Nanotechnology for Next Generation Josephson Voltage Standards

Published

December 1, 2001

Author(s)

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

Abstract

We have developed two voltage standard systems: 1) the programmable Josephson voltage standard and 2) the Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer. The programmable system is fully automated and provides stable programmable dc voltages from -1.2 V to +1.2 V. The synthesizer is the first quantum-based ac voltage standard source. It uses perfectly quantized Josephson pulses to generate arbitrary waveforms with low harmonic distortion and stable, calculable time-dependent voltages. Both systems are presently limited to output voltages less than 10 V as a result of frequency requirements and the limits of junction fabrication technology. We describe the development of fabrication technology for these systems and describe the circuit- and fabrication-related constraints that presently limit system performance. Finally, we propose the use of lumped arrays of junctions to achieve higher practical voltages through developent of a nanoscale junction technology, in which 13000 junctions are closely spaced at 50 nm-100 nm intervals.

Citation

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement

Volume

50

Issue

6

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

array, Josephson junction, voltage standard

Citation

Benz, S. , Dresselhaus, P. and Burroughs, C. (2001), Nanotechnology for Next Generation Josephson Voltage Standards, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=33092 (Accessed December 14, 2024)