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Multilayer structure YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO)/LaNiO3 (LNO)/SrTiO3 (STO)/MgO has been carefully studied in the hope that it can be used for applications such as quasiparticle injection or Josephson junction fabrication. Deposited by pulsed laser, LNO on STO-buffered (100) MgO has low resistivity, good metallic characteristics, and very smooth surface (with a mean-square-root roughness of less than 3 nm). After the deposition of LNO, YBCO film can be grown in situ on it, showing good superconducting properties with a critical temperature above 81 K and a narrow transition width below 1.5 K. X-ray diffraction analyses have indicated that all the deposited films are highly c-axis-oriented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite their exceptional sensitivity, single photon detectors typically exhibit limited tolerance to strong light compared to conventional linear photodetectors. Consequently, a disparity arises between these two detector types, hindering the achievement of both high sensitivity and high dynamic range in sensing and imaging. To bridge this gap, a segmented architecture is implemented with a waveform‐variance readout scheme for extacting high‐flux photon informaiton.This approach gives an unprecedented ultra‐high dynamic range of 75 dB at a fixed bias current, where single photon counting mode and quasi‐linear photodetection mode coexist. High‐dynamic imaging, passive thermal imaging, and joint active and passive imaging are demonstrated, which validate the advantages of this dual‐mode detector. Such a versatile detector will offer enhanced flexibility, single‐photon sensitivity, as well as ultra‐wide dynamic range across various scientific and technical domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting digital circuits are promising technologies that can overcome bottlenecks in both classical and quantum computation due to their ultra-high operation speed and extremely low power dissipation. Superconducting nanowire cryotrons (nTrons) are emerging as one type of superconductor switching devices, offering advantages complementary to conventional Josephson junctions. Achieving monolithic integration of a reasonable number of nTrons into a functional digital circuit is a crucial step to extend its application. In this study, we constructed a monolithic integrated nTron-based binary encoder, which includes input fanout circuits, on-chip biasing, combinational logic routing and multi-gate nTrons. This represents a monolithic nTron digital circuit comprising 137 nTron gates, 424 resistors, 274 inductors, and 164 vias developed using a two-superconducting-layer fabrication process. The performance of this monolithic nTron encoder surpasses that of our previously demonstrated circuit with discrete nTron components. The maximum bias margin is 28% for the fanout circuit and 60% for the multi-gate nTron when using a signal generator, while the minimum timing jitter is 40 ps. The total power dissipation mainly from biasing resistors is 19.6 μW, making it more power efficient than RSFQ encoders. The encoder is then packaged and connected with a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector array for demonstrating its function of addressing pixel locations. Compared to the conventional readout, the nTron encoder shows a minimum readout error rate lower than 10−4 and reduces the readout RF lines from 15 to 4. The design and fabrication technologies could enrich integrated nTron digital circuits beyond current limits and promote their applications in classical and quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fan-out circuit is a basic block for scaling up digital circuits for overcoming the limited driving capability of a single logic gate. It is particularly important for superconducting digital circuits as the driving power is typically weak for having high energy efficiency. Here, we design and fabricate a fan-out circuit for a superconducting nanowire cryotron (nTron) digital circuit. A classic splitter tree architecture is adopted. To transmit switching signal and avoid crosstalk among nTrons, we introduced an "R–L–R" interface circuit. Experimentally, a two-stage splitter tree of a fan-out number of four was demonstrated. Correct operation was observed with a minimum bit error rate (BER) of 10−6. The bias margin was 10% at BER of 10−4. The average time jitter was 82 ps. Moreover, crosstalk was not observed. Based on these results, we envision that the fan-out circuit can be used in future development of superconducting-nanowire-based circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have exhibited several advantages, such as increased detection efficiency, reduced polarization sensitivity, and scaling up to large arrays. However, monolithic fabrication of such multilayer devices is challenging. In this work, a hybrid integration method has been introduced by etching SNSPDs into the membrane microchips, followed by the pick and place transferring process. This method has been verified by stacking two SNSPDs orthogonally. Both detectors show near saturated detection efficiencies and low timing jitters. Furthermore, thermal coupling effects have been observed between the two SNSPDs. The photon detection pulses from either detector can trigger the other one almost deterministically with a latency of several nanoseconds. This method offers a flexible way to fabricate multilayer SNSPDs or integrate them with other heterogeneous devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photon number resolving (PNR) is an important capacity for detectors working in quantum and classical applications. Although a conventional superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) is not a PNR detector, by arranging nanowires in a series array and multiplexing photons over space, such series PNR-SNSPD can gain quasi-PNR capacity. However, the accuracy and maximum resolved photon number are both limited by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the output pulses. Here, we introduce a matched filter, which is an optimal filter in terms of SNR. Experimentally, the normalized spacing between pulse amplitudes from adjacent photon number detections increased by a maximum factor of 2.1 after the matched filter. Combining with a cryogenic amplifier to increase SNR further, such spacing increased by a maximum factor of 5.3. In contrast to a low pass filter, the matched filter gave better SNRs while maintaining low timing jitters. The minimum timing jitter of 55 ps was obtained experimentally. Our results suggest that the matched filter is a useful tool for improving the performance of the series PNR-SNSPD. The maximum resolved photon number can be expected to reach 65 or even larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An impedance matched parametric amplifier (IMPA) with Josephson junctions is fabricated and characterized. A hybrid structure containing coplanar and strip structures is implemented to realize an impedance taper line and a plate capacitor in an LC nonlinear resonator based on Josephson junctions. The upper plate of the capacitor is isolated with SiNx without grounding as well as the strips. Such easily-prepared designs greatly reduce the requirements for lithography alignment and precision, which makes the fabrication process more reliable. The experimental results show that in such IMPA a gain higher than 25 dB with a bandwidth of about 100 MHz can be obtained. This broadband amplifier operates close to the quantum limit. By adjusting the working point, a higher bandwidth of about 400 MHz can be obtained with a gain of about 17 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We design and fabricate λ/2 coplanar waveguide NbN resonators, the thickness and length of which are only several nanometers and hundred microns, respectively. The quality factor of such compact resonators can reach up to 7.5 × 104 at single photon power level at 30 mK with the resonance frequency around 6.835 GHz. In order to tune the resonant frequency, the resonator is terminated to the ground with a dc-SQUID. By tuning the magnetic flux in the dc-SQUID, the effective inductance of the dc-SQUID is varied, which leads to the change in the resonant frequency of the resonator. The tunability range is more than 30 MHz and the quality factor is about 3 × 103. These compact and tunable NbN resonators have potential applications in the quantum information processing, such as in the precision measurement, coupling and/or reading out the quantum states of qubits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By adjusting the frequency of the cavity, we perform a microwave reflection measurement and directly probe the coherence and interference effects in a phase-sensitive Josephson parametric amplifier. We demonstrate the shift in the peak and the dip in the reflection spectra of the amplifier, which operates in the phase-sensitive mode. The behavior of the shift can be precisely controlled by tuning the pump power, the frequency of the cavity, and the relative phase between the incident signal and pump field. Theoretical simulations are in good agreement with the experimental results. These results provide an alternative way of controlling the parametric process by adjusting the frequency of the cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricate a microscale electromechanical system, in which a suspended superconducting membrane, treated as a mechanical oscillator, capacitively couples to a superconducting microwave resonator. As the microwave driving power increases, nonmonotonic dependence of the resonance frequency of the mechanical oscillator on the driving power has been observed. We also demonstrate the optical switching of the resonance frequency of the mechanical oscillator. Theoretical models for qualitative understanding of our experimental observations are presented. Our experiment may pave the way for the application of a mechanical oscillator with its resonance frequency controlled by the electromagnetic and/or optical fields, such as a microwave-optical interface and a controllable element in a superqubit-mechanical oscillator hybrid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel room-temperature microbolometer array chip consisting of an Nb5N6 thin film microbridge and a dipole planar antenna, which is used as a terahertz (THz) detector, is described in this paper. Due to the high-temperature coefficient of the resistance of the Nb5N6 thin film, which is as high as -0.7% K-1, such an antenna-coupled microbolometer is ideal for detecting signals in a frequency range from 0.22 THz to 0.33 THz. The dc responsivity, calculated from the measured I-V curve of the Nb5N6 microbolometer, is about -760 V/W at a bias current of 0.19 mA. A typical noise voltage as low as 10 nV/Hz1/2 yields a low noise equivalent power (NEP) of 1.3 x 10-11 W/Hz1/2 at a modulation frequency above 4 kHz, and the best RF responsivity, characterized using an infrared device measuring method, is about 580 V/W, with the corresponding NEP being 1.7 x 10-11 W/Hz1/2. In order to further test the performance of the Nb5N6 microbolometer, we construct a quasi-optical type receiver by attaching it to a hyperhemispherical silicon lens, and the result is that the best responsivity of the receiver is up to 320 V/W. This work could offer another way to develop a large scale focal-plane array in silicon using simple techniques and at low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on fractal-featured square and ring-shaped apertures with a Sierpinski carpet pattern (SCP) on metallic and superconducting NbN films. Multiple extraordinary terahertz (THz) transmission peaks are studied in the transmission spectra using both THz time-domain spectroscopy and numerical simulation. The characteristic transmission peaks are found to be associated with the interaction of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and localized surface plasmons (LSPs) for ring-shaped apertures. The effect of LSPs is less remarkable in the square apertures. For the superconducting NbN film, when the temperature is slightly lower than the critical transition temperature Tc, the peak magnitude of SPP resonances is most prominent due to the non-monotonic temperature dependence of kinetic inductance. These results provide a new way to design compact and efficient THz devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) technique allows us to analyze plastic additives. A series of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALSs), including TMP, PMP, BB-PMP, Chimassorb 944 and 119, and a nitroxide free radical of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (HTEMPO) in the matrix of high-density polyethylene are characterized in the range of 0.2-2.6 THz. TMP, PMP, and BB-PMP exhibit individual well-resolved terahertz (THz) absorption spectra at room temperature. Furthermore, a linear relationship of the content of TMP versus the intensity of it first THz absorption peak are demonstrated with the detection limit of about 1.6% (w/w). In addition, PMP exhibit water-dependent characteristic THz absorption spectra. THz-TDS will afford a potential tool to investigate the stabilizing mechanism of HALS and monitor their evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Employing the tetrapodal compound 1,2,3,4-tetra(4-pyridyl)thiophene (TPT) as a bridging ligand, a new metal–organic framework was obtained and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, [Cd(TPT)(N3)2·(H2O)] (1). This polymer exhibits a 2D layer network and an unprecedented 3,4-connected topology, which is constructed from the three-connector TPT and EE azido bridges. It also displays good thermal stability and strong photoluminescence in the blue regionband thus may serve as a candidate of thermally stable blue-light-emitting electroluminescence material. The nature of electronic transitions in the photoluminescent process has also been investigated by means of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations and molecular orbital analyses, which shows that the luminescent property is ligand-based. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Employing the symmetrical ligand 1,2,3,4-tetra-(4-pyridyl)-butane (TPB) as bridges, two novel Zn(II) coordination polymers were obtained and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction: [Zn(TPB)0.5(NCS)2] (1) and [Zn(TPB)(N3)2] (2). Polymer 1 features a 2D network with herringbone structural motif constructed by TPB, while polymer 2 shows a dense 3D network connected by TPB and μ1,3-N3- bridges. In the former, the TPB ligand acts as a four-connector, while in the latter it acts as four-connector and linear bridge. Both 1 and 2 exhibit strong fluorescent emissions in the solid state, which may be of significance in the field of photoactive materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility of a novel gel-pad microarray on porous silicon chips, by initiation of an atom transfer radical propagation (ATRP) polymerisation of (polyethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) with surface Si–H species, stepwise chemical conversions of the gel membrane to an NTA-Ni2+/histidine-tagged protein system, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectroscopy (MALDI MS) and fluorescence detections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have realized a frequency-tunable transmon in a three-dimensional cooper cavity using a direct current superconducting quantum interference device. Both the transition frequency of the transmon and the frequency of the dressed cavity can be varied with the applied external flux bias, which are well consistent with the theoretical model. The range of the variable transition frequency is from 5.188 GHz to 7.756 GHz. The energy relaxation time of the transmon is hundreds of nanoseconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a double-well system, we investigate theoretically the population distribution of a particle perturbed by a weak sinusoidal signal with a Gaussian white noise accompanied. Our numerical simulation shows that the probability of the particle staying in the right potential well, PR, exhibits an extreme value at specific noise intensity D depending on the frequency of the sinusoidal signal, which is a key feature of stochastic resonance. This is confirmed by calculating the power spectrum of the output signal, in which the extreme value of the amplitude locates at the same noise intensity. These results provide us with a new way to quantify the stochastic resonance by measuring the population distribution of the particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niobium nitride superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors were fabricated on thermally oxidized silicon substrates with large active areas of 30 μm × 30 μm. To achieve non-constricted detectors, we improved the film growth and electron beam lithography process to fabricate uniform 100-nm wide NbN nanowires with a fill factor of 50%. The devices showed 72.4% system detection efficiency (SDE) at 100-Hz dark count rate (DCR) and 74-ps timing jitter, measured at the fiber communication wavelength of 1550 nm. The highest SDE which is 81.2% when the DCR is ∼700 c/s appears at the wavelength of 1650 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tunable superconducting half-wavelength coplanar waveguide resonator (CPWR) with Nb parallel nanowires ∼ 300 nm in width embedded in the center conductor was designed, fabricated, and measured. The frequency shift and the amplitude attenuation of the resonance peak under irradiation of 404-nm pulse laser were observed with different light powers at 4.2 K. The RF power supplied to such a CPWR can serve as current bias, which will affect the light response of the resonator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the distribution of the switching current of a current-biased Josephson junction (CBJJ) and its dependence on the microwave frequency using two theoretical methods, one of which is the quantum trajectory method and the other is the master equation method. Both the methods show that the distribution of the switching current of CBJJ will exhibit double peaks in a certain range of microwave frequency if proper microwave power is given, and the gap between the two peaks will increase with the microwave frequency. The obtained results can be used to identify the energy difference of the ground and first excited states in a Josephson junction for any bias current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) with a composite optical structure composed of phase-grating and optical cavity structures are designed to enhance both the system detection efficiency and the response bandwidth. Numerical simulation by the finite-difference time-domain method shows that the photon absorption capacity of SNSPDs with a composite optical structure can be enhanced significantly by adjusting the parameters of the phase-grating and optical cavity structures at multiple frequency bands. The absorption capacity of the superconducting nanowires reaches 70%, 72%, 60.73%, 61.7%, 41.2%, and 46.5% at wavelengths of 684, 850, 732, 924, 1256, and 1426 nm, respectively. The use of a composite optical structure reduces the total filling factor of superconducting nanowires to only 0.25, decreases the kinetic inductance of SNSPDs, and improves the count rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]