Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

APL Photonics

Sub-GHz resolution line-by-line pulse shaper for driving superconducting circuits

Dahyeon Lee, Takuma Nakamura, Andrew J. Metcalf, Nathan E. Flowers-Jacobs, Anna E. Fox, Paul D. Dresselhaus, Franklyn Quinlan

Published Aug 1, 2023• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We demonstrate a sub-GHz resolution, fully programmable Fourier-domain pulse shaper capable of generating arbitrary optical pulse patterns for superconducting circuit platforms. This high resolution allows line-by-line pulse shaping of a 1 GHz-spaced comb, and the pulse shaper can accommodate an optical bandwidth as large as 1 THz, which represents the highest resolution programmable line-by-line pulse shaping to our knowledge. Linear optical sampling with a dual-comb system confirms independent control of 1 GHz-spaced optical lines, and the low phase noise of the pulse shaper is characterized. We apply the pulse shaper as an optical drive for an array of Josephson junctions operating at a temperature of 4 K, where cryogenic photodetection of pulse doublets with user-defined separation characterizes the Josephson junction response. Furthermore, we demonstrate a pulse-density modulation pattern of 4 ps duration optical pulses that can serve as the high bandwidth drive of a quantum-based Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer. By leveraging the exquisite control, large bandwidth, and low noise of photonics, this represents an important advance toward the realization of high power and high spectral purity AC voltage standards at gigahertz frequencies without requiring 100 GHz bandwidth driving electronics.

DOI
10.1063/5.0157003

Related papers

High-Resolution Line-by-Line Pulse Shaper for Optically Driving Cryogenic Josephson Junctions

Dahyeon Lee, Takuma Nakamura, Andrew J. Metcalf +1 more

We present a fully programmable, high-resolution pulse shaper for generating arbitrary pulse patterns designed to drive an array of 4 kelvin Josephson junctions. Line-by-line phase and amplitude control on a 2 GHz comb is demonstrated.

IEEE Photonics Conference•Nov 1, 2022•0 citations

High-Resolution Line-by-Line Pulse Shaper for Driving Josephson Junctions

Dahyeon Lee, Takuma Nakamura, Andrew J. Metcalf +1 more

We present a high-resolution line-by-line pulse shaper at 1064 nm designed to produce arbitrary pulse patterns for driving Josephson junctions. We generate complex pulse patterns and verify line-by-line operation on a 1 GHz-spaced comb.

•Jan 1, 2023•0 citations

Coherent microwave comb generation via the Josephson effect

Angelo Greco, Xavier Ballu, Francesco Giazotto +1 more

Frequency combs represent exceptionally precise measurement tools due to the coherence of their spectral lines. While optical frequency comb sources constitute a well-established technology, superconducting circuits provide a relatively unexplored on-chip platform for low-dissipation comb emitters able to span from gigahertz to terahertz frequencies. We demonstrate coherent microwave frequency comb generation by leveraging the ac Josephson effect in a superconducting quantum interference device. A time-dependent magnetic drive periodically generates voltage pulses, which in the frequency domain correspond to a comb with dozens of spectral modes here reported up to mode 46. The emitted power at the device level ranges from -170 dBm to -130 dBm per harmonic, corresponding to 40 dB dynamic range in the 4-8 GHz bandwidth. The micrometer-scale footprint and minimal dissipation inherent to superconducting systems foster the integration of our comb generator with advanced cryogenic electronics. Transferring optical techniques to the solid-state domain may enable new applications in quantum technologies.

arXiv:2503.13259•Nature Communications•Feb 20, 2026•1 citation

Parallelization of the optical pulse-drive for AC Josephson voltage standards

Marco Kraus, Oliver Kieler, Ralf Behr +1 more

Abstract We have successfully operated two Josephson junction arrays in parallel with photonically generated current pulses to achieve higher output voltages with our optical pulse drive setup. Passive optical power splitters divide each optical channel at room temperature in order to illuminate multiple cryogenic photodiodes at 4 K , located near the arrays. The balanced photodiode configurations bias the Josephson junctions with ternary current pulses to generate a 1 kHz bipolar sinusoidal voltage with a nominal root mean square amplitude of 85 mV . We determined a spurious free dynamic range and total harmonic distortion of 110.6 dBc and − 105.0 dB from the spectrum of the synthesized signal. Applying an additional dither current to each array individually yielded a quantum locking range of 0.4 mA and 0.6 mA . Furthermore, the quantum locked operation was confirmed to remain stable when the optical output power of the laser diodes and the DC bias of the Mach–Zehnder modulators were varied. A stability measurement of the output amplitude over more than half an hour confirmed sufficiently wide operating margins, further demonstrating a reliable optical Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer setup suitable for generating quantum-based waveform with high spectral purity traceable to fundamental constants. To our knowledge, this is the highest amplitude generated with optically driven Josephson junctions so far and the first successful proof of principle for parallelizing the optical pulse drive to achieve higher output voltages in the future.

Measurement Science and Technology•Aug 18, 2025•1 citation

1 GHz Waveform Synthesis With Josephson Junction Arrays

Christine A. Donnelly, Nathan E. Flowers-Jacobs, Justus A. Brevik +4 more

We synthesize single- and multiple-tone waveforms at gigahertz frequencies from arrays of Josephson junctions and demonstrate their quantum-locked operation over a range of experimental input parameters. We first use a lumped-element circuit to synthesize 1 and 2 GHz single-tone waveforms with -71 dBm output power and in-band spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of -66 dBc. We then introduce a narrow-band diplexer circuit and synthesize a 1 GHz sinusoid with higher power (-49 dBm) and in-band SFDR of -79 dBc. To demonstrate the spectrally selective power- and phase-programmability of the diplexer circuit, we also synthesize multisine waveforms with total waveform power of -51 dBm. The spectral purity of the reported waveforms is limited by the room-temperature electronics rather than by the quantized pulse-based synthesis technique. This article provides direction for future circuit designs and uncovers the main factors that must be addressed to achieve higher power, higher spectral purity, and improved output power accuracy. The reported results represent significant progress towards a JAWS-based primary RF reference source that synthesizes programmable, quantum-referenced, low-distortion signals at gigahertz frequencies.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jul 31, 2019•21 citations

Optical Pulse-Drive for the Pulse-Driven AC Josephson Voltage Standard

Oliver Kieler, Bjørnar Karlsen, Per Alfred Øhlckers +8 more

We developed an optical pulse-drive for the operation of the Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizer (JAWS) using a fast photodiode (PD) operated at 4 K, close to the JAWS chip. The optical pulses are transmitted to the PD by an easily removable optical fiber attached to it. A bare-lensed PD is mounted by flip-chip technique to a custom-made silicon-carrier chip. This carrier chip is equipped with coplanar waveguides to transmit the electrical pulses from the PD to the JAWS chip mounted on a separate printed circtuit board (PCB). The main components of this optical setup are a laser source, a high-speed Mach-Zehnder modulator, and the modulator driver. The waveform pattern is supplied by a commercial pulse pattern generator providing up to 15 GHz electrical return-to-zero (RTZ)-pulses. Unipolar sinusoidal waveforms were synthesized. Using a JAWS array with 3000 junctions, an effective output voltage of 6.6 mV root mean square (RMS) at the maximum available clock-frequency of 15 GHz was achieved. Higher harmonics were suppressed by more than 90 dBc at laser-bias operation margins of more than 1 mA.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Mar 16, 2019•30 citations
We demonstrate a sub-GHz resolution, fully programmable Fourier-domain pulse shaper capable of generating arbitrary optical pulse patterns for superconducting circuit platforms. This high resolution allows line-by-line pulse shaping of a 1 GHz-spaced comb, and the pulse shaper can accommodate an optical bandwidth as large as 1 THz, which represents the highest resolution programmable line-by-line pulse shaping to our knowledge. Linear optical sampling with a dual-comb system confirms independent control of 1 GHz-spaced optical lines, and the low phase noise of the pulse shaper is characterized. We apply the pulse shaper as an optical drive for an array of Josephson junctions operating at a temperature of 4 K, where cryogenic photodetection of pulse doublets with user-defined separation characterizes the Josephson junction response. Furthermore, we demonstrate a pulse-density modulation pattern of 4 ps duration optical pulses that can serve as the high bandwidth drive of a quantum-based Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer. By leveraging the exquisite control, large bandwidth, and low noise of photonics, this represents an important advance toward the realization of high power and high spectral purity AC voltage standards at gigahertz frequencies without requiring 100 GHz bandwidth driving electronics.
Frequency combs represent exceptionally precise measurement tools due to the coherence of their spectral lines. While optical frequency comb sources constitute a well-established technology, superconducting circuits provide a relatively unexplored on-chip platform for low-dissipation comb emitters able to span from gigahertz to terahertz frequencies. We demonstrate coherent microwave frequency comb generation by leveraging the ac Josephson effect in a superconducting quantum interference device. A time-dependent magnetic drive periodically generates voltage pulses, which in the frequency domain correspond to a comb with dozens of spectral modes here reported up to mode 46. The emitted power at the device level ranges from -170 dBm to -130 dBm per harmonic, corresponding to 40 dB dynamic range in the 4-8 GHz bandwidth. The micrometer-scale footprint and minimal dissipation inherent to superconducting systems foster the integration of our comb generator with advanced cryogenic electronics. Transferring optical techniques to the solid-state domain may enable new applications in quantum technologies.
Abstract We have successfully operated two Josephson junction arrays in parallel with photonically generated current pulses to achieve higher output voltages with our optical pulse drive setup. Passive optical power splitters divide each optical channel at room temperature in order to illuminate multiple cryogenic photodiodes at 4 K , located near the arrays. The balanced photodiode configurations bias the Josephson junctions with ternary current pulses to generate a 1 kHz bipolar sinusoidal voltage with a nominal root mean square amplitude of 85 mV . We determined a spurious free dynamic range and total harmonic distortion of 110.6 dBc and − 105.0 dB from the spectrum of the synthesized signal. Applying an additional dither current to each array individually yielded a quantum locking range of 0.4 mA and 0.6 mA . Furthermore, the quantum locked operation was confirmed to remain stable when the optical output power of the laser diodes and the DC bias of the Mach–Zehnder modulators were varied. A stability measurement of the output amplitude over more than half an hour confirmed sufficiently wide operating margins, further demonstrating a reliable optical Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer setup suitable for generating quantum-based waveform with high spectral purity traceable to fundamental constants. To our knowledge, this is the highest amplitude generated with optically driven Josephson junctions so far and the first successful proof of principle for parallelizing the optical pulse drive to achieve higher output voltages in the future.
We synthesize single- and multiple-tone waveforms at gigahertz frequencies from arrays of Josephson junctions and demonstrate their quantum-locked operation over a range of experimental input parameters. We first use a lumped-element circuit to synthesize 1 and 2 GHz single-tone waveforms with -71 dBm output power and in-band spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of -66 dBc. We then introduce a narrow-band diplexer circuit and synthesize a 1 GHz sinusoid with higher power (-49 dBm) and in-band SFDR of -79 dBc. To demonstrate the spectrally selective power- and phase-programmability of the diplexer circuit, we also synthesize multisine waveforms with total waveform power of -51 dBm. The spectral purity of the reported waveforms is limited by the room-temperature electronics rather than by the quantized pulse-based synthesis technique. This article provides direction for future circuit designs and uncovers the main factors that must be addressed to achieve higher power, higher spectral purity, and improved output power accuracy. The reported results represent significant progress towards a JAWS-based primary RF reference source that synthesizes programmable, quantum-referenced, low-distortion signals at gigahertz frequencies.
We developed an optical pulse-drive for the operation of the Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizer (JAWS) using a fast photodiode (PD) operated at 4 K, close to the JAWS chip. The optical pulses are transmitted to the PD by an easily removable optical fiber attached to it. A bare-lensed PD is mounted by flip-chip technique to a custom-made silicon-carrier chip. This carrier chip is equipped with coplanar waveguides to transmit the electrical pulses from the PD to the JAWS chip mounted on a separate printed circtuit board (PCB). The main components of this optical setup are a laser source, a high-speed Mach-Zehnder modulator, and the modulator driver. The waveform pattern is supplied by a commercial pulse pattern generator providing up to 15 GHz electrical return-to-zero (RTZ)-pulses. Unipolar sinusoidal waveforms were synthesized. Using a JAWS array with 3000 junctions, an effective output voltage of 6.6 mV root mean square (RMS) at the maximum available clock-frequency of 15 GHz was achieved. Higher harmonics were suppressed by more than 90 dBc at laser-bias operation margins of more than 1 mA.