Phase and Amplitude Modulator for Microwave Pulse Generation

• Published in: IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 583 - 586
• Main Authors: Brummer, G, Rafique, R, Ohki, T A
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.06.2011; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Applied sciences; Bandwidth; Circuit properties; Devices; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electromagnets; Electronic equipment and fabrication. Passive components, printed wiring boards, connectics; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; High-speed tuning; Inductance; low-temperature superconductor (LTS); Microwave circuits; Microwave circuits, microwave integrated circuits, microwave transmission lines, submillimeter wave circuits; Microwaves; Modulation; Modulators; Phase shifters; Qubits (quantum computing); Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Superconducting devices; Superconducting microwave devices; Superconductivity; Transmission line measurements; tunable filter; tunable inductance; Various equipment and components; Frequency modulation; Microwave; Amplitude modulation; Electromagnetic pulse; low-temperature superconductor (LTS); Microwave generation; tunable filter; Amplitude modulator; Superconducting materials; tunable inductance; Transmission line; Energy dissipation; High speed; Frequency response; Phase modulation; Phase modulator; Quantum logic; Low power; Pulse generation; Local oscillator; Superconducting resonator; High-speed tuning; Microwave oscillator; Quantum information; Electric power production; Low-power electronics
• ISSN: 1051-8223; 1558-2515
• DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2010.2091485

We present a microwave amplitude/phase modulation device based on superconducting resonator and synthetic transmission line technology. The primary benefits of this device are agile frequency response for modulation over a 2 GHz bandwidth, low power dissipation and potential for integration with superconducting qubits and high-speed SFQ logic. This device demonstrates phase modulation of >; 90°, and amplitude modulation of ≈ 30 dB in a 2 GHz local oscillator bandwidth. We also show modulation of a 3.5 GHz microwave signal by a Gaussian pulse with σ ≈ 4 ns . The targeted application of this technology is for low power microwave pulse generation for qubit applications. In this paper we present results for the modulator and introduce potential applications in quantum computing.