Nb/-Si/Nb-junction Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizers for quantum information.

We demonstrate Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizers (JAWS) with increased operating temperature range for temperatures below 4 K. These JAWS synthesizers were fabricated with externally-shunted Nb/-Si/Nb junctions whose critical current exhibits improved temperature stability compared to the self-shunted Nb/NbSi/Nb junctions typically used. Vertical stud resistors made of 230 nm of PdAu were developed to provide the milliohm shunt resistance required for junction overdamping while maintaining a small footprint suitable for high-density series arrays embedded in a coplanar waveguide.

Single-Flux-Quantum Multiplier Circuits for Synthesizing Gigahertz Waveforms With Quantum-Based Accuracy.

We designed, simulated, and experimentally demonstrated components for a microwave-frequency digital-to-analog converter based on single flux quantum (SFQ) circuits and an amplifier based on superconducting-quantum-interference-device (SQUID) stacks. These are key components for a self-calibrated programmable waveform reference for communications metrology capable of synthesizing high-frequency signals with quantum-based output accuracy. The amplifier is an SFQ voltage multiplier circuit that consists of a network of SFQ-splitters and SQUID transformers that provides output signals consisting of quantized pulses.