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Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements

Improved SINIS Josephson junction series arrays for the quantum voltmeter

J. Kohlmann, Ralf Behr, F. Muller, Oliver Kieler, H. Schulze, J. Niemeyer

Published Jun 25, 2003• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The quantum voltmeter has been further developed towards a compact and easy-to-use system. Optimised 1 V SINIS series arrays generate steps of constant voltage whose width exceeds 1 mA. A new and improved design for 10 V arrays is under development, with the investigations described here serving as a basis.
DOI
10.1109/cpem.2002.1034884

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Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements•Nov 7, 2002•0 citations
Josephson series arrays with a binary sequence of nonhysteretic superconductor-insulator-normal metal-insulator-superconductor (SINIS) junctions have been realized. The arrays of up to 8192 junctions (14 bits) are operated at microwave frequencies of about 70 GHz with low microwave power. An electronic system was built to drive an automated dc quantum voltmeter. Two electrically isolated quantum voltmeters (QVMs) in the same cryoprobe and driven by one frequency have been used for calibrating resistive dividers with the intention of demonstrating some advantages of these instruments.
Large series arrays of underdamped SIS tunnel junctions are the basic element of the primary dc voltage standards used at present. The development of versatile quantum voltmeters for dc and ac metrology requires the preparation of large and perfect series arrays of overdamped Josephson junctions. Overdamped junctions can be realized by externally shunted SIS junctions or by internally shunted SNS or SINIS junctions. Arrays of up to 8000 SINIS junctions or 30000 SNS junctions were successfully operated at the 1 V dc level. In addition to being used in large arrays for voltage metrology and oscillators, the described junction types may become very useful for the preparation of highly integrated single-flux-quantum digital devices.
Recent metrological activities with programmable Josephson voltage standards (PJVS) are focused on extending the quantum accuracy to AC voltages, e.g. for the step-wise approximation of sine waves. Stimulated by the progress in this field, new requirements for the quality and availability of 1 V and 10 V circuits have been established. Based on the experience with programmable 1 V SINIS circuits fabricated at PTB and used at present by 13 National Metrological Institutes worldwide, the fabrication process and the microwave design were improved. The experience gained hereby enabled us to improve the properties of programmable 10 V SINIS arrays which were realized by us for the first time in 2000. The new 10 V circuits have 17 bit resolution and develop under 70 GHz microwave irradiation flat Shapiro steps at the 10 V level which are more than 600 muA wide. A direct comparison of the output voltage with a conventional 10 V SIS Josephson voltage standard confirmed the suitability for metrological applications. Incorporating 10 V-PJVS into existing AC metrology setups is expected to reduce their uncertainty budgets by about one order of magnitude.
A programmable dc voltage standard for output voltages of up to 10 V has been realized. The series arrays, consisting of about 69120 overdamped superconductor/insulator/normal metal/insulator/superconductor (SINIS) Josephson junctions, have been fabricated using the reliable Nb-Al/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ technology. The arrays can be operated in conventional Josephson voltage standards at microwave frequencies from 70 GHz to 75 GHz. Steps of constant voltage are observed at very low microwave power levels, since the major part of the microwave power is generated by the junctions themselves. The operation of the arrays and the formation of Shapiro steps are discussed.