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Synthesizing Accurate Voltages with Superconducting Quantum-Based Standards

Published

Author(s)

Samuel P. Benz

Abstract

Over the past three decades, the quantum behavior of superconducting Josephson junctions were exploited to dramatically improve the accuracy of dc voltage measurements. Within the past couple years, new superconducting devices, circuits, systems and measurement techniques have been developed that have begun to impact ac voltage applications. This article reviews the capabilities and measurement techniques of three unique quantum-based systems and summarizes their use as accurate dc and ac references for voltage metrology and as low-distortion arbitrary-waveform sources for the characterization of stability and nonlinearities in analog and digital electronics.
Citation
IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine
Volume
13
Issue
3

Keywords

Digital-analog conversion, Josephson arrays, Quantization, Signal synthesis, Standards, Superconductor-normal-superconductor devices, Voltage measurement, Power Measurement, Thermometry, Johnson Noise

Citation

Benz, S. (2010), Synthesizing Accurate Voltages with Superconducting Quantum-Based Standards, IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=905041 (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created June 1, 2010, Updated February 19, 2017