Large gain, negative resistance, and oscillations in superconducting quasiparticle heterodyne mixers

Technical Report · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5593048

McGrath, W R; Richards, P L; Smith, A D; Kempen, H V; Batchelor, R A

We have measured the properties of a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) quasiparticle mixer which is operated in the quantum limit. Single sideband conversion gain larger than +4 dB was observed at 36 GHz with a mixer noise temperature T=9 + or - 6K, which is to be compared with the (Planck) quantum limit h-bar omega/(kln2) approx. 2.5K. Complete 3-port mixer calculations are presented which are in good agreement with the gain measurements. Negative resistance was observed which implies that arbitrarily large gain is available.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Dept. of Physics
• OSTI ID: 5593048
• Report Number(s): AD-A-104534/3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

420201* -- Engineering-- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLIFICATION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GAIN
HETERODYNE RECEIVERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MIXERS
OSCILLATIONS
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIO EQUIPMENT
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES