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 Magnetics

Quantum limited quasiparticle mixers at 100 GHz

C. A. Mears, Qing Hu, P. L. Richards, A. Hodge Worsham, D. E. Prober, Antti V. Räisänen

Published Mar 1, 1991• 20 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Accurate measurements of the noise and gain of superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) mixers using small-area (1 mu m/sup 2/) Ta/Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5//Pb/sub 0.9/Bi/sub 0.1/ tunnel junctions were made. The authors measured an added mixer noise of 0.61+or-0.31 quanta at 95.0 GHz, which is within 25% of the quantum limit of 0.5 quanta. Detailed comparison between theoretical predictions of the quantum theory of mixing has been carried out, and noise and gain have been experimentally measured. The shapes of the I-V curves pumped at the upper and lower sideband frequencies were used to deduce values of the embedding admittances at these frequencies. Using these admittances, the mixer noise and gain predicted by quantum theory are in excellent agreement with experiment.

DOI
10.1109/20.133934

Related papers

Quantum-limited quasiparticle mixers at 100 GHz

C. A. Mears, Qing Hu, Paul L. Richards +3 more

Accurate measurements have been made of the noise and gain of superconducting-insulating- superconducting (SIS) mixers employing small-area (1 micrometers 2) Ta/Ta2O5/Pb0.9Bi0.1 tunnel junctions. The authors have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61 +/- 0.31 quanta at 95.0 GHz, which is within 25% of the quantum limit of 0.5 quanta. A detailed comparison is made between theoretical predictions of the quantum theory of mixing and experimentally measured noise and gain. The authors used the shapes of I-V curves pumped at the upper and lower sideband frequencies to deduce values of the embedding admittances at these frequencies. Using these admittances, the mixer noise and gain predicted by quantum theory are in excellent agreement with experiment.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jul 1, 1991•2 citations

Quantum-limited heterodyne detection of millimeter waves using superconducting tantalum tunnel junctions

C. A. Mears, Qing Hu, P. L. Richards +3 more

We have made accurate measurements of the noise and gain of heterodyne mixers employing small-area (1 μm2) Ta/Ta2O5/Pb0.9Bi0.1 superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junctions. These junctions have very low subgap leakage current and an extremely sharp current rise at the sum gap. We have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61±0.31 quanta at 95.0 GHz, which is within 25% of the quantum limit of 0.5 quanta for a single-sideband mixer. Values of the imbedding admittances are deduced from the shapes of I-V curves pumped at the upper and lower sideband frequencies. Using these admittances, the mixer performance calculated from the quantum theory is in good agreement with the experiment.

Applied Physics Letters•Dec 3, 1990•28 citations

Accurate experimental and theoretical comparisons between superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers showing weak and strong quantum effects

William R. McGrath, P. L. Richards, Dean W. Face +2 more

We have made a systematic study of the gain and noise in superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers employing Ta based, Nb based, and Pb-alloy based tunnel junctions. These junctions displayed both weak and strong quantum effects at a signal frequency of 33 GHz. The effects of energy gap sharpness and subgap current were investigated and are quantitatively related to mixer performance. Detailed comparisons are made of the mixing results with the predictions of a three-port model approximation to the Tucker theory. We have measured mixer performance with a novel test apparatus which is accurate enough to allow for the first quantitative tests of theoretical noise predictions. We find that the three-port model of the Tucker theory underestimates the mixer noise temperature by a factor of about 2 for all of our mixers. In addition, predicted values of available mixer gain are in reasonable agreement with experiment when quantum effects are weak. However, as quantum effects become strong, the predicted available gain diverges to infinity, which is in sharp contrast to the experimental results. Predictions of coupled gain do not always show such divergences.

Journal of Applied Physics•Apr 15, 1988•28 citations

High-frequency limits of superconducting tunnel junction mixers

Dag Winkler, T. Claeson

We have investigated high-frequency limits of superconducting quasiparticle mixers from experiments on Al/Al-oxide-In/Al (or Ag) tunnel junctions, and from calculations based on Tucker’s quantum theory of mixing (QTM). The small superconducting energy gap of Al enabled us to study mixer performance at around the junction gap frequency, fg =(Δ1+Δ2)/h≊87 GHz, of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers, and at twice the junction gap frequency for S-I-normal metal (SIN) mixers ( fg =Δ1/h) with available millimeter wave sources. Because of the low transition temperature of Al (Tc ≊1.3 K), a dilution refrigerator was used for providing temperatures below 1 K. The best mixer conversion efficiency was obtained for a low-resistance (∼34 Ω) six-junction array SIS mixer operated at f/fg ≊1 (in this case 73 GHz). The coupled single sideband conversion gain (with no image rejection) was −13.8 dB and the available conversion gain was estimated to −8.4 dB. Complicating nonequilibrium phenomena made it difficult to compare the performance of these relatively high-current-density mixers to the QTM. However, good agreement between calculated and corresponding measured conversion efficiencies and dynamic resistance values was obtained for the low-current-density mixers. Noise due to switching between rf-induced Josephson steps and interference from Josephson mixing could be quenched by a magnetic field. Several high-frequency limits are considered in this paper (such as Josephson switching noise, nonequilibrium phenomena, pair breaking, and energy gap limitations). Our results indicate that submillimeter wave SIS mixer receivers are likely to perform well, at least up to their gap frequencies, i.e., the THz region for large gap superconductors. Our QTM calculations showed that conversion gain larger than unity should be possible up to twice the gap frequency. Above this frequency the conversion loss will increase rapidly.

Journal of Applied Physics•Dec 1, 1987•35 citations

Superconducting Tunnel Junctions As Mixers at 115 Ghz

G. J. Dolan, RICHARD A. LINKE, T. C. L. G. Sollner +2 more

Superconducting tunnel junctions have been used as the nonlinear element for mixing at a signal frequency of 115 GHz. The experimental results are compared with predictions of a theoretical analysis based on the quantum theory of mixing of J. R. Tucker. Qualitative agreement is obtained and suggestions are made for quantitative reconciliation. The junctions were small area (/spl equiv/0.4mu m/sup 2/) with normal resistances of 60 to 100 omega and capacitance approximately 20 fF. Measured sensitivity (T/ sup SSB/sub MXR/=62 K, L/sub c/=7.6 dB) implies receiver noise temperatures superior to the best receivers now in use at this frequency.

IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques•Feb 1, 1981•32 citations

Low-noise 115-GHz mixing in superconducting oxide-barrier tunnel junctions

G. J. Dolan, Tom G. Phillips, D. P. Woody

Small-area (≲1 μm2) oxide-barrier tunnel junctions have been made of thermally cyclable superconducting Pb alloys for use as high-frequency mixers. A single-sideband mixer noise temperature of <100 K has been achieved at 115 GHz. This result was achieved in the quasiparticle (classical) mixing mode.

Applied Physics Letters•Mar 1, 1979•137 citations
Accurate measurements of the noise and gain of superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) mixers using small-area (1 mu m/sup 2/) Ta/Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5//Pb/sub 0.9/Bi/sub 0.1/ tunnel junctions were made. The authors measured an added mixer noise of 0.61+or-0.31 quanta at 95.0 GHz, which is within 25% of the quantum limit of 0.5 quanta. Detailed comparison between theoretical predictions of the quantum theory of mixing has been carried out, and noise and gain have been experimentally measured. The shapes of the I-V curves pumped at the upper and lower sideband frequencies were used to deduce values of the embedding admittances at these frequencies. Using these admittances, the mixer noise and gain predicted by quantum theory are in excellent agreement with experiment.
Accurate measurements have been made of the noise and gain of superconducting-insulating- superconducting (SIS) mixers employing small-area (1 micrometers 2) Ta/Ta2O5/Pb0.9Bi0.1 tunnel junctions. The authors have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61 +/- 0.31 quanta at 95.0 GHz, which is within 25% of the quantum limit of 0.5 quanta. A detailed comparison is made between theoretical predictions of the quantum theory of mixing and experimentally measured noise and gain. The authors used the shapes of I-V curves pumped at the upper and lower sideband frequencies to deduce values of the embedding admittances at these frequencies. Using these admittances, the mixer noise and gain predicted by quantum theory are in excellent agreement with experiment.
We have made accurate measurements of the noise and gain of heterodyne mixers employing small-area (1 μm2) Ta/Ta2O5/Pb0.9Bi0.1 superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junctions. These junctions have very low subgap leakage current and an extremely sharp current rise at the sum gap. We have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61±0.31 quanta at 95.0 GHz, which is within 25% of the quantum limit of 0.5 quanta for a single-sideband mixer. Values of the imbedding admittances are deduced from the shapes of I-V curves pumped at the upper and lower sideband frequencies. Using these admittances, the mixer performance calculated from the quantum theory is in good agreement with the experiment.
We have made a systematic study of the gain and noise in superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers employing Ta based, Nb based, and Pb-alloy based tunnel junctions. These junctions displayed both weak and strong quantum effects at a signal frequency of 33 GHz. The effects of energy gap sharpness and subgap current were investigated and are quantitatively related to mixer performance. Detailed comparisons are made of the mixing results with the predictions of a three-port model approximation to the Tucker theory. We have measured mixer performance with a novel test apparatus which is accurate enough to allow for the first quantitative tests of theoretical noise predictions. We find that the three-port model of the Tucker theory underestimates the mixer noise temperature by a factor of about 2 for all of our mixers. In addition, predicted values of available mixer gain are in reasonable agreement with experiment when quantum effects are weak. However, as quantum effects become strong, the predicted available gain diverges to infinity, which is in sharp contrast to the experimental results. Predictions of coupled gain do not always show such divergences.
We have investigated high-frequency limits of superconducting quasiparticle mixers from experiments on Al/Al-oxide-In/Al (or Ag) tunnel junctions, and from calculations based on Tucker’s quantum theory of mixing (QTM). The small superconducting energy gap of Al enabled us to study mixer performance at around the junction gap frequency, fg =(Δ1+Δ2)/h≊87 GHz, of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers, and at twice the junction gap frequency for S-I-normal metal (SIN) mixers ( fg =Δ1/h) with available millimeter wave sources. Because of the low transition temperature of Al (Tc ≊1.3 K), a dilution refrigerator was used for providing temperatures below 1 K. The best mixer conversion efficiency was obtained for a low-resistance (∼34 Ω) six-junction array SIS mixer operated at f/fg ≊1 (in this case 73 GHz). The coupled single sideband conversion gain (with no image rejection) was −13.8 dB and the available conversion gain was estimated to −8.4 dB. Complicating nonequilibrium phenomena made it difficult to compare the performance of these relatively high-current-density mixers to the QTM. However, good agreement between calculated and corresponding measured conversion efficiencies and dynamic resistance values was obtained for the low-current-density mixers. Noise due to switching between rf-induced Josephson steps and interference from Josephson mixing could be quenched by a magnetic field. Several high-frequency limits are considered in this paper (such as Josephson switching noise, nonequilibrium phenomena, pair breaking, and energy gap limitations). Our results indicate that submillimeter wave SIS mixer receivers are likely to perform well, at least up to their gap frequencies, i.e., the THz region for large gap superconductors. Our QTM calculations showed that conversion gain larger than unity should be possible up to twice the gap frequency. Above this frequency the conversion loss will increase rapidly.
Superconducting tunnel junctions have been used as the nonlinear element for mixing at a signal frequency of 115 GHz. The experimental results are compared with predictions of a theoretical analysis based on the quantum theory of mixing of J. R. Tucker. Qualitative agreement is obtained and suggestions are made for quantitative reconciliation. The junctions were small area (/spl equiv/0.4mu m/sup 2/) with normal resistances of 60 to 100 omega and capacitance approximately 20 fF. Measured sensitivity (T/ sup SSB/sub MXR/=62 K, L/sub c/=7.6 dB) implies receiver noise temperatures superior to the best receivers now in use at this frequency.