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IEEE All-Russian Microwave Conference (RMC)

Simulations and Analysis of a High Harmonic Monolithic YBCO HTS Josephson Mixer

Ekaterina A. Matrozova, L. S. Revin, Alexander V. Chiginev

Published Nov 25, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This paper presents an electromagnetic simulation of YBaCuO superconducting Josephson mixer for terahertz frequency band coupled with a log-periodic antenna. The proposed mixer design includes an on-chip diplexer and bias-tee. This approach reduces signal transmission losses, improves circuit isolation and makes the device very compact. The theoretical approach to the description of high-harmonic mixing proposed by the authors allows us to estimate the mixer conversion efficiency for experimentally obtained parameters of Josephson junctions. Comparison of experimental data with the theory showed the applicability of the suggested approach for a qualitative description of the mixer operation and allowed to estimate the efficiency of the simulated monolithic mixer.

DOI
10.1109/rmc62880.2024.10846863

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This paper presents an electromagnetic simulation of YBaCuO superconducting Josephson mixer for terahertz frequency band coupled with a log-periodic antenna. The proposed mixer design includes an on-chip diplexer and bias-tee. This approach reduces signal transmission losses, improves circuit isolation and makes the device very compact. The theoretical approach to the description of high-harmonic mixing proposed by the authors allows us to estimate the mixer conversion efficiency for experimentally obtained parameters of Josephson junctions. Comparison of experimental data with the theory showed the applicability of the suggested approach for a qualitative description of the mixer operation and allowed to estimate the efficiency of the simulated monolithic mixer.
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This paper presents theoretical analysis and modeling of YBaCuO superconducting Josephson mixer for terahertz frequency band. The study was carried out both for the mixing at the first harmonic and for the case of high harmonic mixing. The numerical solution based on resistively shunted junction model was obtained for the YBaCuO junction with typical experimental parameters. Optimizing mixer performance included choosing the proper operating point and the local oscillator power. A study on the effect of RF input power, frequency and the harmonic number on conversion efficiency was carried out. The theoretical predictions presented in the work provide a simple method for optimal control of the Josephson mixer and demonstrate good qualitative agreement with direct modeling. For the first time, the optimum of the conversion efficiency versus signal frequency was analytically obtained.
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The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization has developed superconducting microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) mixers using step-edge Josephson junctions and on-chip filters, made from YBaCuO on MgO substrates. Integration into an MMIC results in a compact and efficiently coupled structure. These have been shown to have outstanding conversion efficiency, dynamic range, and linearity. We report here a range of simulations of this type of mixer. We have mainly used Josephson simulators and analyze the data in both the time and frequency domains. More recently, we have also used microwave simulators incorporating a novel Verilog-A Josephson junction model that we have developed. We have looked at the interactions of junction bias current, local oscillator power, and radio-frequency input power with conversion efficiency, dynamic range, and linearity. Good agreement is found overall with measurements.
A high-temperature superconducting (HTS) terahertz (THz) frequency down-converter or mixer based on a thin-film ring-slot antenna coupled YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7– x (YBCO)/MgO step-edge Josephson junction is reported. The frequency down-conversion was achieved using higher order harmonics of an applied lower frequency (19–40 GHz) local oscillator signal in the Josephson junction mixing with a THz signal of over 600 GHz, producing a 1–3 GHz intermediate frequency signal. Up to 31st order of harmonic mixing was obtained and the mixer operated stably at temperatures up to 77 K. The design details of the antenna, HTS Josephson junction mixer, the matching and isolation circuits, and the DC and RF performance evaluation are described in this paper.