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IEEE International Superconductive Electronics Conference (ISEC)

Josephson Arbitrary Waveform System with Optoelectronic Drive

Jane Ireland, Oliver Kieler, J. Kohlmann, Helge Malmbekk, Jonathan M. J. Williams, Ralf Behr, Bjørnar Karlsen, Eivind Bardalen, Ernest Houtzager, Hoang Vu Nguen, Ralph Hornecker, Per Alfred Øhlckers, Helko E. van den Brom

Published Jun 1, 2017• 3 citations

Abstract

Quantum-accurate arbitrary voltage waveforms have been generated using electrical pulse driven Josephson junction arrays (JJAs) by several groups [1, 2]. An alternative method is to use optoelectronic components to convert the electrical pulse drive into an optical signal which is subsequently converted by a photodiode into an electrical drive signal connected directly to the JJA. This optoelectronic pulse drive system has several advantages. Due to the electrical isolation between electrical pulse drive and JJA, it is possible to connect several arrays in series without the requirement for complex electrical compensation circuits. This allows larger output voltages to be realized. An optoelectronic drive also offers the ability to easily tune pulse height, via continuous optical attenuation, allowing the drive signal to be tuned to the middle of the JJA constant voltage step giving optimum operation margins. We here present an optoelectronic pulse drive which forms part of a system incorporating a JJA and delta sigma feedback loop [3] for quantum-accurate digitization of arbitrary voltage waveforms. Results showing the generation of quantum-accurate voltages synchronized to the feedback loop master clock are presented.

DOI: 10.1109/isec.2017.8314237

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This paper describes development of a new technique to drive Josephson junction arrays (JJA). We have designed and built an optical pulse generator (up to 12 GHz pulse rate) based on a mode-locked laser to feed an ultra-fast photodiode which again can drive current pulses to a JJA. Our preliminary experiments show that precise direct current (dc) voltages can be realized with a JJA with 5000 junctions. The work ultimately aims at development of an arbitrary pulse pattern generator allowing generation of precise arbitrary voltage waveforms.

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