer in the millimeter and submillimeter region. Such a device would offer high sensitivity, broad bandwidth, tunability, and, in certain modes of operation, the possibility of conversion gain. These frequency conversion effects were observed in the range of 100 GHz to 600 GHz and beyond. The junctions were driven by a 75 GHz or 25 GHz klystron while coupled either to a coaxial cavity resonant at 20 GHz or to a resonance at about 500 GHz associated with the junction structure. Lines in the junction voltage-current characteristic were observed which demonstrated that, at certain values of junction bias, power at the rf--or its harmonics--was converted to power at the resonance frequency. An explanation of the experiment is given together with the necessary background, which provides the basis for a discussion of such operational considerations as upper frequency limit, sensitivity, temperature of operation, and saturation behavior at high signal levels. (Author)
In an extension of earlier work, the response of niobium-niobium point-contact Josephson junctions to radiation from hydrogen cyanide and deuterium cyanide lasers has been studied. Constant voltage steps corresponding to the 805, 891 and 964 GHz lines from a HCN laser have been observed as well as steps corresponding to the frequency mixtures of all these lines. In addition, subharmonic and harmonics of `mixed-frequency' steps have also been observed. The first observation of Josephson step structure corresponding to the 1540 and 1578 GHz emissions of a DCN laser is reported.
The Josephson frequency conversion in the millimeter and submillimeter wave region is studied with superconducting Nb-Nb point contact junctions at 4.2 K, using the contact both as the local oscillator and the mixer with intermediate frequencies of 0.1 and 9.2 GHz. Frequency conversion signals are only detected in the latter case with a microwave receiver at 9.2 GHz in a range of Josephson frequencies between 145 and 1 600 GHz. The experiments with intermediate frequency fi of 0.1 GHz indicate for this small value of f i that the observed signals are not related to frequency conversion but noise effects. An analysis of the frequency conversion mechanism in a Josephson junction operated as an oscillator-mixer is proposed which includes the noise effects and also the feedback effects induced in a junction driven by a constant current source. We have then investigated the noise properties up to 450 GHz of superconducting point-contacts using the junction as an oscillator-mixer where the Josephson current is mixed with harmonics of an externally applied signal. The emitted intermediate frequency is detected at 9.2 GHz and its linewidth is measured. In the very high frequency range the dc quasiparticle current dominates in a Josephson weak-link and we compare the corresponding theoretical linewidth calculated by Scalapino with our experimental results.