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IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques

A 200-285-GHz waveguide SIS mixer with an inhomogeneous distributed junction array

Mahoto Takeda, Takashi Noguchi

Published Nov 1, 2002• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, we present the experimental results of a waveguide superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer with an inhomogeneous distributed junction array. The mixer consists of five Nb-AlO/sub x/-Nb SIS junctions with different dimensions distributed on a superconducting microstrip. The critical current density of the fabricated junctions was 3100 A/cm/sup 2/. Detailed measurements of the receiver noise temperature have been made in the frequency range from 190 to 284 GHz at 4.2 K. A double-sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperature of 5 hw/k was obtained in the frequency range from 202 to 284 GHz and the lowest DSB receiver noise temperature of 46 K was obtained at 210 GHz.

DOI
10.1109/tmtt.2002.804513

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IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium digest•Dec 30, 2002•4 citations
In this paper, we present the experimental results of a waveguide superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer with an inhomogeneous distributed junction array. The mixer consists of five Nb-AlO/sub x/-Nb SIS junctions with different dimensions distributed on a superconducting microstrip. The critical current density of the fabricated junctions was 3100 A/cm/sup 2/. Detailed measurements of the receiver noise temperature have been made in the frequency range from 190 to 284 GHz at 4.2 K. A double-sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperature of 5 hw/k was obtained in the frequency range from 202 to 284 GHz and the lowest DSB receiver noise temperature of 46 K was obtained at 210 GHz.
A 230-GHz subharmonically pumped waveguide mixer employing superconducting tunnel junctions has been developed. We present, in this paper, an experimental study of harmonic superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixing at 230 GHz, focusing mainly on its noise behavior. The mixer has a double-tuned waveguide structure and employs an array of four 1.7-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ Nb-AlOx-Nb SIS junctions in series, with /spl omega/R/sub n/C/sub j//spl sim/3 at 230 GHz. Harmonic quantum mixing occurred over an experimental frequency range of 205-235 GHz (local oscillator: 112.5-117.5 GHz), exhibiting corresponding double sideband noise temperatures of lower than 150 K, with a lowest value of 75 K at /spl sim/230 GHz. The measured mixer noise is believed to be the lowest yet reported for a mixer using subharmonic-pump configuration at this frequency. A phenomenon that we attribute to the third harmonic SIS mixing has also been observed.
The authors have made a detailed study of the gain and noise of a SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) heterodyne receiver at 345 GHz. An array of two Nb-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-Nb SIS junctions in series are used as the mixing element. The array is operated in a waveguide mount with a backshort and an E-plane tuner. The best receiver noise temperature achieved is 140 K DSB (double sideband). The embedding impedances were determined by fitting theory to the measured pumped curves. High-quality fits were obtained, providing the first detailed test of the Tucker-theory at frequencies above 300 GHz. The impedances found by this method are in very good agreement with impedances measured in a scale model at 3.3 GHz. From these embedding impedances, the gain and noise of the mixer were calculated over a full bias range using the Tucker theory in the three-port low-IF approximation. The measured dependence of mixer gain and noise on bias voltage, pump power and embedding impedance is in good agreement with theory. However the absolute values show discrepancies that appear to be independent of the bias parameters of the mixer.>
We have designed and fabricated waveguide superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receivers at 870 GHz with NbN/AlN/NbN tunnel junctions on an MgO substrate. A waveguide probe was incorporated into the mixer chip for a waveguide-to-microstrip transition. As the tuning circuit for the SIS mixer, we designed a resonant distributed junction whose length is one wavelength and critical current density is 20 kA/cm/sup 2/. The mixing properties were calculated based on the quantum theory of mixing. The SSB mixer noise temperature should be less than 100 K and conversion gain larger than -8.0 dB in the frequency range from 840 to 920 GHz. We also observed the resonance steps of the fabricated SIS mixer. The tuning frequency was slightly higher than the designed frequency.
The noise and gain of a heterodyne waveguide mixer using Nb/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3//Nb superconducting tunnel junctions were measured in the 400-500-GHz frequency range. Three different arrays of two junctions in series are analyzed. The minimum receiver noise temperature is 120 K DSB at 480 GHz, measured with an array having integrated tuning stubs. The authors compare data of the pumped I-V curves with the Werthammer-Tucker theory and demonstrate an excellent agreement at frequencies up to 500 GHz. For an array without integrated tuning stubs. a mixer noise temperature of 90+or-30 K and a DSB mixer gain of -12.5+or-0.6 dB were measured. A comparison of the measured gain versus bias voltage with the quantum theory of mixing shows good qualitative agreement, indicating the applicability of this theory to Nb tunnel junctions up to 500 GHz. The noise temperature of an array with a lower gap voltage is 220 K at 495 GHz. This frequency is 85% of the reduced gap frequency, indicating that Nb superconductor insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers can be used up at least the gap frequency of 680 GHz.>
A heterodyne receiver using an SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) waveguide mixer with two mechanical tuners has been built and characterized over the frequency range of 460 GHz to 630 GHz. This receiver is designed for radioastronomy applications. The mixer uses high-current-density, 0.25- mu m/sup 2/, Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb SIS tunnel junctions with integrated superconductive RF circuits to tune the junction capacitance. A DSB (double sideband) receiver noise temperature as low as 200+or-17 K has been obtained at 540 GHz. In addition, negative differential resistance has been observed in the DC I-V (current-voltage) curve at 487-491 GHz.>