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Journal of Applied Physics

Voltage locking between superconducting weak links via impedance coupling

Dai Yuan-Dong, Y. H. Kao

Published Jun 1, 1981• 16 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Frequency locking effects in two interacting Josephson junctions are investigated. The junctions are described in the usual resistively-shunted-junction (RSJ) model and coupling between junctions is provided by a resonant circuit. The system can be used to simulate interactions between superconducting weak links in a resonant cavity or via a general impedance shunt. Various types of v-i curves in the voltage locking region are obtained in this calculation by using a first harmonic approximation in the high-frequency regime. Stability of order parameter phase oscillations for two identical junctions in the voltage-locked region is examined. We also show that dissimilar junctions can be synchronized in a resonant cavity using a common series bias current.

DOI
10.1063/1.329223

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IEEE Transactions on Magnetics•Jan 1, 1981•0 citations
Frequency locking effects in two interacting Josephson junctions are investigated. The junctions are described in the usual resistively-shunted-junction (RSJ) model and coupling between junctions is provided by a resonant circuit. The system can be used to simulate interactions between superconducting weak links in a resonant cavity or via a general impedance shunt. Various types of v-i curves in the voltage locking region are obtained in this calculation by using a first harmonic approximation in the high-frequency regime. Stability of order parameter phase oscillations for two identical junctions in the voltage-locked region is examined. We also show that dissimilar junctions can be synchronized in a resonant cavity using a common series bias current.
Some types of Josephson junctions such as long microbridges, S-N-S junctions, and junctions with a series palastic inductance are known to have nonsinusoidal current-phase relations which can be approximated by linear-periodic functions. In this paper the equivalent circuit equation of the resistively shunted junction model with linear-periodic current-phase relation is solved. The heights of zeroth and first constant-voltage steps in the I-V characteristics and the impedance at these steps are obtained analytically. This analysis shows that the impedance at the first step lies on a semicircle in the impedance plane with its center at the impedance of the zeroth step. The calculated impedance is compared with the experimental results by Claridge et al. The theory presented here can explain some features of experimental results which differ considerably from predictions based on a sinusoidal current-phase relation. Among these are the value of bias current corresponding to the center of the first step, and the appearance of ’’shoulders’’ in the imaginary part of the impedance at the first step.
Previously published experimental results are used to deduce an equivalent circuit for this amplifier, based on the shunted junction model. It is found that the very small inductances of the junction shunt resistors play an important role in determining the shape of the current-voltage curves in the voltage-locked region. Once the circuit is determined using the shunted junction model a combination of an approximation method (the method of slowly varying amplitudes) and the shunted junction model is used to approximately maximize the power gain of the circuit. The maximum gain achieved in these simulations of the two-junction amplifier is 11.3. This gain occurred with a negative resistance imput impedance of −0.41R and a signal source impedance of 0.167R, where R is the junction shunt resistance. It is estimated that the bandwidth of this amplifier is about 1 GHz.
A high temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy array of five Josephson junctions designed with additional coupling lines has been developed to demonstrate the effects of frequency locking and impedance matching for applications such as oscillators, mixers, and detectors. The Josephson self-radiation power was directly detected by a superheterodyne receiver, and Shapiro steps were also measured. The Josephson self-radiation properties reveal good quality of phase locking and microwave coupling with external circuits. The maximum self-radiation power of our array is about 50 pW which is several ten times higher than that of a single Josephson junction, and its peak point exactly satisfies the Josephson current-voltage relation. The Shapiro-step measurements show that the behavior of current-voltage curve depends on the effective inductance of coupling lines which affects the total impedance of Josephson junction array and microwave coupling. The Josephson oscillation frequency was obtained up to about 880 GHz which is 73% of the maximum available frequency calculated from the characteristic voltage of the Josephson junctions. Experimental results show that this type of Josephson junction array can improve the Josephson self-radiation power and increase the maximum detectable frequency.
Relaxation oscillations at subharmonics of the Josephson frequency may occur in a resistively shunted superconducting tunnel junction, where the shunt loop has a large inductance. We have studied the variation in the relaxation period with the shunt inductance and resistance, the Josephson critical current, and the bias current. Steps in the current-voltage curve were noted at bias points where the subharmonic number changed. Radiation powers of the order of a nW were coupled out of small, single, tunnel junctions at 10 GHz. Linewidths scaled with the frequency square as compared with those of the Josephson mode oscillations. Wide signals centered around harmonics of the relaxation frequency were due to amplified noise. Injection locking to a fraction of the frequency of a relatively strong signal occurred, while weaker signals were amplified. Gains up to 15 dB were achieved within a fairly large bandwidth, but the noise temperature was high. The importance of parametrically up-converted noise from low idler frequencies is emphasized.
The use of unshunted junctions to close the superconducting loop of two shunted junctions in series is shown to improve the voltage locking range compared to the more common use of passive elements such as resistors or capacitors. Stacking pairs of junctions in a ladder-like form with one junction common for each two steps makes it possible to phase lock more than two junctions. Simulations show that four junctions with 5% matching can be locked from 0 to 55μV. The device can also be used as a voltage amplifier by driving one of the junctions. Simulations show that an array of four series junctions operates as an amplifier between 12μV to 33μV input. Input impendance was 6 ohms and output impedance was 12 ohms.
We describe measurements of the 10 GHz dynamic impedance of niobium point-contact weak links at 2 K, biased below their critical currents. The measured quantity is Γ(ω), the complex reflection coefficient Of the weak link in parallel with a superconducting cavity resonator terminating a waveguide. Measurements were made at several frequencies close to resonance. In order to interpret the results it is only necessary to assume that the weak link is a two-terminal device consisting of a phase-dependent susceptance in parallel with a phase-dependent conductivity, which is connected to the waveguide through a lossless, phase-independent two-port. The data are consistent with the resistively shunted junction model including a phase-dependent conductance with a negative sign. An important feature of this study was the ability to measure the d.c. IV characteristic simultaneously. The point-contacts investigated had nearly ideal IcR products, and exhibited reproducibile structure in the differential conductance at the superconducting energy gap voltage.