YBCO superconducting ring resonators at millimeter-wave frequencies

Superconducting microstrip ring resonators operating at 35 GHz have been fabricated from laser ablated YBa₂Cu₃O _7-x (YBCO) films on lanthanum aluminate substrates. The circuits consisted of superconducting strips over normal metal ground planes. The circuits are measured from 20 K to 90 K and with microwave input powers ranging from 0.25 mW to 10 mW. The superconducting resonators show significant improvement in Q over identical gold resonators at 20 K, but only marginal improvement at 77 K. No variation in the superconductor performance is observed with varying input power. The lowest microwave surface resistance of the superconductors at 77 K is 9 mΩ. The change in the resonant frequency with temperature is analyzed and a value for the penetration depth computed. Double resonances were observed in some superconducting ring resonators and an explanation is advanced. Factors limiting millimeter-wave high-temperature superconductor circuits are explored and potential performance levels calculated based on current reported values for high-temperature superconductor surface resistances