Superconducting Feedback Amplifier for Low-Noise Cryogenic Gain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional signal amplifiers face limitations due to characteristics such as leakage current, noise, switching speed, and thermal dissipation, necessitating more efficient and effective amplification solutions.

Innovation Solution

The development of amplification circuits utilizing superconducting components that operate in both superconducting and non-superconducting states, incorporating a superconducting component in a feedback loop with a differential amplifier, resistors, and an inductive component to achieve enhanced transimpedance gain and voltage amplification, with niobium-germanium used for operation above 3 Kelvin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional transistors are used for signal amplification, then the device can operate at room temperature, but the amplifier suffers from leakage current, noise, and thermal dissipation limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise and leakage currentVSAvoidoperating temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures (below 4.2K) to enable superconducting operation. This parameter change transforms the harmful effects of noise and leakage current by operating in a regime where superconducting materials exhibit zero resistance and minimal thermal noise, directly resolving the technical contradiction between reducing harmful factors and maintaining operational temperature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If superconducting materials are used to reduce noise and leakage current, then signal amplification quality improves, but the device requires cryogenic operation conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenoiseVSAvoidcryogenic system requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the superconducting amplification function with cryogenic cooling infrastructure by integrating the HEMT amplifier and superconducting components into a dilution refrigerator system. This combining approach allows the cryogenic environment, which would otherwise be a separate complex subsystem, to serve dual purposes: cooling the superconducting components while enabling their noise-reduced operation, thereby reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Power

If superconducting components are integrated into the amplification circuit, then transimpedance gain increases significantly, but the circuit design and fabrication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransimpedance gainVSAvoidfabrication process

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the amplification system into distinct functional modules: a superconducting input stage with HEMT amplifier, a cryogenic control section, and a room-temperature readout section. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized and fabricated separately using appropriate techniques for its operating conditions, then integrated into the complete system, thereby managing fabrication complexity while achieving high transimpedance gain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

These circuits provide increased effectiveness and efficiency in signal amplification, offering transimpedance gains ranging from 100 to 10,000 and output voltages from 1 mV to 100 mV, while maintaining low noise and improved user satisfaction.

Implementation Method 1

Superconductors are materials capable of operating in a superconducting state with zero electrical resistance under particular conditions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuperconductivity: Superconductivity

Implementation Method 2

an amplification of the amplification circuit is based on an input impedance multiplied by an amplifier voltage gain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage amplification:

Implementation Method 3

an inductive component coupled in parallel with the superconducting component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11469728B2Superconducting amplification circuit

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 PSIQUANTUM CORP

AI summary

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting circuitry. In one aspect, an amplification circuit includes: (1) a superconducting component; (2) an amplifier coupled in parallel with the superconducting component such that the superconducting component is in a feedback loop of the amplifier; (3) a voltage source coupled to a first input of the amplifier; (4) one or more resistors coupled to a second input of the amplifier; and (5) an output terminal coupled to an output of the amplifier.