Characterization of Added Noise and Loss Mechanisms in Superconducting Kinetic Inductance Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers

ORAL

Abstract



Contemporary quantum technologies and fundamental physics experiments rely on amplifying and detecting extremely weak signals. As all amplifiers degrade the signal-to-noise-ratio by adding their own intrinsic noise, any amplifier which adds the minimum possible noise – referred to as the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) – is of great value. In such settings parametric amplifiers are extremely attractive due to their ability to operate at, or very near, the SQL. Here we present a detailed characterization of the added noise of a superconducting Kinetic Inductance Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier (KI-TWPA or KIT) capable of operating within two quanta of the SQL over 3 GHz of bandwidth. We perform an added noise characterization as a function of the operational KIT gain using the well-known y-factor technique, and independently using an intrinsically-calibrated shot noise Josephson tunnel junction. Additionally, using a vacuum noise squeezing setup, we explore the relationship between the squeezing level and added noise to further our understanding of sources of excess noise above the SQL in KITs.

* This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program under grant numbers 80HQTR21T0023 and NNH18ZDA001N-APRA, by the Department of Energy (DOE) Accelerator and Detector Research Program under Grant No. 89243020SSC000058, and by DARTWARS, a project funded by the European Union’s H2020-MSCA under Grant No.101027746

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Presenters

  • Logan Howe

    National Institute of Standards and Technology Boulder, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder; University of Colorado, Boulder

Authors

  • Logan Howe

    National Institute of Standards and Technology Boulder, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder; University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Andrea Giachero

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, University of Milano-Bicocca; INFN - Milano-Bicocca; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder; University of Colorado, Boulder, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder

  • Michael R Vissers

    National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Jordan D Wheeler

    National Institute of Standards and Technology Boulder

  • Jason Austermann

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder

  • Johannes Hubmayr

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder

  • Joel N Ullom

    National Institute of Standards and Technology