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Development of superconductive parallel junction arrays for Submm-wave local oscillator applications

Faouzi M. Boussaha, A. Féret, B. Lecomte, Morvan C. Salez, L. Loukitch, Christine Chaumont, Jean-Michel Krieg, M. Chaubet

Published Apr 28, 2008• 0 citations
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Abstract

In order to develop Submillimiter-wave fully Integrated Superconducting Receivers (SIRs) based on parallel small SIS junction arrays (multijunction) operating as local oscillator, we investigate their performance through measurement and simulation. Multijunction may be an interesting alternative to LJJ because it allows wide LO tunability, wide impedance matching bandwidths and increase design flexibility and control of technological parameters. I. INTRODUCTION

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In order to develop Submillimiter-wave fully Integrated Superconducting Receivers (SIRs) based on parallel small SIS junction arrays (multijunction) operating as local oscillator, we investigate their performance through measurement and simulation. Multijunction may be an interesting alternative to LJJ because it allows wide LO tunability, wide impedance matching bandwidths and increase design flexibility and control of technological parameters. I. INTRODUCTION
We are developing Submillimiter-wave fully Integrated superconducting Receivers (SIRs) based on SIS mixer and SIS Multijunction operating as local oscillator. In deed, Multijunctionbased FFOs may be an interesting alternative to LJJ-based FFOs in SIRs, allowing wide LO tunability, wide impedance matching bandwidths, and increased design flexibility and control of technological parameters. In this paper, we will present a numerical study of the Josephson electrodynamics in this kind of device and measurement results of output power from 5 junction array with current density of ~ 10 kA/cm2 at submm-wave frequencies. 18th International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology
Observation and analysis of submillimeter-wave radiation (300GHz-3THz) in astronomy and atmospheric sciences requires increasingly performant receivers. The most sensitive receivers working in this range of electromagnetic spectrum use superconductor-insolator-superconductor (SIS) junctions. In order to increase the bandwidth and the sensitivity, we are developing a quantum-noise limited heterodyne receiver based on several parallel SIS junctions with broad (larger than 30%) fixed tuned bandwidth. These circuits can be viewed as passband filters which have been optimized by varying the spacings between junctions. We have designed such 5-junction arrays for operation in the range 480-640 GHz. Fabrication and heterodyne characterization of these devices has been done. The 1 μm2 junctions current density ranges from 4 to 13 kA/cm2, using optical lithography and Nb/Al2Nb5/Nb trilayer sputtering technology. The fabrication process and yield are presented in this paper, along with measured performances
The concept of the fully Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR) has been developed and experimentally demonstrated. The single-chip submm wave receiver includes a planar antenna integrated with a SIS mixer, which is pumped by an internal superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) as local oscillator (LO). A DSB noise temperature below 100 K has been demonstrated around 500 GHz. Heterodyne measurements have shown that the instantaneous bandwidth of the receiver is 15 – 20 % which meets the requirements of practical applications. The double-dipole lens-antenna SIS mixer has an antenna beam ≈ f/9 with sidelobes below- 16 dB. This enables an efficient coupling of the SIR to the telescope antenna. With the FFO phase locked in the frequency range 270- 440 GHz a linewidth as low as 1 Hz has been measured relative to a reference oscillator. A compact array of 9 SIRs has been developed and tested. Each pixel contains an internally pumped receiver chip, which is mounted on the back of an elliptical silicon lens. A noise temperature of about 150 K has been measured at 500 GHz using the internal FFO for the imaging array of Integrated Receivers.
The concept of a fully integrated superconducting receiver looks very attractive for sub-mm space astronomy where low weight, power consumption and volume are required. The possibility to integrate on a few chips the different planar components: a SIS mixer, a superconducting local oscillator (LO), an intermediate frequency amplifier followed by superconducting circuits for digitizing and processing of down converted signals, is discussed. A first implementation of a real integrated quasioptical receiver for frequencies up to 500 GHz is described. The one-chip receiver comprises a double dipole antenna, parallel biased SIS array mixer and Josephson Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) with matching circuits. The results of extensive investigations of the integrated receiver as well as design and investigation of novel superconducting elements are presented.>
We developed submillimeter superconducting oscillators using Josephson effects in the Nb-based superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) parallel array. The radiation emitted from the array is detected using integrated SIS twin junctions. Despite the small junction number (N = 21), the (I-V ) characteristics of the detector clearly exhibit photon-assisted quasiparticle steps when the array is biased upon its Josephson resonances, ranging from 370 to 500 GHz. The array has a moderate current density (Jc≈= 6 kA/cm2) but provides an output power around 0.28 μW, which would be sufficient in achieving sensitive heterodyne reception. The impedance array can be matched easier to microwave circuits than the usual long Josephson junctions. Furthermore, the parallel array approach can be also extended up to about 1.4 THz using Nb-based SIS junctions.
The concept of a fully superconducting integrated receiver is developed and experimentally tested. This single-chip sub-mm wave receiver includes a planar antenna integrated with a SIS mixer and an internal superconducting Josephson-type local oscillator (flux-flow oscillator, FFO). The receiver is tested with a DSB noise temperature below 100 K around 500 GHz being pumped by its internal local oscillator (LO). The instantaneous bandwidth of 15-20% is estimated via FTS and heterodyne measurements that meet the requirements of most practical applications. The far field antenna beam is measured as ≈ f /10 with sidelobes below -16 dB that is suitable for coupling to a real telescope antenna. A nine-pixel imaging array receiver with each pixel containing an internally pumped receiver chip is developed and tested. A linewidth of the phase locked FFO as low as 1 Hz is measured relative to a reference oscillator in the frequency range 270-440 GHz. An rf amplifier on the base of a dc SQUID is developed and tested showing a noise figure below 10 K at 4 GHz and a bandwidth of about 300 MHz. This amplifier can be included as a part of an integrated receiver that is valuable for array applications.