Broadband Quantum limited Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifier based on a Superconducting Metamaterial Transmission Line

基于超导超材料传输线的宽带量子受限行波参量放大器

• 批准号: 1608448
• 负责人: Matthew Bell
• 金额: $ 34.47万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Boston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-08-15 至 2020-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1608448&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Broadband; Quantum; limited; Traveling; Wave

Title: Broadband Quantum Limited Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifier based on a Superconducting Metamaterial Transmission LineNon-Technical Description:There has been renewed interest in utilizing quantum limited amplifiers for detection of weak microwave signals. Such amplifiers have allowed for ultra-sensitive detection in radio astronomy (such as dark matter searches or cosmic microwave background studies), detectors with photon number resolution, ultra-secure quantum communications, and real time monitoring of superconducting quantum bits. Detection of low level signals, particularly at the single photon level is challenging, where amplifiers which have noise levels which are limited by quantum mechanical fluctuations are required for a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio measurement. In this project a novel traveling-wave parametric amplifier (TWPA) composed of a tunable metamaterial transmission line which will allow for efficient parametric amplification of a weak signal over a broad bandwidth in the microwave regime utilizing low-loss superconducting circuits is developed. The metamaterial transmission line which makes up the proposed amplifier can be tuned to have a negative refractive index which allows for efficient amplification over very short lengths, which aides in the reduction of noise and promotes scalability. Students participating in this research will be exposed to state-of-the-art experimental techniques in modern solid-state science and engineering, and will also be able to share their enthusiasm for science and engineering by participating in outreach activities to K-12 students and teachers. Outreach activities include mobile atomic force microscope demonstrative laboratory which are brought to K-12 institutions.to demonstrate nanoscience concepts.Technical Description:Present state-of-the-art TWPA designs have been primarily based on series arrays of Josephson junctions as originally introduced in the early 1980s. Limitations in these designs have prevented their wide-spread use and adoption. These limitations have to do with: phase matching, weak nonlinearities, and excessive noise several times the quantum limit. In this research program we propose to take an entirely different approach to phase matching in a TWPA. The proposed TWPA is composed of a metamaterial transmission line which will allow for efficient parametric amplification over a broad bandwidth in the microwave regime utilizing low-loss superconducting circuits. The metamaterial transmission line is composed of a unique network of coupled magnetically frustrated asymmetric superconducting quantum interference devices. The tunability of the refractive index (impedance) of the proposed metamaterial transmission line in situ allows for the nonlinear component of the refractive index to be tuned from positive to negative which can phase match a weak signal to a strong pump and result in efficient parametric amplification of the weak signal. The proposed TWPA is expected to deliver high gain ( 20 dB) over a broad bandwidth ( 5 GHz) while maintaining quantum limited in noise performance. The objectives of the proposed research are: (1) to fabricate prototype TWPAs (2) Characterize the gain, bandwidth, dynamic range, and added noise (3) Validate the quantum limited in noise nature of the TWPA (4) Investigate the performance of the TWPA in the presence of parameter variations (4) Study loss mechanisms in the TWPA which contribute to excessive noise.

标题：宽带量子限制了基于超导的超导传输linenon-technical描述：利用量子限制放大器检测弱微波信号的兴趣已引起人们的兴趣。 这样的放大器允许射电天文学（例如暗物质搜索或宇宙微波背景研究），具有光子数量分辨率的检测器，超安全量子通信以及对超导量量子位的实时监测。低水平信号的检测，尤其是在单个光子水平上的检测，具有噪音水平的放大器，这些放大器受到量子机械波动的限制，需要令人满意的信号噪声比率测量值。在这个项目中，由可调的超材料传输线组成的新型旅行波参数放大器（TWPA）将开发出弱信号的有效参数放大，这是利用低损耗超导压电路的微波型中的宽带宽上的宽带宽度。构成所提出的放大器的超材料传输线可以调节为负折射率，从而可以在非常短的长度上有效放大，这有助于降低噪声并促进可扩展性。参加这项研究的学生将接触现代固态科学和工程学的最先进的实验技术，还可以通过与K-12学生和老师参加外展活动来分享他们对科学和工程的热情。外展活动包括可移动的原子力显微镜证明实验室，这些实验室被带到K-12机构。展示纳米科学概念。技术描述：当前的最先进的TWPA设计主要基于1980年代初期最初引入的Josephson连接系列。 这些设计的局限性阻止了它们广泛使用和采用。这些限制与：相匹配，弱非线性和噪声过多的量子限制几倍。在此研究计划中，我们建议采用完全不同的方法进行TWPA的相位匹配。所提出的TWPA由超材料传输线组成，该线路将通过低损坏超导电路在微波式方面的宽带宽度上有效地进行参数放大。超材料传输线由磁性沮丧的不对称超导量子干扰装置组成的独特网络。所提出的超材料传输线的折射率（阻抗）原位的可调节性使折射率的非线性成分从正极调节到负面，从而可以将弱信号匹配到强泵与强泵相匹配并导致弱信号的有效参数扩增。拟议的TWPA有望在宽带宽度（5 GHz）上提供高增益（20 dB），同时保持噪声性能的量子限制。拟议的研究的目标是：（1）制造原型TWPA（2）表征增益，带宽，动态范围和添加噪声（3）验证量子的噪声限制了TWPA（4）TWPA的噪声性质限制TWPA的性能，在参数变化的存在（4）研究损失机制的情况下，TWPA的性能限制了TWPA的性能。