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IEEE International Superconductive Electronics Conference (ISEC)

Development of SQUID Amplifiers for Axion Search Experiments

Sergey V. Uchaikin, Andrei N. Matlashov, Doyu Lee, Woohyun Chung, Seon Jeong Oh, Yannis Kyriakos Semertzidis, V. Zakosarenko, Çağlar Kutlu, Arjan F. van Loo, Yoshiro Urade, Shingo Kono, Matthias Schmelz, Ronny Stolz, Yasunobu Nakamura

Published Jul 1, 2019• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report results of our development of two types of microwave amplifiers based on Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for CAPP (Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research) axion search experiments. The first amplifier, Microstrip SQUID Amplifier (MSA) has a wide bandwidth. Power dissipation in resistive shunts results in a device overheating and limits the MSA performances. A thermal models of shunt cooling processes is developed and recommendations for a future design is provided. The second amplifier, Josephson Parametric Amplifier (JPA), at limited bandwidth showed a low noise near the standard quantum limit (SQL) of 196 mK. Implementation of a JPA in CULTASK (CAPP's Ultra-Low Temperature Axion Search in Korea) experiment is planned in the end of 2019.

DOI
10.1109/isec46533.2019.8990953

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We characterized a microstrip superconducting quantum interference device amplifier (MSA) as a function of frequency and temperature. At 40 mK, with optimal current and flux biases, the maximum gain of 20.4 dB was at 620 MHz; the bandwidth was 21 MHz. The minimum noise temperature TN=48±5 mK occurred at 612 MHz, slightly below the frequency of maximum gain. This value of TN is within a factor of 1.6 of the quantum limit TQ=hf/kB (f is frequency) for a linear, phase-preserving amplifier. Incorporating the MSA into the axion detector at the University of Washington will increase the scan rate by two to three orders of magnitude.

Applied Physics Letters•May 16, 2011•30 citations
We report results of our development of two types of microwave amplifiers based on Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for CAPP (Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research) axion search experiments. The first amplifier, Microstrip SQUID Amplifier (MSA) has a wide bandwidth. Power dissipation in resistive shunts results in a device overheating and limits the MSA performances. A thermal models of shunt cooling processes is developed and recommendations for a future design is provided. The second amplifier, Josephson Parametric Amplifier (JPA), at limited bandwidth showed a low noise near the standard quantum limit (SQL) of 196 mK. Implementation of a JPA in CULTASK (CAPP's Ultra-Low Temperature Axion Search in Korea) experiment is planned in the end of 2019.
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the development of flux-driven Josephson Parametric Amplifiers (JPAs) as Quantum Noise Limited Amplifier for axion search experiments conducted at the Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research (CAPP) of the Institute for Basic Science. It focuses on the characterization, and optimization of JPAs, which are crucial for achieving the highest sensitivity in axion particle detection. We discuss various characterization techniques, methods for improving bandwidth, and the attainment of ultra-low noise temperatures. JPAs have emerged as indispensable tools in CAPP’s axion search endeavors, playing a significant role in advancing our understanding of fundamental physics and unraveling the mysteries of the Universe.
The microwave cavity experiment for the dark matter axion search is based on the theoretical prediction that axions could convert into microwave photons inside a High-Q cavity immersed in a strong magnetic field. In such experiments a weak, of order 10-22 W, quasi-monochromatic microwave signal should be detected by scanning it in a very wide frequency range. The best cryogenic semiconductor amplifiers have the lowest noise temperature plateau of about 1.0 K even at significantly lower ambient temperature. Superconducting quantum interference devices, or SQUIDs, can work as microwave amplifiers with temperature noise close to the standard quantum limit that is about 50 mK at 1 GHz [1]. Previously designed SQUID-based high frequency amplifiers have narrow bandwidth due to a microstrip resonant input coil. It requires serial replacements of SQUID preamplifiers in order to scan wide frequency range. This procedure is complex and time consuming because of a large mass of hardware should be cooled down below 100 mK. For suitable amplification at high frequency a SQUID should be designed with the smallest possible Josephson junction capacitance, reasonably low SQUID loop inductance, and maximal steepness of the transfer function. Sub-micron size cross-type Josephson junctions have a very low capacitance of about 0.04 pF that is one order smaller than a capacitance of Josephson junctions fabricated using conventional window-type technology. Such junctions initially were designed and used at IPHT for low-frequency SQUID current sensors [2]. Slightly modified current sensors were tested as amplifiers at frequency range 0.5 – 5 GHz. They showed high gain and both wideband and resonant performance. In this paper we describe wideband SQUID microwave amplifiers fabricated at IPHT using sub-micron size Josephson junctions with very low capacitance.
Abstract IBS/CAPP in South Korea is home to multiple active axion search experiments using cavity haloscopes that operate within the frequency range of 1-6 GHz. The haloscopes convert axions to photons, resulting in an output power of about 10-24 to 10-22 W. To detect such a small signal amidst noise, quantum-limited noise amplifiers and ultra-low-temperature environment (∼10 mK) are required for all critical read-out components to minimize noise from all of active and passive lossy components. Additionally, operating at low dissipation levels is necessary to maintain the haloscope and amplifier at a temperature of 25-40 mK. Our primary objective is to achieve the highest possible scanning-frequency speed, which includes the time for maintenance and system calibration. For the CAPP-MAX flagship experiment, we achieved a record speed of 3 MHz/day for the DFSZ-level axion sensitivity during uninterrupting measurements. This paper presents the development and operation of low-noise amplifiers for five haloscope experiments targeting different frequency ranges and provides design, operational, and performance details of the amplifiers.
Radio-frequency (RF) amplifiers based on direct current (DC) superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) have low-noise performance for precision physics experiments. Gain curves of SQUID RF amplifiers depend on several parameters of the SQUID and operation conditions. We are developing SQUID RF amplifiers for application to measure very weak RF signals from ultra-low-temperature high-magnetic-field microwave cavity in axion search experiments. In this study, we designed, fabricated and characterized SQUID RF amplifiers with different SQUID parameters, such as number of input coil turn, shunt resistance value of the junction and coupling capacitance in the input coil, and compared the results.
The axion search experiments based on haloscopes at the Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research (CAPP) of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea are performed in the frequency range from 1 GHz to 6 GHz.In order to perform the experiments in a strong magnetic field of 12 T and a large-volume cavity of close to 40 liters, we use He wet dilution refrigerators with immersed superconducting magnets.The measurements require continuous operation for months without interruptions for microwave component replacements.This is achieved by using different cryogenic engineering approaches including microwave RF-switching.The critical components, defining the scanning rate and the sensitivity of the setup, are the Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPA) and cryogenic low noise amplifiers (cLNA) based on high-electron-mobility-transistor (HEMT) technology.It is desirable for both devices to have a wide frequency range and low noise close to the quantum limit for the JPA.In this paper, we show a recent design of a 4-channel measurement setup for JPA and HEMT measurements.The setup is based on a 4-channel wideband noise source (NS) and is used for both JPA and HEMT gain and noise measurements.The setup is placed at 20 mK inside the dry dilution refrigerator.The NS is thermally decoupled from the environment using plastic spacers, superconducting wires and superconducting coaxial cables.We show the gain and noise temperature curves measured for 4 HEMT amplifiers and 2 JPAs in one cool-down.
We characterized a microstrip superconducting quantum interference device amplifier (MSA) as a function of frequency and temperature. At 40 mK, with optimal current and flux biases, the maximum gain of 20.4 dB was at 620 MHz; the bandwidth was 21 MHz. The minimum noise temperature TN=48±5 mK occurred at 612 MHz, slightly below the frequency of maximum gain. This value of TN is within a factor of 1.6 of the quantum limit TQ=hf/kB (f is frequency) for a linear, phase-preserving amplifier. Incorporating the MSA into the axion detector at the University of Washington will increase the scan rate by two to three orders of magnitude.