Periodic phase slips and frequency comb generation at tunable microwave frequencies in superconducting diabolo structures

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Deenen, Axel J. M., Grundler, Dirk
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Deenen, Axel J. M.
Grundler, Dirk
author_facet Deenen, Axel J. M.
Grundler, Dirk
contents Superconductors are characterized by macroscopic phase coherence and have enabled cryogenic electronics and quantum technologies. Recent advances in 3D nanofabrication now offer possibilities for tuning functional properties relevant for on-chip 3D integration of superconductors. However, non-equilibrium phenomena in 3D nanostructures exposed to transport currents remain largeley unexplored. Here, we employ numerical simulations to investigate phase slips -- discrete $2π$ jumps in the phase of the superconducting order parameter -- in a tubular Nb superconductor with a central constriction, which is subjected to both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) transport currents. We find that under DC drive, the system stabilizes periodic phase slips, resulting in GHz voltage oscillations. Introducing an additional AC frequency modulation generates microwave frequency combs which depend characteristically on the interaction between moving vortices and phase slips. Our findings open avenues for developing on-chip frequency comb generators in 3D cryoelectronics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_11925
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Periodic phase slips and frequency comb generation at tunable microwave frequencies in superconducting diabolo structures
Deenen, Axel J. M.
Grundler, Dirk
Superconductivity
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Superconductors are characterized by macroscopic phase coherence and have enabled cryogenic electronics and quantum technologies. Recent advances in 3D nanofabrication now offer possibilities for tuning functional properties relevant for on-chip 3D integration of superconductors. However, non-equilibrium phenomena in 3D nanostructures exposed to transport currents remain largeley unexplored. Here, we employ numerical simulations to investigate phase slips -- discrete $2π$ jumps in the phase of the superconducting order parameter -- in a tubular Nb superconductor with a central constriction, which is subjected to both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) transport currents. We find that under DC drive, the system stabilizes periodic phase slips, resulting in GHz voltage oscillations. Introducing an additional AC frequency modulation generates microwave frequency combs which depend characteristically on the interaction between moving vortices and phase slips. Our findings open avenues for developing on-chip frequency comb generators in 3D cryoelectronics.
title Periodic phase slips and frequency comb generation at tunable microwave frequencies in superconducting diabolo structures
topic Superconductivity
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.11925