Magnetic flux quantum periodicity of the frequency of the on-chip detectable electromagnetic radiation from superconducting flux-flow-oscillators

Superconducting flux-flow-oscillators (FFOs) based on unidirectional flow of magnetic vortices in a single-long Josephson junction (JJ) and operating at 4.2 K are key elements of sub-terahertz integrated-receivers used in radio-astronomy and atmospheric science. Here, we report on the development of...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Applied physics letters 2020-10, Vol.117 (14)
Hauptverfasser: Chesca, Boris, John, Daniel, Gaifullin, Marat, Cox, Jonathan, Murphy, Aidan, Savel'ev, Sergey, Mellor, Christopher J.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Superconducting flux-flow-oscillators (FFOs) based on unidirectional flow of magnetic vortices in a single-long Josephson junction (JJ) and operating at 4.2 K are key elements of sub-terahertz integrated-receivers used in radio-astronomy and atmospheric science. Here, we report on the development of sub-terahertz FFOs based on parallel JJ-arrays made of YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films. Sharp multiple flux-flow resonances were observed in the temperature range 77–89 K in asymmetric JJ-arrays, suggesting that they can operate as a narrow-band FFO in sub-terahertz integrated-receivers at more practical temperatures than 4.2 K. We detected electromagnetic radiation (EM) emitted by symmetric JJ-arrays in the range of 30–45 K using on-chip build superconducting detectors based on single JJs. For both asymmetric and symmetric JJ-arrays, the frequency f of the emitted radiation could be tuned continuously by an applied magnetic flux Φ with a one-flux-quantum Φ0 periodicity. Remarkably, since f can be tuned continuously, there are no gaps in the frequency range of the emitted EM. The fundamental Φ0-periodicity of f(Φ) is similar in nature to a SQUID's voltage response V(Φ) and, consequently, using high-performance magnetic flux-to-field conversion and readout techniques, a sensitive field-to-frequency magnetometer can be developed. Incorporated into non-accessible micro/nanostructures as a magnetic sensor, it would allow precise measurements of magnetic-fields from a distance, without the need to measure it locally as the radiation is detected remotely.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/5.0021970