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Journal of Applied Physics

Low noise parametric upconversion with a self-pumped Josephson junction

Helmut Kanter

Published May 1, 1975• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Experimental results are reported on a Josephson parametric upconverting amplifier which is self-pumped via the internal Josephson oscillations derived from a dc bias voltage. A niobium point-contact SQUID is simultaneously coupled to a 115-MHz tank circuit and a 9-GHz cavity. Josephson oscillations at 9 GHz produce parametric upconversion of power in the 115-MHz circuit to sidebands at 9±0.115 GHz with measured power gain of 25. The amplifier noise temperature, referred to the input at 115 MHz, was established to be <15 K by varying the temperature of an input termination from 4.2 to 300 K. This result establishes the behavior of self-pumped SQUID upconverters at microwave frequencies and demonstrates that the achievable noise performance is not greatly in excess of the thermal limit.

DOI
10.1063/1.321819

Related papers

Parametric amplification with self-pumped Josephson junctions

Helmut Kanter

The parametric nature of supercurrent in Josephson junctions may be exploited for amplification of high frequency signals in several modes of operation, where in each case the reactance variation is provided by the internal oscillations due to the average contact potential, a)One mode is negative resistance amplification with a single idler. This mode is entirely equivalent to that generally employed in conventional parametric amplifiers with varactor diodes. b)Negative resistance amplification with several idlers at further combination frequencies. This mode of operation is typical for the resistively shunted junction model, c)Amplification by upconversion, which is conceptually employed in the rf SQUID used in magnetometry. Experimental verifications of these various modes are described and their suitability for low noise amplification discussed. The upconverter experiment permitted the measurement of device noise by variation of the temperature of the input termination. An upper noise limit of 15°K is established. This experiment demonstrates that in high frequency application of active self-oscillating Josephson junctions the fundamental noise achievable is not greatly in excess of the thermal limit.

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Mar 1, 1975•19 citations

Low-noise Josephson parametric amplification and oscillations at 9 GHz

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We have investigated the performance of a resistive rf SQUID as a 9 GHz parametric amplifier and oscillator. It was coupled to a low impedance microstrip transformer. Stable Josephson oscillations were obtained for βLQ =2eI0ZL/hf <1.1–1.8. Oscillation linewidth (830 kHz) and output power (−74 dBm) were measured. The four-photon internally pumped amplifier produced large single sideband (ssb) noise temperatures, typically around 50 K, due to the broad flanks of the pump. The best performance was achieved in the three- and four-photon externally pumped modes. Both modes gave signal gains of about 10 dB and negligible noise power contributions. A hot/cold measurement on the four-photon amplifier yielded Gdsb =13 dB (dsb=double sideband) and Tdsb =3±4 K over a bandwidth of 310 MHz. For larger values of βLQ , subharmonics 1/2 and 1/3, as well as noninteger ‘‘excitations’’ of the Josephson oscillation, were observed. The subharmonic oscillations were not tunable in frequency with unchanged linewidth. Amplification close to an excitation also produced gain but with ssb noise temperatures of ∼20 K.

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Shunted Josephson tunnel junctions: High-frequency, self-pumped low noise amplifiers

Nils P. Calander, T. Claeson, S. Rudner

The high-frequency amplification properties of transformer coupled, resistively shunted Josephson tunnel junctions have been investigated. The importance of the shunt loop inductance is stressed. It allows a high cutoff frequency, of significance for good high-frequency performance. The self-pumped parametric amplifier showed none of the excessive noise rise, which has hitherto plagued the development of externally pumped Josephson junction amplifiers. Around 10 GHz, we estimated a noise temperature less than 30 K for an amplifier pumped by a Josephson oscillation with a frequency well above twice the signal frequency. The corresponding gain of 5 dB may be increased in a better impedance matched circuit. The gain was very stable against variations in the bias conditions. A gain-bandwidth product as high as 0.3 was registered. The experimental results agreed well with the established theory for self-pumped parametric Josephson amplifiers. It should be possible to extend the low noise amplification by this device to mm wave frequencies. A relaxation oscillation occurred at a subharmonic of the Josephson frequency when the shunt loop inductance became large. The amplification in this mode followed closely the predictions of a simple model, where the signal modulated the switching of the sawtooth-like (relatively low frequency) relaxation current. Gains of about 15 dB were measured around 10 GHz, but the amplification was sensitive to bias conditions and noisy in this case where the relaxation frequency fell well below the signal frequency. Much improved properties were registered when the inductance was decreased so that the relaxation frequency approached the Josephson frequency and exceeded twice the signal frequency. The behavior then resembled that of a Josephson mode parametric amplifier, but the high content of harmonics of a relaxation oscillation meant that the amplifier became noisier due to converted noise from the many idler frequencies.

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Progress in noise squeezing via a Josephson parametric amplifier

B. Yurke, P. G. Kaminsky, M. D. Reid +4 more

We are engaged in an experimental effort to generate and detect squeezed vacuum fluctuations at microwave frequencies using a Josephson parametric amplifier. We have demonstrated 42% deamplification of 4.2-K thermal noise at 19.4 GHz. At this frequency the vacuum fluctuation noise is an order of magnitude smaller than 4.2-K thermal noise. We have installed cryogenic HEMT amplifiers in our apparatus, thereby increasing the detector sensitivity by an order of magnitude. Josephson parametric amplifiers have been notorious for exhibiting excess noise whose origin is still controversial. We have performed a systematic study of the noise performance of our device both below and above threshold in a variety of modes of operation. The experiments indicate that the excess noise in our device arises from low-frequency noise (0-20 MHz) propagating down dc bias lines. When an intense coherent oscillation is present in the signal passband, such as the pump when the amplifier is in the four-photon mode or the period doubled oscillations when the amplifier is operated in the three-photon mode above threshold, the low- frequency noise mixes with the coherent oscillation to generate noise sidebands in the amplifier's passband. Nevertheless, in suitable conditions, extremely low noise and high gains were achieved.

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Josephson junction microwave amplifier in self-organized noise compression mode

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arXiv:1406.0197•Scientific Reports•Feb 20, 2012•16 citations

One-frequency parametric amplifier using self-pumped Josephson junction

Alexander N. Vystavkin, V. Gubankov, L. S. Kuzmin +3 more

Gain and noise properties of a non-degenerate one-frequency parametric amplifier using a self-pumped Josephson junction are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The amplifier uses the phenomenon of microwave negative resistance of the junction. Theoretical analysis made in usual resistively shunted junction (RSJ) model shows that the minimum noise temperature is equal to approximately 42T. It takes place at a signal frequency f close to the junction characteristic frequency f0. Maximum effectivity (the product of the square root of power gain and relative bandwidth) can reach 0.4 at f≃f0. Gain up to 20 dB was obtained at X-band using amplifier with Nb-Ta point-contact junction. Minimum noise temperature at T = 4.2K was about 200K.

IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Jan 1, 1977•16 citations
Experimental results are reported on a Josephson parametric upconverting amplifier which is self-pumped via the internal Josephson oscillations derived from a dc bias voltage. A niobium point-contact SQUID is simultaneously coupled to a 115-MHz tank circuit and a 9-GHz cavity. Josephson oscillations at 9 GHz produce parametric upconversion of power in the 115-MHz circuit to sidebands at 9±0.115 GHz with measured power gain of 25. The amplifier noise temperature, referred to the input at 115 MHz, was established to be <15 K by varying the temperature of an input termination from 4.2 to 300 K. This result establishes the behavior of self-pumped SQUID upconverters at microwave frequencies and demonstrates that the achievable noise performance is not greatly in excess of the thermal limit.
The parametric nature of supercurrent in Josephson junctions may be exploited for amplification of high frequency signals in several modes of operation, where in each case the reactance variation is provided by the internal oscillations due to the average contact potential, a)One mode is negative resistance amplification with a single idler. This mode is entirely equivalent to that generally employed in conventional parametric amplifiers with varactor diodes. b)Negative resistance amplification with several idlers at further combination frequencies. This mode of operation is typical for the resistively shunted junction model, c)Amplification by upconversion, which is conceptually employed in the rf SQUID used in magnetometry. Experimental verifications of these various modes are described and their suitability for low noise amplification discussed. The upconverter experiment permitted the measurement of device noise by variation of the temperature of the input termination. An upper noise limit of 15°K is established. This experiment demonstrates that in high frequency application of active self-oscillating Josephson junctions the fundamental noise achievable is not greatly in excess of the thermal limit.
We have investigated the performance of a resistive rf SQUID as a 9 GHz parametric amplifier and oscillator. It was coupled to a low impedance microstrip transformer. Stable Josephson oscillations were obtained for βLQ =2eI0ZL/hf <1.1–1.8. Oscillation linewidth (830 kHz) and output power (−74 dBm) were measured. The four-photon internally pumped amplifier produced large single sideband (ssb) noise temperatures, typically around 50 K, due to the broad flanks of the pump. The best performance was achieved in the three- and four-photon externally pumped modes. Both modes gave signal gains of about 10 dB and negligible noise power contributions. A hot/cold measurement on the four-photon amplifier yielded Gdsb =13 dB (dsb=double sideband) and Tdsb =3±4 K over a bandwidth of 310 MHz. For larger values of βLQ , subharmonics 1/2 and 1/3, as well as noninteger ‘‘excitations’’ of the Josephson oscillation, were observed. The subharmonic oscillations were not tunable in frequency with unchanged linewidth. Amplification close to an excitation also produced gain but with ssb noise temperatures of ∼20 K.
The high-frequency amplification properties of transformer coupled, resistively shunted Josephson tunnel junctions have been investigated. The importance of the shunt loop inductance is stressed. It allows a high cutoff frequency, of significance for good high-frequency performance. The self-pumped parametric amplifier showed none of the excessive noise rise, which has hitherto plagued the development of externally pumped Josephson junction amplifiers. Around 10 GHz, we estimated a noise temperature less than 30 K for an amplifier pumped by a Josephson oscillation with a frequency well above twice the signal frequency. The corresponding gain of 5 dB may be increased in a better impedance matched circuit. The gain was very stable against variations in the bias conditions. A gain-bandwidth product as high as 0.3 was registered. The experimental results agreed well with the established theory for self-pumped parametric Josephson amplifiers. It should be possible to extend the low noise amplification by this device to mm wave frequencies. A relaxation oscillation occurred at a subharmonic of the Josephson frequency when the shunt loop inductance became large. The amplification in this mode followed closely the predictions of a simple model, where the signal modulated the switching of the sawtooth-like (relatively low frequency) relaxation current. Gains of about 15 dB were measured around 10 GHz, but the amplification was sensitive to bias conditions and noisy in this case where the relaxation frequency fell well below the signal frequency. Much improved properties were registered when the inductance was decreased so that the relaxation frequency approached the Josephson frequency and exceeded twice the signal frequency. The behavior then resembled that of a Josephson mode parametric amplifier, but the high content of harmonics of a relaxation oscillation meant that the amplifier became noisier due to converted noise from the many idler frequencies.
We are engaged in an experimental effort to generate and detect squeezed vacuum fluctuations at microwave frequencies using a Josephson parametric amplifier. We have demonstrated 42% deamplification of 4.2-K thermal noise at 19.4 GHz. At this frequency the vacuum fluctuation noise is an order of magnitude smaller than 4.2-K thermal noise. We have installed cryogenic HEMT amplifiers in our apparatus, thereby increasing the detector sensitivity by an order of magnitude. Josephson parametric amplifiers have been notorious for exhibiting excess noise whose origin is still controversial. We have performed a systematic study of the noise performance of our device both below and above threshold in a variety of modes of operation. The experiments indicate that the excess noise in our device arises from low-frequency noise (0-20 MHz) propagating down dc bias lines. When an intense coherent oscillation is present in the signal passband, such as the pump when the amplifier is in the four-photon mode or the period doubled oscillations when the amplifier is operated in the three-photon mode above threshold, the low- frequency noise mixes with the coherent oscillation to generate noise sidebands in the amplifier's passband. Nevertheless, in suitable conditions, extremely low noise and high gains were achieved.
The fundamental noise limit of a phase-preserving amplifier at frequency [Formula: see text] is the standard quantum limit [Formula: see text]. In the microwave range, the best candidates have been amplifiers based on superconducting quantum interference devices (reaching the noise temperature [Formula: see text] at 700 MHz), and non-degenerate parametric amplifiers (reaching noise levels close to the quantum limit [Formula: see text] at 8 GHz). We introduce a new type of an amplifier based on the negative resistance of a selectively damped Josephson junction. Noise performance of our amplifier is limited by mixing of quantum noise from Josephson oscillation regime down to the signal frequency. Measurements yield nearly quantum-limited operation, [Formula: see text] at 2.8 GHz, owing to self-organization of the working point. Simulations describe the characteristics of our device well and indicate potential for wide bandwidth operation.
Gain and noise properties of a non-degenerate one-frequency parametric amplifier using a self-pumped Josephson junction are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The amplifier uses the phenomenon of microwave negative resistance of the junction. Theoretical analysis made in usual resistively shunted junction (RSJ) model shows that the minimum noise temperature is equal to approximately 42T. It takes place at a signal frequency f close to the junction characteristic frequency f0. Maximum effectivity (the product of the square root of power gain and relative bandwidth) can reach 0.4 at f≃f0. Gain up to 20 dB was obtained at X-band using amplifier with Nb-Ta point-contact junction. Minimum noise temperature at T = 4.2K was about 200K.