Picosecond Josephson Samplers: Modeling and Measurements

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Howe, Logan, van Zeghbroeck, Bart, Olaya, David, Biesecker, John, Burroughs, Charles J., Benz, Samuel P., Hopkins, Peter F.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Howe, Logan
van Zeghbroeck, Bart
Olaya, David
Biesecker, John
Burroughs, Charles J.
Benz, Samuel P.
Hopkins, Peter F.
author_facet Howe, Logan
van Zeghbroeck, Bart
Olaya, David
Biesecker, John
Burroughs, Charles J.
Benz, Samuel P.
Hopkins, Peter F.
contents Measurement of signals generated by superconducting Josephson junction (JJ) circuits require ultra-fast components located in close proximity to the generating circuitry. We report a detailed study of optimal design criteria for a JJ-based sampler which balances the highest sampler bandwidth (shortest 10\%--90\% rise time) with minimal sampled waveform distortion. We explore the impacts on performance of a sampler, realized using a single underdamped JJ as the logical sampling element (the comparator), due to the type of signal-comparator coupling scheme that is utilized (galvanic, inductive, or capacitive). In these simulations we emulate the entire waveform reconstruction sampling process, via comparator threshold detection, while sweeping the time location at which the waveform is being sampled. We extract the sampled waveform rise time (or FWHM) as a function of the comparator's Stewart-McCumber parameter and as a function of the coupling strength between the device under test and comparator. Based on our simulation results we design, fabricate, and characterize a cryocooled (3.6 K operating temperature) JJ sampler utilizing the NIST state-of-the-art Nb/amorphous-Si/Nb junctions. We separately sample a step signal and impulse generator co-located on-chip with the comparator and sampling strobe generator by implementing the same binary search comparator threshold detection technique during sampler operation as is used in simulation. With this technique the system is fully-digital and automated and operation of the fabricated device directly mirrors simulation. Our sampler technology shows a 10\%--90\% rise time of 3.3 ps and the capability to measure transient pulse widths of 2.5 ps FWHM. A linear systems analysis of sampled waveforms indicate a 3 dB bandwidth of 225 GHz, but we demonstrate effective measurement of signals well above this -- as high as 600 GHz.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_20022
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Picosecond Josephson Samplers: Modeling and Measurements
Howe, Logan
van Zeghbroeck, Bart
Olaya, David
Biesecker, John
Burroughs, Charles J.
Benz, Samuel P.
Hopkins, Peter F.
Instrumentation and Detectors
Superconductivity
Measurement of signals generated by superconducting Josephson junction (JJ) circuits require ultra-fast components located in close proximity to the generating circuitry. We report a detailed study of optimal design criteria for a JJ-based sampler which balances the highest sampler bandwidth (shortest 10\%--90\% rise time) with minimal sampled waveform distortion. We explore the impacts on performance of a sampler, realized using a single underdamped JJ as the logical sampling element (the comparator), due to the type of signal-comparator coupling scheme that is utilized (galvanic, inductive, or capacitive). In these simulations we emulate the entire waveform reconstruction sampling process, via comparator threshold detection, while sweeping the time location at which the waveform is being sampled. We extract the sampled waveform rise time (or FWHM) as a function of the comparator's Stewart-McCumber parameter and as a function of the coupling strength between the device under test and comparator. Based on our simulation results we design, fabricate, and characterize a cryocooled (3.6 K operating temperature) JJ sampler utilizing the NIST state-of-the-art Nb/amorphous-Si/Nb junctions. We separately sample a step signal and impulse generator co-located on-chip with the comparator and sampling strobe generator by implementing the same binary search comparator threshold detection technique during sampler operation as is used in simulation. With this technique the system is fully-digital and automated and operation of the fabricated device directly mirrors simulation. Our sampler technology shows a 10\%--90\% rise time of 3.3 ps and the capability to measure transient pulse widths of 2.5 ps FWHM. A linear systems analysis of sampled waveforms indicate a 3 dB bandwidth of 225 GHz, but we demonstrate effective measurement of signals well above this -- as high as 600 GHz.
title Picosecond Josephson Samplers: Modeling and Measurements
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
Superconductivity
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.20022