Accession Number:

ADA076590

Title:

SIS Quasiparticle Junctions As Microwave Photon Detectors,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

CALIFORNIA UNIV BERKELEY DEPT OF PHYSICS

Personal Author(s):

• Richards ,P. L.
• Shen ,T. M.
• Harris ,R. E.
• Lloyd,F. L.

Report Date:

1979-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

12.0

Abstract:

The strong nonlinearity of the quasiparticle tunneling current in superconductor-insulator-superconductor junctions near the full gap voltage 2 Deltae can be used for direct detection of microwave signals. Measurements at 36 GHz yielded a current responsivity of 3,5000 AW, which is within a factor of 2 of the quantum limited value eh-bar omega. The measured NEP of 2.6 or - 0.8 x 10 to the -16th power Wsq-rt. Hz is the lowest value reported to date and can probably be improved significantly. The experimental results are compared with both the standard classical analysis and photon assisted tunneling theory. Author

Descriptors:

• *DIODES
• *DETECTORS
• *SUPERCONDUCTORS
• *TUNNELING(ELECTRONICS)
• *MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
• *JUNCTIONS
• NONLINEAR SYSTEMS
• KA BAND
• ELECTRICAL INSULATION

Subject Categories:

• Cybernetics
• Quantum Theory and Relativity

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE