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Journal of Applied Physics

Operation of the SUPARAMP at 33 GHz

R. Y. Chiao, P. T. Parrish

Published Jun 1, 1976• 33 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A 9-mm degenerate parametric amplifier has been constructed using a linear series array of unbiased Josephson junctions as the active nonlinear element. We used a balanced diode mixer as a synchronous detector, with a single source serving both as the pump and as the mixer local oscillator. A stable net gain of 15 dB in an instantaneous bandwidth (FWHM) of 3.4 GHz has been achieved. We measured a system noise temperature of 220±5 K (DSB) with a SUPARAMP contribution of only 20±10 K. Output saturation, however, has been observed. This complicates the interpretation of our noise-temperature measurements and may render them upper limits. Comparison is made with the results of an earlier 3-cm SUPARAMP. The data are in substantial agreement with theoretical predictions.

DOI
10.1063/1.322983

Related papers

Operation of the SUPARAMP at 33GHz

R. Y. Chiao, P. T. Parrish

A 9mm degenerate parametric amplifier was constructed using a linear, series array of unbiased Josephson junctions as the active, nonlinear element. A balanced diode mixer was used as a synchronous detector, with a single source serving both as the pump and as the mixer local oscillator. A stable, net gain of 15 dB in an instantaneous bandwith (FWHM) of 3.4 GHz was achieved. A system noise temperature of 220 K + or - 5 K (DSB) was measured with a SUPARAMP contribution of only 20 K x or - 10 K. Output saturation was observed and complicates the interpretation of the noise temperature measurements and may render them upper limits. A comparison was made with the results of an earlier 3 cm suparamp. The data is in substantial agreement with theoretical predictions.

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Noise performance and stability of a doubly-degenerate unsaturated SUPARAMP

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The noise temperature and gain stability of the superconducting unbiased parametric amplifier (SUPARAMP) have been calculated. The results of the analysis suggest that extremely low-noise amplification of signals from cryogenic sources may be achieved. It seems possible to obtain an effective input noise temperature of 1 K for signal frequencies up to 10 GHz, having a stable power gain of 20–30 dB. This paper provides the fundamental design specifications necessary for the construction of a low-noise SUPARAMP.

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Arrays of 10 or 40 series-connected small densely packed Josephson tunnel junctions were successfully operated as parametric amplifiers at 10 GHz. Between 50 and 90% of the junctions in an array were observed to work coherently in the amplification process. Signal gain exceeding 24 dB was achieved with a pump power as low as −50 to −70 dBm. A power width (i.e., the range of the pump power for a gain within 3 dB of the peak gain) of 0.25 dB and a bandwidth of 15 MHz were measured for 20-dB gain. The power width was in accordance with theory but the bandwidth was reduced, probably due to noise saturation effects. The latter effects can be reduced by lowering the input noise temperature or by including an external band limitation. The noise temperature was also increased by saturation; however, with an external bandwidth of 60 MHz, a noise temperature of 30±20 K was measured. The application of a magnetic field has proved extremely useful as a means of tuning the amplifiers to stable high-gain operating points. This tuning was also utilized in evaluating the amplifier parameters, and the theory by Feldman, Parrish, and Chiao has been verified. The upper frequency limit for a lead tunnel junction amplifier ought to be well above 300 GHz.

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Parametric amplification and oscillation at 36 GHz using a point-contact Josephson junction

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We have observed doubly degenerate parametric amplification and oscillation at 36 GHz from a single point-contact Josephson junction. The experimental results agree qualitatively with theoretical calculations based on the resistively shunted junction model. The estimated noise temperature of an amplifier with 11 dB net gain is consistent with zero, but has an upper limit of 50 K. Attempts to observe parametric amplification in the singly degenerate mode with a pump frequency of 72 GHz were not successful.

Journal of Applied Physics•Mar 1, 1977•42 citations

Parametric amplification and oscillation at 36 GHz using a point contact Josephson junction

Yuan Taur, P. L. Richards

We have observed doubly degenerate parametric amplification and oscillation at 36 GHz from a single point contact Josephson junction. The experimental results agree qualitatively with theoretical calculations based on the resistively shunted junction model. The estimated noise temperature of an amplifier with 11 dB net gain is consistent with zero, but has an upper limit of 50 K. Attempts to observe parametric amplification in the singly degenerate mode with a pump frequency of 72 GHz were not successful. (Author)

ucb•Nov 1, 1976•0 citations

A low-noise series-array Josephson junction parametric amplifier

Bernard Yurke, Michael Lee Roukes, Roman Movshovich +1 more

We have obtained parametric gain at 19 GHz from a distributed Josephson junction parametric amplifier whose active gain medium consists of a series array of 1000 Josephson junctions embedded in a coplanar waveguide. When cooled to 1.7 K the amplifier provides 16 dB gain in a mode where the internally generated double sideband noise referred to input is 0.5±0.1 K. This noise is consistent with Nyquist noise generated from the losses. An instantaneous bandwidth of 125 MHz has been observed with a peak gain of 12 dB. The 3 dB compression point with a peak gain of 14.6 dB is -90.5 dB and the dynamic range is 38 dB.

Applied Physics Letters•Nov 11, 1996•66 citations
A 9-mm degenerate parametric amplifier has been constructed using a linear series array of unbiased Josephson junctions as the active nonlinear element. We used a balanced diode mixer as a synchronous detector, with a single source serving both as the pump and as the mixer local oscillator. A stable net gain of 15 dB in an instantaneous bandwidth (FWHM) of 3.4 GHz has been achieved. We measured a system noise temperature of 220±5 K (DSB) with a SUPARAMP contribution of only 20±10 K. Output saturation, however, has been observed. This complicates the interpretation of our noise-temperature measurements and may render them upper limits. Comparison is made with the results of an earlier 3-cm SUPARAMP. The data are in substantial agreement with theoretical predictions.
A 9mm degenerate parametric amplifier was constructed using a linear, series array of unbiased Josephson junctions as the active, nonlinear element. A balanced diode mixer was used as a synchronous detector, with a single source serving both as the pump and as the mixer local oscillator. A stable, net gain of 15 dB in an instantaneous bandwith (FWHM) of 3.4 GHz was achieved. A system noise temperature of 220 K + or - 5 K (DSB) was measured with a SUPARAMP contribution of only 20 K x or - 10 K. Output saturation was observed and complicates the interpretation of the noise temperature measurements and may render them upper limits. A comparison was made with the results of an earlier 3 cm suparamp. The data is in substantial agreement with theoretical predictions.
The noise temperature and gain stability of the superconducting unbiased parametric amplifier (SUPARAMP) have been calculated. The results of the analysis suggest that extremely low-noise amplification of signals from cryogenic sources may be achieved. It seems possible to obtain an effective input noise temperature of 1 K for signal frequencies up to 10 GHz, having a stable power gain of 20–30 dB. This paper provides the fundamental design specifications necessary for the construction of a low-noise SUPARAMP.
Arrays of 10 or 40 series-connected small densely packed Josephson tunnel junctions were successfully operated as parametric amplifiers at 10 GHz. Between 50 and 90% of the junctions in an array were observed to work coherently in the amplification process. Signal gain exceeding 24 dB was achieved with a pump power as low as −50 to −70 dBm. A power width (i.e., the range of the pump power for a gain within 3 dB of the peak gain) of 0.25 dB and a bandwidth of 15 MHz were measured for 20-dB gain. The power width was in accordance with theory but the bandwidth was reduced, probably due to noise saturation effects. The latter effects can be reduced by lowering the input noise temperature or by including an external band limitation. The noise temperature was also increased by saturation; however, with an external bandwidth of 60 MHz, a noise temperature of 30±20 K was measured. The application of a magnetic field has proved extremely useful as a means of tuning the amplifiers to stable high-gain operating points. This tuning was also utilized in evaluating the amplifier parameters, and the theory by Feldman, Parrish, and Chiao has been verified. The upper frequency limit for a lead tunnel junction amplifier ought to be well above 300 GHz.
We have observed doubly degenerate parametric amplification and oscillation at 36 GHz from a single point-contact Josephson junction. The experimental results agree qualitatively with theoretical calculations based on the resistively shunted junction model. The estimated noise temperature of an amplifier with 11 dB net gain is consistent with zero, but has an upper limit of 50 K. Attempts to observe parametric amplification in the singly degenerate mode with a pump frequency of 72 GHz were not successful.
We have observed doubly degenerate parametric amplification and oscillation at 36 GHz from a single point contact Josephson junction. The experimental results agree qualitatively with theoretical calculations based on the resistively shunted junction model. The estimated noise temperature of an amplifier with 11 dB net gain is consistent with zero, but has an upper limit of 50 K. Attempts to observe parametric amplification in the singly degenerate mode with a pump frequency of 72 GHz were not successful. (Author)
We have obtained parametric gain at 19 GHz from a distributed Josephson junction parametric amplifier whose active gain medium consists of a series array of 1000 Josephson junctions embedded in a coplanar waveguide. When cooled to 1.7 K the amplifier provides 16 dB gain in a mode where the internally generated double sideband noise referred to input is 0.5±0.1 K. This noise is consistent with Nyquist noise generated from the losses. An instantaneous bandwidth of 125 MHz has been observed with a peak gain of 12 dB. The 3 dB compression point with a peak gain of 14.6 dB is -90.5 dB and the dynamic range is 38 dB.