Three-Wave Mixing Kinetic Inductance Traveling-Wave Amplifier with Near-Quantum-Limited Noise Performance
- National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); National Institute of Standards and Technology
- National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)
- National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
We present a theoretical model and experimental characterization of a microwave kinetic inductance traveling-wave (KIT) amplifier, whose noise performance, measured by a shot-noise tunnel junction (SNTJ), approaches the quantum limit. Biased with a dc current, this amplifier operates in a three-wave mixing fashion, thereby reducing by several orders of magnitude the power of the microwave pump tone and associated parasitic heating compared to conventional four-wave mixing KIT amplifier devices. It consists of a 50 Ω artificial transmission line whose dispersion allows for a controlled amplification bandwidth. We measure $$16.5^{+1}_{–1.3}$$ dB of gain across a 2 GHz bandwidth with an input 1 dB compression power of –63 dBm, in qualitative agreement with theory. Using a theoretical framework that accounts for the SNTJ-generated noise entering both the signal and idler ports of the KIT amplifier, we measure the system-added noise of an amplification chain that integrates the KIT amplifier as the first amplifier. This system-added noise, 3.1 ± 0.6 quanta (equivalent to 0.66 ± 0.15 K) between 3.5 and 5.5 GHz, is the one that a device replacing the SNTJ in that chain would see. This KIT amplifier is therefore suitable to read large arrays of microwave kinetic inductance detectors and promising for multiplexed superconducting qubit readout.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89243020SSC000058
- OSTI ID:
- 1869790
- Journal Information:
- PRX Quantum, Journal Name: PRX Quantum Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN 2691-3399
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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