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IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

Underground Wireless Communications Using High-Temperature Superconducting Receivers

J. Vasquez, V. Rodriguez, D. Reagor

Published Mar 1, 2004• 22 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The authors have developed a method for communicating in underground areas with voice. This system utilizes low-frequency electromagnetic radiation and high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) as receivers. The system is primarily used to communicate in underground areas using through-the-earth electromagnetic waves. The underground areas are typically mines, but the application is not restricted to that purpose. The communication channel is being used to send voice that has been digitally compressed. Typical rock masses do not allow conventional radio frequency electromagnetic waves to penetrate significant distances. Here, the authors use carrier frequencies of a few kilohertz that penetrate hundreds of meters into rock masses. They are using low-noise broadband superconducting receivers and have established that the signals propagate several hundred meters with modest power levels. Audio has been successfully received at distances in excess of 100 m through solid rock.

DOI
10.1109/tasc.2004.824335

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The authors have developed a method for communicating in underground areas with voice. This system utilizes low-frequency electromagnetic radiation and high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) as receivers. The system is primarily used to communicate in underground areas using through-the-earth electromagnetic waves. The underground areas are typically mines, but the application is not restricted to that purpose. The communication channel is being used to send voice that has been digitally compressed. Typical rock masses do not allow conventional radio frequency electromagnetic waves to penetrate significant distances. Here, the authors use carrier frequencies of a few kilohertz that penetrate hundreds of meters into rock masses. They are using low-noise broadband superconducting receivers and have established that the signals propagate several hundred meters with modest power levels. Audio has been successfully received at distances in excess of 100 m through solid rock.
We have developed a receiver for low-frequency radio waves using high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The primary application of such a receiver is to communicate in underground areas where the overburden results in significant losses at the usual radio frequencies. The receiver constructed consists of a SQUID, a small dewar, control electronics, and a battery pack. The SQUID was fabricated in our laboratory using an edge junction technology, discussed in previous publications. For this work we increased the effective area by including a standard galvanically coupled pickup loop. We have investigated background noise spectra and found that the low noise door of the SQUIDs can be fully utilized in the receiver, provided that the signals be encoded with a bandwidth narrower than the 60 Hz spacing between powerline harmonics. The most significant advantage of SQUIDs for this application is that they allow the compact construction of three-axis receivers that are necessary to overcome a dominant source of vibrational or motional noise.
Digital superconductor electronics has been experiencing rapid maturation with the emergence of smaller-scale, lower-cost communications applications which became the major technology drivers. These applications are primarily in the area of wireless communications, radar, and surveillance as well as in imaging and sensor systems. In these areas, the fundamental advantages of superconductivity translate into system benefits through novel Digital-RF architectures with direct digitization of wide band, high frequency radio frequency (RF) signals. At the same time the availability of relatively small 4K cryocoolers has lowered the foremost market barrier for cryogenically-cooled digital electronic systems. Recently, we have achieved a major breakthrough in the development, demonstration, and successful delivery of the cryocooled superconductor digital-RF receivers directly digitizing signals in a broad range from kilohertz to gigahertz. These essentially hybrid-technology systems combine a variety of superconductor and semiconductor technologies packaged with two-stage commercial cryocoolers: cryogenic Nb mixed-signal and digital circuits based on Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) technology, room-temperature amplifiers, FPGA processing and control circuitry. The demonstrated cryocooled digital-RF systems are the world's first and fastest directly digitizing receivers operating with live satellite signals in X-band and performing signal acquisition in HF to L-band at ∼30GHz clock frequencies.
A number of applications of high-temperature superconductor radio frequency superconducting quantum interference devices (rf SQUIDs) require a certain immunity of these sensors against electromagnetic interference (EMI). We have investigated effects of electromagnetic radiation in the high-frequency and ultrahigh-frequency range on various types of rf SQUIDs. It has been found that EMI of sufficient field strength reduces the voltage versus flux transfer function, and thus increases the flux noise of the SQUIDs. SQUIDs with a wire wound tank circuit coil have been found to be more sensitive to EMI than SQUIDs integrated into a superconducting microstrip resonator.
Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is a sensitive detector of magnetic flux signals. Up to now, the main application of SQUIDs has been measurements of magnetic flux signals in the frequency range from near DC to several MHz. Recently, cryogenic low-noise radio-frequency (RF) amplifiers based on DC SQUID are under development aiming to detect RF signals with sensitivity approaching quantum limit. In this paper, we review the recent progress of cryogenic low-noise RF amplifiers based on SQUID technology.
We have already seen, in Chapter 2 , that the complex response of a Josephson junction to applied electromagnetic radiation forms a basis for both broad-band and heterodyne detection modes, ranging from low frequencies to the far-infrared. Greater detail of actual working devices of this type will be given in this chapter. The second topic dealt with is digital applications of squid s. This is already a significant, and may in the future become a dominant, use of low-power superconducting technology. At first sight the contents of this chapter may seem to divide into two rather disconnected areas. However, logic devices have two important characteristics in common with radiation detectors: first, both involve very high-frequency operation, since slow digital devices are of little or no practical interest. Second, both applications demand the use of well characterised and reproducible small-area junctions with similar parameters. In what follows, more details of junction fabrication methods will be given than have been discussed earlier in the book. This reflects the fact that well defined junction properties are of the utmost importance in achieving high performance in these areas. It seems paradoxical that squid s, for all their unparalleled sensitivity, will operate very satisfactorily with far from ideal Josephson junctions. This is mainly because squid s have only been used in rather low-frequency applications, for which the low resistive and reactive impedances associated with poor-quality junctions do not limit performance.