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IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

Superconducting thin-film transformers at microwave frequencies

A. H. Miklich, John X. Przybysz, T.J. Smith, Samuel P. Benz, Todd E. Harvey

Published Jun 1, 1999• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe the use of thin-film superconducting transformers at frequencies up to 20 GHz. Transformers with turns ratios of 2, 4, and 7 were fabricated out of Nb and tested in a liquid-He Dewar. The measured S-parameters showed considerably less bandwidth than predicted based on consideration of the lumped element inductances of the circuit elements. We present an alternative model for the transformer where each part of the patterned circuit is treated as a distributed element (a transmission line). Despite the simplicity of the model, simulations using it agree well with the measured data without using any fitted parameters. These simulations take only a few minutes to compute on a typical workstation, making the model well suited as a design tool.

DOI
10.1109/77.783675

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IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Mar 1, 1993•1 citation
We describe the use of thin-film superconducting transformers at frequencies up to 20 GHz. Transformers with turns ratios of 2, 4, and 7 were fabricated out of Nb and tested in a liquid-He Dewar. The measured S-parameters showed considerably less bandwidth than predicted based on consideration of the lumped element inductances of the circuit elements. We present an alternative model for the transformer where each part of the patterned circuit is treated as a distributed element (a transmission line). Despite the simplicity of the model, simulations using it agree well with the measured data without using any fitted parameters. These simulations take only a few minutes to compute on a typical workstation, making the model well suited as a design tool.
Superconducting thin-film metamaterial resonators can provide a dense microwave mode spectrum with potential applications in quantum information science. We report on the fabrication and low-temperature measurement of metamaterial transmission-line resonators patterned from Al thin films. We also describe multiple approaches for numerical simulations of the microwave properties of these structures, along with comparisons with the measured transmission spectra. The ability to predict the mode spectrum based on the chip layout provides a path towards future designs integrating metamaterial resonators with superconducting qubits.
The results of the development and testing of superconducting integrated microcircuits based on NbTiN/Al transmission lines at the frequencies up to 1.1 THz are presented. The integrated circuits consist of a slot planar antenna made of thin film of NbTiN coupled to a NbTiN/Al microstrip line, and a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junction based on Nb/AlN/NbN operating as a terahertz (THz) detector. Two different designs having the operating range of 0.9-1.2 THz were numerically simulated, fabricated and experimentally tested. A strong pumping of SIS detector by a signal of the backward wave oscillator (BWO) around frequency of 1.05 THz was observed, which demonstrated the applicability of fabricated transmission lines at frequencies higher than 750 GHz, where the traditionally used Nb/Nb transmission lines cannot operate.
We present recent work on design, fabrication, and characterization of thin-film, flexible superconducting stripline cables. Fabrication details, dc, and microwave performance (up to 14 GHz) of cables with Al/Nb/Al conductors and polyimide (PI) dielectric are discussed. Thin Al was used as a barrier layer between Nb and polyimide to protect the Nb superconductivity during subsequent PI curing steps, which were performed at a reduced temperature. The dc performance, including critical transition temperature and critical current, of the stripline transmission lines is presented. We observed Tcvalues of ~8.8 and ~8.6 K for signal traces and ground planes, respectively. Microwave characterization, including cross-talk, was performed on stripline transmission lines and resonators. We observed reasonable impedance match (S11better than -15 dB), low insertion loss (S21better than 0.04 dB/cm) and cross-talk below -60 dB for stripline transmission lines measured up to 10 GHz at 4.2 K. Furthermore, similarly fabricated stripline resonators exhibited quality factors ~7 000 at 10 GHz and 1.2 K for stripline resonators. The results of these experiments provide insight into material stack-ups for robust, multi-layer superconducting flexible cables that can find use in future cryogenic electronics systems.
Abstract We describe a superconducting (SC) cable-to-cable connection method for thin-film flexible (Nb/polyimide) parallel transmission line cables that exhibits low loss from DC to microwave frequencies. Design, fabrication procedures, assembly methods and characterization results are reported. The connector assembly incorporates a monolithic array of short superconductive bridging traces that function as a ganged electrical splice between two ribbon cables. The assembly is micro-mechanically self-aligned and uses pressure to make simultaneous electrical contacts between multiple 50 μ m wide microstrip signal traces, as well as between ground planes. Each contacting surface comprises thin SC Nb overcoated with ultra-thin Au, providing nearly zero DC resistance and very good RF performance. A simulation model of the microwave performance of microstrip-to-microstrip interconnections at 4.2 K was successfully matched to measurement results. This new cable-to-cable connection approach exhibited an insertion loss <0.12 dB and a return loss >15 dB up to 14 GHz. The connections performed reproducibly throughout multiple thermal cycles and multiple disassembly/reassembly cycles.
Oscillator designs based on superconducting variable-thickness bridge devices have been developed. Design considerations and constraints in the layout and fabrication of the circuits are discussed, and a test fixture suitable for circuit testing is described. Circuits fabricated with YBCO films were tested, but do not yet show the desired operating properties. Preliminary tests indicated poor film quality as the cause. Multiple oscillator designs operating at 40 GHz have been designed and simulated and are currently being tested using YBCO on LaAlO/sub 3/. Simulations were limited by the availability of specific simulation models for individual components.>