Microstrip Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifier for Low Impedance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traveling wave parametric amplifiers face challenges in achieving a low characteristic impedance without using large lumped capacitors, which affects compactness and introduces losses due to dielectric materials, and require precise control of dispersion for phase-matching.
Innovation Solution
A traveling wave parametric amplifier with a 'microstrip'-type transmission line structure, where a thin dielectric layer and a ground plane are used to achieve a low characteristic impedance, and phase-matching is achieved by spatially modulating the dimensions of Josephson junctions or SQUIDs instead of using LC oscillators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If lumped capacitors are used to achieve low characteristic impedance, then impedance matching is improved, but device compactness deteriorates and dielectric losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the lumped capacitors from the transmission line structure. Instead of using discrete capacitor components, the capacitance is distributed throughout the transmission line via the substrate and ground plane configuration, removing the need for separate capacitor elements and achieving compactness while maintaining impedance control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the transmission line by modifying the substrate thickness and dielectric constant to achieve the desired characteristic impedance. By adjusting these fundamental geometric and material parameters, the system achieves low impedance (50-100 Ohms) without requiring large lumped capacitors, thus maintaining compactness.
2Ease of manufacture
If lumped capacitors are used to achieve low characteristic impedance, then impedance matching is improved, but energy losses increase due to dielectric materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the concentrated dielectric material from lumped capacitors and redistributes it as a thin, uniform substrate layer throughout the transmission line. This eliminates the high-loss dielectric regions associated with discrete capacitor components while maintaining the necessary capacitance for impedance matching.
3Productivity
If periodic spatial modulation is used to achieve phase-matching, then bandwidth is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the phase-matching function with the transmission line structure itself. The periodic spatial modulation is integrated directly into the geometry of the transmission line and ground plane, rather than being added as separate components. This combination achieves bandwidth enhancement while minimizing additional structural complexity.
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 allows for a compact parametric amplifier with a characteristic impedance of a few tens or hundreds of Ohms, minimizing losses and maintaining a wide bandwidth, while ensuring phase-matching without the need for large capacitors, and is produced using well-known technologies with low-loss dielectric layers.
Implementation Method 1
a thin dielectric layer and a ground plane are used to achieve a low characteristic impedance
Implementation Method 2
a chain of superconducting elements having a nonlinear kinetic inductance connected in series
Implementation Method 3
superconducting elements such as Josephson junctions or SQUIDs... exhibit a kinetic inductance that is quadratically dependent on the current density
Implementation Method 4
Parametric amplifiers make use of second-order (three-wave mixing) or third-order (four-wave mixing) nonlinear effects to transfer energy from an optical pump beam to an optical signal to be amplified
Implementation Method 5
phase-matching is achieved by spatially modulating the dimensions of Josephson junctions or SQUIDs instead of using LC oscillators
Implementation Method 6
control of the dispersion in the transmission line
Data Source
AI summary
A traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier is provided. The traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier includes a chain of superconducting elements having a nonlinear kinetic inductance connected in series, said superconducting elements being deposited on a substrate. The traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifier also includes a dielectric layer of sub-micrometer thickness deposited on the substrate and covering said superconducting elements, and a conductive layer forming a ground plane deposited on top of the dielectric layer, the superconducting elements and the ground plane forming a microstrip-type transmission line. A method for producing such a traveling wave parametric amplifier is also provided.