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International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)

Harmonic mixing in thin film niobium nitride Josephson tunnel junctions

M. C. Wicks

Published Dec 1, 1990• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Beats between the harmonics of a microwave signal and various submillimetre laser lines above 890 GHz have been observed in the output from NbN Josephson junctions. Results of these mixing experiments will be described and discussed.
DOI
10.1117/12.2301474

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Thin film niobium nitride Josephson tunnel junctions have been used as harmonic mixers in experiments to measure the frequency of various submillimetre wavelength laser lines. The Josephson junctions were used as harmonic mixers with an 18-40 GHz microwave synthesiser providing the local oscillator signal. Harmonics up to the 140th of ∼18 GHz, generated within the junction, mixed with optically pumped laser lines up to 2.5 THz to produce output signals around 20 MHz. Results of frequency measurements and data on the performance of the mixing system, including signal to noise ratios and frequency response, will be presented.
Harmonic mixing characteristics in thin-film YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) Josephson junctions fabricated using photolithography were examined at the liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) using 94 GHz millimeter wave radiation. As a result, a mixing signal (IF output) was obtained up to the harmonic number of 55 in harmonic mixing using the local oscillation (LO) wave as the microwave. The output strongly depended on the power of the LO and signal waves, and on the Shapiro step spacing induced by the LO wave. The IF output decreased in proportion to N -2 in the lower harmonic number region. However, the rate of decrease increased with an increase in the harmonic number.
Abstract Harmonic mixing characteristics were examined in a 94‐GHz millimeter wave region at liquid‐nitrogen temperature (77 K) using thin‐film YBa2Cu3O7 ‐ x (YBCO) Josephson junctions created by laser ablation. As a result, a mixing signal (IF output) with a harmonic number (N) of up to 30 was obtained in harmonic mixing using the LO wave as the microwave. The output depended strongly on the power of the LO wave and the Shapiro step spacing induced by the LO wave. It was approximately proportional to N−2.
In an extension of earlier work, the response of niobium-niobium point-contact Josephson junctions to radiation from hydrogen cyanide and deuterium cyanide lasers has been studied. Constant voltage steps corresponding to the 805, 891 and 964 GHz lines from a HCN laser have been observed as well as steps corresponding to the frequency mixtures of all these lines. In addition, subharmonic and harmonics of `mixed-frequency' steps have also been observed. The first observation of Josephson step structure corresponding to the 1540 and 1578 GHz emissions of a DCN laser is reported.
A major factor in the practical utilization of any Josephson device for microwave and higher frequency applications (such as the generation and detection of electromagnetic radiation) is the success with which the junction device can be coupled to an external transmission line. As part of an experimental investigation of the electrodynamics of small arrays of Josephson tunnel junctions, the properties of the coherent radiation emitted both by individual junctions and by coupled junction systems have been studied at frequencies between 2 and 12 GHz. Near 9 GHz, more than 10-9 W of coherent radiation has been detected from a single Pb-Pb oxide-Pb junction coupled via waveguide. The development of thin film devices in which the tunnel junctions form part of a microstrip line have made it feasible to observe directly (in a single device) the radiation emitted both at the fundamental geometrical frequency and at the low order harmonics. The observed temperature dependence of the junction cavity Q indicate the low temperature losses are primarily due to cavity loading of the external transmission line.