High-gain weakly nonlinear flux-modulated Josephson parametric amplifier using a SQUID array

Xin Zhou (1) , Vivien Schmitt (1) , Patrice Bertet (1) , Denis Vion (1) , W. Wustmann (2) , V. Shumeiko (2) , Daniel Esteve (1)

1 QUANTRONICS - Quantronics Group
2 Chalmers University of Technology [Göteborg]

We have developed and measured a high-gain quantum-limited microwave parametric amplifier based on a superconducting lumped LC resonator with the inductor L including an array of 8 superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). This amplifier is parametrically pumped by modulating the flux threading the SQUIDs at twice the resonator frequency. Around 5 GHz, a maximum gain of 31 dB, a product amplitude-gain x bandwidth above 60 MHz, and a 1 dB compression point of -123 dBm at 20 dB gain are obtained in the non-degenerate mode of operation. Phase sensitive amplification-deamplification is also measured in the degenerate mode and yields a maximum gain of 37 dB. The compression point obtained is 18 dB above what would be obtained with a single SQUID of the same inductance, due to the smaller nonlinearity of the SQUID array.

Domains: Physics [physics]

Xin Zhou, Vivien Schmitt, Patrice Bertet, Denis Vion, W. Wustmann, et al.. High-gain weakly nonlinear flux-modulated Josephson parametric amplifier using a SQUID array. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (1998-2015), 2014, 89 (21), pp.214517. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevB.89.214517⟩. ⟨cea-01384639⟩