Measurements of YBCO parametric amplifiers

For applications where extremely low-noise amplifiers are demanded, RF SQUID parametric amplifiers offer significant capabilities. We present results on the first RF SQUID parametric amplifiers (paramp) fabricated using TRW´s YBCO integrated circuit process technology. TRW´s paramps consist of thousands of RF SQUIDs distributed along and coupled to /spl sim/7 cm coplanar transmission lines. We demonstrate two important paramp functions: adjustable true time delay of RF signals and frequency upconversion of 0 to 1 GHz base band signals to side bands of the /spl sim/10 GHz pump. When the input and output impedances are different the correct figure of merit is upconversion transimpedance gain, shown to be proportional to pump frequency and independent of base band frequency, thereby providing wide band signal amplification. Finally, the spur-free dynamic range for these first paramps is inferred from measurement and modeling to be /spl sim/82 dB-/spl radic/Hz.