Patent GB-1370647-A (GB)
Title: Superconducting circuit device
IPC: H03F3/00
Filed: 1971-10-08
Abstract: 1370647 Parametric amplifiers MACROQUAN DATA SYSTEMS Inc 8 Oct 1971 [12 Oct 1970] 46909/71 Heading H3X [Also in Division H1] A superconductor circuit device comprises a Josephson junction biased into the A.C. region and provided with means for controlling the amplitude of the oscillation and for absorbing part of the oscillation in a manner proportional to the square of the amplitude. In a first embodiment, illustrated schematically in Fig. 2, three superconductor members A1, A2, A3 (14, 16, 18) are arranged to form two point junction contacts 20, 22. The members A2 and A3 are coupled by an impedance element 24 and by a gap 26 which permits radiation emitted at one junction to reach the other junction. The device is energized by a constant current source 28 which is set to a value at which the current through both junctions exceeds the critical value so that they operate in the A.C. Josephson mode. When an input is applied across one junction by leads 38, 40 the relative phase of the quantum oscillations generated at the two junctions is altered and an output signal appears across impedance 24. If impedance 24 is a pure inductance the output signal is proportional to the rate of change of relative phase of the oscillations, whereas if impedance 24 is a finite resistance in series with a pure inductance the output signal is proportional to the change in phase. The structure of Fig. 2 may be realized as shown in Fig. 3, in which member A1 comprises a disc 49 having a diametrically arranged block 51 on one face, and members A2 and A3 and coupling impedance 24 are in the form of a bobbin shaped component which extends through an aperture 53 in the block 51. Two rods 48, 50 extend through member A1 and pierce a layer of insulation 60 to form the junctions with portions 55 and 57 of members A2 and A3 which are coupled to one another by a rod 46 which functions as an ideal inductor. The bias supply is connected to conductors 66, 68, the input signal to conductors 70, 72 and the output is taken from a pair of conductors 62, 68 made of Pb. The superconductor material may be of Nb, Ng, Zn, A1 or Pb. The device may be considered to be a zero D.C. resistance ammeter. In a second realization, Fig. 4 (not shown), member A1 comprises a hollow cylinder and members A2 and A3 comprise two discs which are inserted at the ends of the cylinder from which they are insulated, and are joined by a central rod forming the coupling impedance. The junctions are provided by two pointed screws which are inserted through the cylinder and pierce the insulation and contact the discs. In a further embodiment, Fig. 5 (not shown), four superconductor members are arranged to form two junctions and are coupled by two capacitors in parallel with two single-turn secondary windings of a transformer to the primary of which is applied the input signal. This embodiment is realized, Fig. 6 (not shown), by a hollow cylinder within which is inserted a hollow bobbin-shaped member which is insulated from the cylinder except for a pair of point contacts provided by screws extending through the edges of the cylinder to contact the flanges of the bobbin. A torroidal coil is wound round the structure and couples to the cylinder and the tubular part of the bobbin which act as the single turn secondary windings of the transformer. The device has a high input impedance and can be used to measure currents from high impedance sources. In a further embodiment, Fig. 7 (not shown), three superconductor members are arranged to form two junctions in the same way as the first embodiment but the two members A2, A3 are coupled by the primary of a transformer the secondary of which is connected to the inputs of a differential amplifier. The devices constitute high frequency parametric amplifiers in which Josephson tunnelling is utilized to produce quantum oscillations as the pumping source. High sensitivity (10<SP>-18</SP>V) low noise amplification is provided at low frequencies and due to the high pumping frequency (ITHz) useful amplification is provided for frequencies as high as 10 GHz.