Superconducting SAW-Microwave Mixing With a Josephson Ring Modulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quantum circuits that couple a Josephson ring modulator to superconducting microwave resonators face limitations due to large area occupation, high external quality factors leading to narrow bandwidths, and difficulties in realizing large lumped capacitances and inductances, which result in signal loss and parasitic capacitances.
Innovation Solution
A superconducting device comprising a surface acoustic wave resonator and a microwave resonator coupled with a Josephson ring modulator, utilizing a dispersive nonlinear three-wave mixing element, allows for dissipationless mixing and amplification between low and high microwave frequencies, reducing device size and loss, and employing interdigitated capacitance devices for efficient signal handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a Josephson ring modulator is coupled to low-frequency transmission-line resonators, then the device can operate at low frequencies, but the device occupies a large area and requires very high external quality factors which result in narrow dynamical bandwidths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical transmission-line resonator structure with a surface acoustic wave resonator that uses acoustic waves propagating along a piezoelectric substrate. This substitution enables compact low-frequency operation because acoustic waves have much shorter wavelengths than electromagnetic waves at the same frequency, allowing the resonator to be miniaturized while maintaining the desired low-frequency operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from electromagnetic resonance to acoustic resonance. By using surface acoustic waves on a piezoelectric substrate, the system achieves low-frequency operation with compact dimensions, avoiding the large footprint and high external Q requirements of traditional transmission-line resonators.
2Speed
If a Josephson ring modulator is coupled to low-frequency transmission-line resonators, then the device can operate at low frequencies, but the relatively large linear inductance results in very reduced participation ratio which requires very high external quality factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic field-based transmission-line resonator with an acoustic wave-based surface acoustic wave resonator. This substitution fundamentally changes the coupling mechanism from electromagnetic to acoustic, enabling strong coupling at low frequencies with high participation ratio without requiring excessively high external quality factors.
3Speed
If large lumped capacitances and inductances are used in low-frequency resonators, then the resonator can operate at low frequencies, but large capacitances cause signal loss and large inductances suffer from parasitic capacitances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical lumped-element resonator (using large capacitors and inductors) with a surface acoustic wave resonator. This mechanical/acoustic substitution eliminates the need for large lumped elements, thereby avoiding the signal loss associated with large capacitances and the parasitic capacitance problems of large inductances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses acoustic waves (mechanical vibrations) propagating through a piezoelectric substrate to replace electrical resonance. This approach uses mechanical energy storage and transfer rather than electrical energy, avoiding the losses inherent in large electrical components.
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
The solution enables efficient, low-loss, and compact quantum signal processing with reduced size and loss, facilitating three-wave mixing and amplification across a broader frequency range, while maintaining high internal quality factors and minimizing parasitic capacitances.
Implementation Method 1
a superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator and a superconducting microwave resonator
Implementation Method 2
The Josephson ring modulator can be a dispersive nonlinear three-wave mixing element
Implementation Method 3
Josephson ring modulator coupled to the superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator and the superconducting microwave resonator
Implementation Method 4
The superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator can comprise a first superconducting Bragg mirror and a second superconducting Bragg mirror
Implementation Method 5
separated from the first superconducting Bragg mirror by a distance that is an odd integer multiple of a half-wavelength supported by the superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator
Implementation Method 6
a first external feedline coupled to the superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator through an interdigitated capacitance device
Data Source
AI summary
A superconducting device that mixes surface acoustic waves and microwave signals and techniques for fabricating the same are provided. A superconducting device can comprise a superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator and a superconducting microwave resonator. The superconducting device can also comprise a Josephson ring modulator coupled to the superconducting surface acoustic wave resonator and the superconducting microwave resonator. The Josephson ring modulator can be a dispersive nonlinear three-wave mixing element.