Proposed differential-frequency-readout system by hysteretic Josephson junctions

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.46.3617· OSTI ID:7197689

Wang, L Z ^[1]; Duncan, R V ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States) Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 (United States)

The Josephson relation {ital V}={ital nh}{nu}/2{ital e} has been verified experimentally to 3 parts in 10{sup 19} (A. K. Jain, J. E. Lukens, and J.-S. Tsai, Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 1165 (1987)). Motivated by this result, we propose a differential-frequency-readout system by two sets of hysteretic Josephson junctions rf biased at millimeter wavelengths. Because of the Josephson relation, the proposed differential-frequency-readout system is not limited by photon fluctuation, which limits most photon-detection schemes. In the context of the Stewart-McCumber model (W. C. Stewart, Appl. Phys. Lett. 12, 277 (1968); D. E. McCumber, J. Appl. Phys. 39, 3113 (1968)) of Josephson junctions, we show theoretically that the differential frequency of the two milliwave biases can be read out by the proposed system to unprecedented accuracy. The stability of the readout scheme is also discussed. The measurement uncertainty of the readout system resulting from the intrinsic thermal noise in the hysteretic junctions is shown to be insignificant. The study of two single junctions can be extended to two sets of Josephson junctions connected in series (series array) in this measurement scheme provided that junctions are separated by at least 10 {mu}m (D. W. Jillie, J. E. Lukens, and Y. H. Kao, Phys. Rev. Lett. 38, 915 (1977)). The sensitivity for the differential frequency detection may be increased by biasing both series arrays to a higher constant-voltage step.

• OSTI ID: 7197689
• Journal Information: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States) Vol. 46:7; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665412* -- Superconducting Devices-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY LOSSES
INTERFEROMETRY
JOSEPHSON JUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
LIMITING VALUES
LOSSES
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NOISE
PHOTODETECTORS
RADIATIONS
READOUT SYSTEMS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS