Speaker
Description
We report on the observation of frequency up-conversion gain in superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junctions at millimeter wavelengths. So far, SIS tunnel junctions have been used as frequency down-converters with the ultra-low noise performance approaching the quantum limit and have exhibited positive gain in the down-conversion process. In principle, it is also possible to operate SIS tunnel junctions as frequency up-converters with ultra-low noise and positive gain. Our proposal is to use SIS junctions as a frequency up-converter in a novel microwave amplifier in combination with an SIS down-converter. Given that both SIS mixers (up- and down-converters) pumped by an local oscillator signal have positive conversion gains and were connected in cascade, input and output frequencies are identical with a signal gain, which has been demonstrated by our proof-of-concept test module [AIP Advances, vol. 8, no. 2, Art. no. 025206 (2018)]. For detailed analysis to improve the performance, it is important to investigate characteristics of the SIS up-converter itself. So, we have developed a test setup to measure frequency up-conversion gain in SIS tunnel junctions at millimeter wavelengths. A conventional SIS mixer with Nb/AlOx/Nb tunnel junctions was used as a frequency up-converter, which has a 20-dB input attenuator and a stainless steel WR-10 output waveguide in a 4-K cryostat. An up-converted signal from the cryostat is measured by a room temperature down-converter system with the double sideband (DSB) noise temperature of about 800 K calibrated for hot and cold loads. We observed distinct intermediate frequency responses to signal inputs from a microwave noise source (with a typical excess noise ratio of 21 dB) biased on and off, which indicated that DSB up-conversion gain in SIS junctions to be positive. Results with a continuous wave source will also be reported.
| Student (Ph.D., M.Sc. or B.Sc.) | Y |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 years of experience since completion of Ph.D | Y |
