Theory of distributed mixing and amplification in a superconducting quasi-particle nonlinear transmission line

Author

Tong, Cheuk-Yu Edward ; Chen, Linda ; Blundell, Raymond

Author_Institution

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophys., Cambridge, MA, USA

Volume

45

Issue

7

fYear

1997

fDate

7/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1086

Lastpage

1092

Abstract

An analysis is presented for the behavior of the superconducting quasi-particle nonlinear transmission line driven by a high-frequency local oscillator (LO). The theory developed includes a large-signal nonlinear analysis, a small-signal analysis, and a noise analysis. This model is used to simulate the conversion loss and noise temperature of distributed quasi-particle mixers based on the nonlinear transmission line. The numerical results are compared to an experimental mixer at 460 GHz. The theory also predicts that the nonlinear transmission line will provide parametric amplification when the idler frequency is inductively tuned. This new phenomenon may present new opportunities to low-noise receiver systems at submillimeter wavelengths

Keywords

amplification; distributed amplifiers; equivalent circuits; microwave parametric amplifiers; network analysis; submillimetre wave amplifiers; submillimetre wave mixers; superconducting device noise; superconducting microwave devices; superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixers; 460 GHz; LO driven line; THF; conversion loss; distributed amplification; distributed mixing; high-frequency local oscillator; idler frequency; large-signal nonlinear analysis; low-noise receiver systems; noise analysis; noise temperature; parametric amplification; quasi-particle nonlinear transmission line; small-signal analysis; submillimeter wavelengths; superconducting transmission line; Circuit noise; Distributed parameter circuits; Frequency; Numerical models; Power transmission lines; Submillimeter wave propagation; Superconducting device noise; Superconducting devices; Superconducting transmission lines; Transmission line theory;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.598445

Filename

598445