Charles J. Burroughs

Josephson D/A converter with fundamental accuracy

A binary sequence of series arrays of shunted Josephson junctions is used to make a 14-b D/A converter. With 13 bias lines, any step number in the range -8192 to +8192 -1.2 V to +1.2 V can be selected in the time required to stabilize the bias current (a few microseconds). The circuit is a fast accurate dc reference, and it makes possible the digital synthesis of ac waveforms whose amplitudes derive directly from the internationally accepted definition of the volt. >

Stable 1 volt programmable voltage standard

Several fully functional programmable voltage standard chips, each having a total of 32 768 Nb–PdAu–Nb Josephson junctions, have been fabricated and tested. The chips are based on a new design that provides fast programmability (1 μs) between voltages and stable voltage operation from −1 to +1 V. A comparison of the new standard with a conventional Josephson voltage standard is in agreement to 0.5±1.1 parts in 109. We demonstrate the utility of this standard by measuring the linearity of a digital voltmeter.

Coherent emission from two-dimensional Josephson junction arrays

Coherent emission has been generated by two‐dimensional arrays of SIS Josephson junctions and detected in a junction coupled to the array through a dc‐blocking capacitor. The detector junction exhibits Shapiro steps at frequencies corresponding to the voltage across single array junctions and ranging from 60 to 210 GHz. The maximum power coupled to the detector junction occurs at 150 GHz and is estimated to be 0.9 μW, based on simulations of the detector circuit. Possible mechanisms for coherent emission from two‐dimensional arrays are discussed.

Precision Differential Sampling Measurements of Low-Frequency Synthesized Sine Waves With an AC Programmable Josephson Voltage Standard

We have developed a precision technique to measure sine-wave sources with the use of a quantum-accurate AC programmable Josephson voltage standard. This paper describes a differential method that uses an integrating sampling voltmeter to precisely determine the amplitude and phase of high-purity and low-frequency (a few hundred hertz or less) sine-wave voltages. We have performed a variety of measurements to evaluate this differential technique. After averaging, the uncertainty obtained in the determination of the amplitude of a 1.2 V sine wave at 50 Hz is 0.3 muV/V (type A). Finally, we propose a dual-waveform approach for measuring two precision sine waves with the use of a single Josephson system. Currently, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing a new calibration system for electrical power measurements based on this technique.

AC coupling technique for Josephson waveform synthesis

We demonstrate a new bias technique that uses low-pass and high-pass filters to separate the current paths of the sampling and signal frequencies in a Josephson waveform synthesizer. This technique enables the output voltage of the array to be directly grounded by removing the low-frequency common mode signal that previously prevented direct measurement of the array voltage with low-impedance instruments. We directly measure the harmonic spectra of 1 kHz and 50 kHz synthesized sine waves. We also use a thermal transfer standard to compare the rms voltages of synthesized sine waves at frequencies from 1 kHz to 50 kHz. Finally, we describe a new circuit that should enable a significant increase in output voltage by allowing several distributed arrays to be biased in parallel at high frequency, while combining their low frequency output voltages in series.

Systematic error analysis of stepwise approximated AC waveforms generated by a Programmable Josephson Voltage Standard

We have measured stepwise-approximated sine waves generated by a programmable Josephson voltage standard (PJVS) with several different output configurations. These data are analyzed to characterize the dominant error mechanisms for RMS applications, such as AC-DC difference measurements of thermal voltage converters (TVCs). We present detailed explanations of the fundamental causes and consequences of systematic errors that arise from transitions and consider the overall uncertainties for PJVS ac metrology using this synthesis method. We show that timing-related errors are sufficient to make this waveform synthesis approach impractical for RMS audio-frequency applications. The implications of providing the load current required by devices of low input impedance, such as TVCs, are also discussed.

Pulse-driven Josephson digital/analog converter [voltage standard]

The authors have designed and demonstrated a pulse-driven Josephson digital/analog converter. When used as a programmable voltage standard, this device can synthesize metrologically accurate ac waveforms as well as stable dc voltages. We show through simulations that Josephson quantization produces a nearly ideal quantization noise spectrum when a junction is driven with a typical waveform produced by a digital code generator. This technique has been demonstrated in preliminary experiments with arrays of 1000 junctions clocked at frequencies up to 6 Gb/s, where sine waves of a few millivolts in amplitude were synthesized at frequencies up to 1 MHz.

1 volt DC programmable Josephson voltage standard

NIST has developed a programmable Josephson voltage standard (JVS) that produces intrinsically stable voltages that are programmable from -1.1 V to +1.1 V. The rapid settling time (1 /spl mu/s), large operating current margins (2 to 4 mA), and inherent step stability of this new system make it superior to a conventional JVS for many dc measurements. This improved performance is made possible by a new integrated-circuit technology using intrinsically shunted superconductor-normal-superconductor (SNS) Josephson junctions. These junctions operate at lower excitation frequencies (10 to 20 GHz) than a conventional JVS and have 100 times greater noise immunity. The Josephson chip consists of a binary array sequence of 32 768 SNS Josephson junctions. The chip has been integrated into a completely automated system that is finding application in mechanical/electrical watt-balance experiments, evaluation of thermal voltage converters, electron-counting capacitance standards, and metrology triangle experiments.

AC and DC bipolar voltage source using quantized pulses

We have developed an accurate bipolar voltage source for AC and DC metrology, based on the quantized pulses of Josephson junctions. The output voltage is a factor of 4-6 higher than the amplitude of previous unipolar waveforms; this is achieved by generating bipolar waveforms where arrays of junctions are driven with both a broadband two-level digital code and a sinusoidal frequency. We experimentally demonstrate two bipolar waveforms: a 5 kHz sine wave with /spl plusmn/18 mV peak amplitude and quantization noise power eight orders of magnitude below the power in the fundamental frequency, and a 3.5 kHz square wave with /spl plusmn/13 mV peak amplitude and even harmonics at -100 dB (carrier).

Error and Transient Analysis of Stepwise-Approximated Sine Waves Generated by Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards

We are developing a quantum-based 60 Hz power standard that exploits the precision sinusoidal reference voltages synthesized by a programmable Josephson voltage standard (PJVS). PJVS systems use series arrays of Josephson junctions as a multibit digital-to-analog converter to produce accurate quantum-based dc voltages. Using stepwise-approximation synthesis, the system can also generate arbitrary ac waveforms [i.e., an ac programmable Josephson voltage standard (ACPJVS)] and, in this application, produces sine waves with calculable root mean square (rms) voltage and spectral content. The primary drawback to this ACPJVS synthesis technique is the uncertainty that results from switching between the discrete voltages due to finite rise times and transient signals. In this paper, we present measurements and simulations that elucidate some of the error sources that are intrinsic to the ACPJVS when used for rms measurements. In particular, we consider sine waves synthesized at frequencies up to the audio range, where the effect of these errors is more easily measured because the fixed transition time becomes a greater fraction of the time in each quantized voltage state. Our goal for the power standard is to reduce all error sources and uncertainty contributions from the PJVS-synthesized waveforms at 60 Hz to a few parts in 107 so that the overall uncertainty in an ac power standard will be a few parts in 106.