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IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

Analog applications of the Josephson effect: Recent developments and future prospects

R. Y. Chiao

Published Jan 1, 1979• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A selected group of high-frequency analog devices which have received much recent attention, the 4-wave, the 3-wave paramps, the RSJ and the SIS mixers, will be reviewed. Present achievements and problems of these devices will be discussed, comparisons made, and future prospects will be assessed.
DOI
10.1109/tmag.1979.1060116

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NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document. This thesis describes both theoretical and experimental investigations into the dynamics and noise processes of Josephson junctions, with the intent of evaluating their potential as mixers in heterodyne instruments for submillimeter-wave (i.e., the frequency range from 300 GHz to 3THz) detection. Superconducting tunnel junctions utilizing the nonlinearity due to photon-assisted tunneling of quasiparticles (SIS mixers) have become the state-of-the-art technology for sensitive heterodyne detection up to frequencies of about 700 [...]. Recent progress in the fabrication of high [...], superconductors has led to Josephson-effect devices with [...] products of up to ten millivolts, which might be suitable for mixing at frequencies of many terahertz. The key question for weighing the prospects for high-frequency Josephson mixers is that of the sensitivity which can be attained. Previous experimental work on Josephson mixing suggests the existence of an "excess" noise, which degrades the sensitivity. Theoretical modeling of mixer performance, based on the resistivelyshunted junction (RSJ) model for the dynamics of the device, also indicates the presence of larger noise than expected. The origin of this noise was not clearly understood, however, nor was its exact magnitude or expected scaling with frequency or junction characteristics known. In addition, previous experiments utilized crude devices of the point-contact type, which were unstable and thus undesirable for real applications. In the first part of this thesis research, extensive numerical simulations were performed with the RSJ model, including calculations of mixer noise and conversion efficiency. These calculations have revealed that the source of excess noise is the AC Josephson oscillations of the device, which can be completely incoherent, with a linewidth comparable to their frequency. Thus they appear as a broadband noise source. While this noise is intrinsic and unavoidable, an optimized mixer is still shown to be capable of interesting sensitivity levels, and the excess noise is expected to become relatively less important as the operating frequency is increased. Secondly, a process has been developed for the fabrication of stable, well-characterized, and reproducible Josephson devices based on resistively-shunted Nb and NbN tunnel junctions. The devices utilize submicron-area, high current-density tunnel junctions and a AuGe shunt resistor to yield completely non-hysteretic I-V curves, normal-state resistances of about [...] products of about half a millivolt. These devices should be nearly optimal for mixing at [...]. Heterodyne measurements using these junctions have been performed in a waveguide mixer mount. Receiver temperatures as low as 190 K (DSB), with -6 dB conversion efficiency, have been obtained at 100 [...], but these results are still a factor of about four higher than those predicted by the RSJ simulations. Accurate measurements of the available noise power of the junctions at the intermediate frequency of 1.5 [...] were made, and confirmed that the receivers were limited by elevated junction output noise. The deviations of the noise from theoretical predictions are shown to be caused by the nonlinear interaction of the junction with the embedding circuit. While this work points out some of the complexity introduced by the strong nonlinearity of Josephson devices, it is still expected that Josephson-effect mixers may be useful for heterodyne detection at very high frequencies.
The superconducting components developed for infrared and millimeter-wave receivers are reviewed. A brief description is given of the scientific principles on which each device is based, followed by a discussion of the performance that has been achieved in terms of the appropriate figures of merit. Comments are made about the possibility that useful device performance can be achieved by using the new high-T/sub c/ oxide superconductors. The authors emphasize photon-assisted quasi-particle tunneling and the superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) quasi-particle mixer, which is the only superconducting component to find substantial applications at infrared or millimeter wavelengths. Descriptions are given of the SIS quasi-particle direct detector, the Josephson effect oscillator, the Josephson effect parametric amplifier, and the various superconducting bolometers, for which practical applications appear possible. The less promising Josephson-effect detector and mixer and the various ideas for superconducting photon detectors are described because of the current interest in possible high-T/sub c/ versions of these devices.>
The use of Josephson mixers with an external local oscillator for sensitive heterodyne reception at submillimeter wavelengths is discussed. Recent experiments, primarily at 450 GHz (0.66 mm wavelength), together with our present theoretical knowledge, allow realistic estimates of future receiver performance to be made. Although some practical problems remain, the probability of building field‐usable receivers with very competitive sensitivity now appears good. A discussion is also given of the use of the high‐harmonic mixing properties of Josephson devices for frequency measurement in the far infrared.