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

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement

Near-Zero Bias Arrays of Josephson Tunnel Junctions Providing Standard Voltages up to 1 V

Jurgen Niemeyer, Johann Heyen Hinken, Richard L. Kautz

Published Jun 1, 1985• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Josephson voltage standards utilize microwave-induced constant voltage steps occurring due to the ac Josephson effect. Existing standards can be considerably simplified and their accuracy improved by using a large number of series-connected Josephson tunnel junctions which are operated in the zero current step mode. For this purpose superconducting millimeter wave integrated circuits have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The circuits consist of a broadband taper between the rectangular waveguide and the planar structure, the Josephson junction series, a well-matched load, and dc pads. Circuits with various numbers of junctions have been fabricated by photo-lithographic techniques and tested at 4.2 K in liquid helium. The version with 1474 junctions produced voltages up to 1.2 V when operated at 90 GHz.

DOI
10.1109/tim.1985.4315297

Related papers

Superconducting MMICs with 1474 Josephson Junctions Providing Standard Voltages up to 1.2 Volt

Johann Heyen Hinken, Jurgen Niemeyer, Richard L. Kautz

High precision dc voltage standards utilize microwave induced constant voltage steps occurring due to the ac Josephson effect. Existing standards can be considerably simplified and improved by using a large number of series-connected Josephson tunnel junctions which are operated in the zero current step mode. For this purpose superconducting millimeter wave integrated circuits (MMICs) have been designed, fabricated and tested. The circuits consist of a broadband taper between the waveguide and antipodal fin line, a transition to microstrip, the Josephson junction series, a well-matched load, and dc pads. Circuits with various numbers of junctions have been fabricated by photolithographic techniques and tested at 4.2 K in liquid helium. The version with 1474 junctions produced voltages up to 1.2 V when operated at 90 GHz.

European Microwave Conference (EuMC)•Oct 1, 1984•3 citations

Superconductor-normal-superconductor junctions for programmable voltage standards

S. P. Benz

Series arrays of Nb–PdAu–Nb Josephson junctions were fabricated with characteristics ideally suited for application in programmable voltage standards and D/A converters with fundamental accuracy. Large arrays of junctions with applied microwave power showed constant voltage steps with current amplitudes as large as 7 mA. A novel coplanar waveguide design enabled uniform microwave power coupling to a five-segment array of 8192 junctions, so each segment had constant voltage steps over the same bias range. The 8192-junction device generated 1.1 mA steps at 186 mV with 11 GHz power and a maximum constant voltage step of 260 mV at 15.34 GHz.

Applied Physics Letters•Oct 30, 1995•133 citations

Josephson voltage standard microwave circuit driven at 10 GHz

H.‐G. Meyer, Heiner Kohler, G. Wende +5 more

We have investigated a new type of microwave circuit for the generation of frequency-scaled Josephson voltages useful for the representation of highly accurate reference voltages. The circuit consists of a superconducting microstrip resonator and series arrays of Josephson junctions integrated within its rf current antinodes. The circuit is designed to operate at low frequencies of about 10 GHz to simplify the microwave techniques. At a resonator circuit with four Josephson junctions driven at 10.9 GHz we have obtained stable overlapping Shapiro steps up to 4.6 mV at a step width of about 70 µA. A more advanced double-resonator circuit with altogether 216 junctions allows to generate scaled reference voltages up to 0.16 V at steps of about 25 µA in width and at a microwave frequency of 11.1 GHz.

Journal de Physique IV (Proceedings)•Jun 1, 1994•0 citations

Microwave-induced constant-voltage steps at one volt from a series array of Josephson junctions

J. Niemeyer, Johann Heyen Hinken, Richard L. Kautz

It is demonstrated that a series array of 1474 Josephson junctions can produce quantized voltages up to 1.2 V when driven by microwaves at 90 GHz in the absence of a dc bias. This result brings closer the possibility of a practical Josephson voltage standard at the 1-V level.

Applied Physics Letters•Aug 15, 1984•134 citations

Metrological Study of YBCO Josephson Junction Arrays Integrated in a Fabry-Perot Resonator

A. Sosso, Domenico Andreone, V. Lacquaniti +3 more

The application of high temperature superconductor Josephson junctions to voltage metrology is promising for many reasons, beyond the evident advantage of simplified cryogenics and reduced costs of the apparatus. Owing to their intrinsic non-hysteretic behavior, arrays of shunted bicrystal YBCO junctions are particularly interesting for the realization of an AC voltage standard with quantum accuracy. Moreover, shunted bicrystal YBCO junctions arrays are advantageous because of the reduced area of the junctions, the wide range of characteristic voltages, and large critical currents. However, some specific problems arise, like possible effects related to the higher operating temperature. Furthermore, fabrication technology sets tight constraints on the design of structures for the distribution of microwave currents along the array junctions. We investigated the step properties under millimeter wave irradiation at frequencies about 75 GHz of HTS junction and arrays prepared on bicrystal substrates having grain boundaries. High sensitivity techniques were adopted to evaluate the step flatness at nV level and assess the accuracy of the step voltage. A new method that makes use of an open resonator, was implemented to irradiate the array, providing synchronization of a large number of junctions.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 2007•8 citations

Stable Standard Voltages of 1 VOLT By Improved Design of Superconducting MICCs with 1440 Jsephson Junctions

E. Vollmer, Johann Heyen Hinken, J. Niemeyer +1 more

The improved design of superconducting MMICs with 1440 Josephson tunnel-junctions is described. The junctions are integrated in four series arrays with a parallel rf supply and a series de circuit. MMICs designed for 70 and 90 GHz have been realized and tested. They produce stable quantized voltage steps up to 1.2 V. The long time stability of the 1 V step is greater than five hours. The output voltage was compared with the voltage of a Weston cell.

European Microwave Conference (EuMC)•Oct 1, 1985•2 citations
Josephson voltage standards utilize microwave-induced constant voltage steps occurring due to the ac Josephson effect. Existing standards can be considerably simplified and their accuracy improved by using a large number of series-connected Josephson tunnel junctions which are operated in the zero current step mode. For this purpose superconducting millimeter wave integrated circuits have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The circuits consist of a broadband taper between the rectangular waveguide and the planar structure, the Josephson junction series, a well-matched load, and dc pads. Circuits with various numbers of junctions have been fabricated by photo-lithographic techniques and tested at 4.2 K in liquid helium. The version with 1474 junctions produced voltages up to 1.2 V when operated at 90 GHz.
High precision dc voltage standards utilize microwave induced constant voltage steps occurring due to the ac Josephson effect. Existing standards can be considerably simplified and improved by using a large number of series-connected Josephson tunnel junctions which are operated in the zero current step mode. For this purpose superconducting millimeter wave integrated circuits (MMICs) have been designed, fabricated and tested. The circuits consist of a broadband taper between the waveguide and antipodal fin line, a transition to microstrip, the Josephson junction series, a well-matched load, and dc pads. Circuits with various numbers of junctions have been fabricated by photolithographic techniques and tested at 4.2 K in liquid helium. The version with 1474 junctions produced voltages up to 1.2 V when operated at 90 GHz.
Series arrays of Nb–PdAu–Nb Josephson junctions were fabricated with characteristics ideally suited for application in programmable voltage standards and D/A converters with fundamental accuracy. Large arrays of junctions with applied microwave power showed constant voltage steps with current amplitudes as large as 7 mA. A novel coplanar waveguide design enabled uniform microwave power coupling to a five-segment array of 8192 junctions, so each segment had constant voltage steps over the same bias range. The 8192-junction device generated 1.1 mA steps at 186 mV with 11 GHz power and a maximum constant voltage step of 260 mV at 15.34 GHz.
We have investigated a new type of microwave circuit for the generation of frequency-scaled Josephson voltages useful for the representation of highly accurate reference voltages. The circuit consists of a superconducting microstrip resonator and series arrays of Josephson junctions integrated within its rf current antinodes. The circuit is designed to operate at low frequencies of about 10 GHz to simplify the microwave techniques. At a resonator circuit with four Josephson junctions driven at 10.9 GHz we have obtained stable overlapping Shapiro steps up to 4.6 mV at a step width of about 70 µA. A more advanced double-resonator circuit with altogether 216 junctions allows to generate scaled reference voltages up to 0.16 V at steps of about 25 µA in width and at a microwave frequency of 11.1 GHz.
The application of high temperature superconductor Josephson junctions to voltage metrology is promising for many reasons, beyond the evident advantage of simplified cryogenics and reduced costs of the apparatus. Owing to their intrinsic non-hysteretic behavior, arrays of shunted bicrystal YBCO junctions are particularly interesting for the realization of an AC voltage standard with quantum accuracy. Moreover, shunted bicrystal YBCO junctions arrays are advantageous because of the reduced area of the junctions, the wide range of characteristic voltages, and large critical currents. However, some specific problems arise, like possible effects related to the higher operating temperature. Furthermore, fabrication technology sets tight constraints on the design of structures for the distribution of microwave currents along the array junctions. We investigated the step properties under millimeter wave irradiation at frequencies about 75 GHz of HTS junction and arrays prepared on bicrystal substrates having grain boundaries. High sensitivity techniques were adopted to evaluate the step flatness at nV level and assess the accuracy of the step voltage. A new method that makes use of an open resonator, was implemented to irradiate the array, providing synchronization of a large number of junctions.