Superconducting Microbeam Converter With High Kinetic Inductance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromechanical conversion devices face challenges in achieving high electromechanical coupling efficiency and ease of manufacture, particularly due to parasitic capacitances and complex manufacturing processes, when converting infrared photons to microwaves or vice versa for quantum computing applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of a superconducting electrical track with high kinetic inductance, integrated onto a microbeam, eliminates the need for windings and reduces parasitic capacitances, enhancing the electromechanical coupling factor by achieving a high inductance without winding, using materials like titanium nitride and thin layers to ensure strong kinetic inductance and good mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high inductance is obtained using traditional wound inductors, then the resonant frequency can be adjusted, but parasitic capacitances increase and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical wound inductor structure with a superconducting electrical track that generates kinetic inductance through the motion of charge carriers. This substitution eliminates the need for complex windings and significantly reduces parasitic capacitances while maintaining the required inductance values for GHz-range resonant circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of inductance generation from magnetic field storage in wound coils to kinetic energy of charge carriers in superconducting tracks. By operating in the superconducting regime where kinetic inductance dominates, the system achieves high inductance with minimal physical structure, thereby reducing parasitic effects and simplifying the overall device design.
2Reliability
If traditional wound inductors are used to achieve high inductance, then resonant frequency control is possible, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces precision-dependent mechanical winding processes with superconducting film deposition techniques. The kinetic inductance is determined by the film's material properties and geometry rather than precise coil winding, significantly reducing manufacturing precision requirements while improving conversion efficiency through reduced parasitic capacitances.
3Productivity
If the capacitor electrode is made to vibrate for frequency conversion, then infrared to microwave conversion is enabled, but mechanical losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using superconducting materials with extremely low electrical resistance, which reduces energy dissipation. The kinetic inductance mechanism inherently minimizes resistive losses compared to traditional conductive materials, thereby reducing mechanical energy loss while maintaining high photon conversion rates between infrared and microwave domains.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the electromechanical coupling factor, leading to improved conversion efficiency and simplified manufacturing, enabling more effective transfer of quantum information across different frequency domains while minimizing parasitic capacitances and mechanical losses.
Implementation Method 1
The inductor comprises a very thin electrical track made on the membrane in a superconducting material chosen so as to obtain an electrical track having a high kinetic inductance
Implementation Method 2
the capacitor having at least a first electrode and a second electrode, one of which is located on one face of a microbeam, so that the electrical capacitance of the capacitor varies when the microbeam oscillates
Implementation Method 3
a mechanical oscillator comprising at least one microbeam formed in a membrane... so that the electrical capacitance of the capacitor varies when the mechanical oscillator oscillates
Data Source
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AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to an electromechanical conversion device (ID) comprising: a resonant electrical circuit including an inductance (L) and a capacitor (C), the capacitor having at least one first electrode (EC1) and a second electrode (EC2); and a mechanical oscillator (MO) including at least one microbeam (MP) formed in a membrane, the first and second electrodes being located side by side and the first electrode of the capacitor being located on one face of the microbeam so that the electrical capacitance of the capacitor varies when the mechanical oscillator oscillates; a device in which the inductance includes a very thin electrical track (PE) made on the membrane in a superconducting material chosen so as to obtain an electrical track with high kinetic inductance.