Method for Ensuring Accurate AC Waveforms with Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards

Published

July 1, 2012

Author(s)

Charles J. Burroughs, Alain Rufenacht, Samuel P. Benz, Paul D. Dresselhaus

Abstract

The amplitudes of stepwise-approximated sine waves produced by programmable Josephson voltage standards (PJVSs) are not intrinsically accurate because the transitions between the quantized voltages depend on numerous conditions. We have developed a method that ensures that the total rms output voltage of arbitrary ac waveforms synthesized by the PJVS are accurate and referenced to the quantized Josephson voltages. This is accomplished by digitizing the entire output waveform, utilizing the quantum voltages to correct digitizer gain, noise, and nonlinearity, and then applying our understanding of the interplay between measurement bandwidth, risetime, and harmonic content to precisely tune the bias parameters. Our goal is to develop an AC standard source for voltage metrology that can directly synthesize voltages with the accuracy expected of a quantum-based standard without the use of a thermal voltage converter.

Proceedings Title

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements Conference Digest

Volume

28

Conference Dates

July 1-6, 2012

Conference Location

National Harbor, MD

Conference Title

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1109/CPEM.2012.6250726

Keywords

Digital-analog conversion, Josephson arrays, signal synthesis, standards, voltage measurement.

Citation

Burroughs, C. , Rufenacht, A. , Benz, S. and Dresselhaus, P. (2012), Method for Ensuring Accurate AC Waveforms with Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards, Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements Conference Digest, National Harbor, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.1109/CPEM.2012.6250726 (Accessed October 24, 2025)