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Linewidth Measurements of Flux-Flow Josephson Oscillators using a CAD Designed Integrated Sub-MM Wave Receiver

Y. M. Zhang, Dag Winkler, T. Claeson

Published Apr 1, 1993• 1 citation

Abstract

By using a superconducting integrated sub-mm wave receiver, the linewidth of a flux-flow type Josephson oscillator (FFO) was measured to be less than 2.1 MHz in the band 280-330 GHz. The output power coupled to a 10 i2 microstripline was about 0.5 jiW, and could be adjusted by changing the current bias of the oscillator junction. The integrated receiver consists of two identical Josephson flux-flow oscillators and an SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) mixer. We can determine the composite linewidth of the oscillators by mixing them down to an intermediate frequency in the 515 mixer. The FPOs are connected to the SIS mixer via centerfed interdigital capacitors. One FFO is well coupled to the SIS mixer by using a 3-step Chebychev rnicrostripline transformer and a fairly large interdigital capacitor, while the second H0 has about 15 20 dB weaker coupling. A strip inductor, rf-terminated by a radial stub resonates out the SIS junction capacitance at about 340 GHz. Radial stubs were also used as RF chokes for the if-line (4 GHz). The FFOs and the SIS element are made of Nb/Nb-oxide/PbBi tunnel junctions. The circuit was optimized by careful CAD modeling (HP Microwave Design System). Normal conductors were used with the resistivity set to zero. Microstripline widths and lengths were recalculated for the superconducting case with the London penetration depths of the electrodes (Nb and PbBi) taken into account. After adjusting the area of the SIS element and the length of the tuning strip inductor, a good response was observed from 280 to 330 GHz, with the LC resonance at 340 GHz. The power was high enough to pump the SIS mixer.

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