Quantum-limited detection of millimeter waves using superconducting tunnel junctions
The quasiparticle tunneling current in a superconductor-insulator- superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction is highly nonlinear. Such a nonlinearity can be used to mix two millimeter wave signals to produce a signal at a much lower intermediate frequency. We have constructed several millimeter and sub-millimeter wave SIS mixers in order to study high frequency response of the quasiparticle tunneling current and the physics of high frequency mixing. We have made the first measurement of the out-of-phase tunneling currents in an SIS tunnel junction. We have developed a method that allows us to determine the parameters of the high frequency embedding circuit by studying the details of the pumped I-V curve. We have constructed a 80--110 GHz waveguide-based mixer test apparatus that allows us to accurately measure the gain and added noise of the SIS mixer under test. Using extremely high quality tunnel junctions, we have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61 {plus minus} 0.36 quanta, which is within 25 percent of the quantum limit imposed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This measured performance is in excellent agreement with that predicted by Tucker's theory of quantum mixing. We have also studied quasioptically coupled millimeter- and submillimeter-wave mixers using several types of integrated tuning elements. 83 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOD; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 5989456
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-31391; ON: DE92004757
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Quantum-limited detection of millimeter waves using superconducting tunnel junctions
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Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
MICROWAVE RADIATION
RADIATION DETECTION
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
MIXERS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
TANTALUM
DETECTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
JUNCTIONS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
665412* - Superconducting Devices- (1992-)