Superconducting Parametric Amplifier Receiver Technology for Astronomy and Fundamental Physics Experiments

Introduction

The emerging technology of superconducting parametric amplifiers (SPAs) can achieve quantum-limited sensitivity over a broad bandwidth by utilizing the wave-mixing mechanism in a nonlinear transmission medium. They are compact, easy to fabricate with planar circuit technology, have ultra-low heat dissipation, and can be integrated directly with other detector circuits.

Performance and Applications

Their performance surpasses that of the state-of-the-art high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) amplifiers, and they can operate from radio to THz frequencies. Therefore, they have the potential to revolutionize almost every kind of microwave, millimetre (mm), and sub-mm instrumentation, from observational astronomy to fundamental physics experiments such as dark matter searches, quantum information platforms, and neutrino mass determination.

Objectives

In this proposal, I will:

1. Develop practical ultra-broadband quantum amplifiers for deployment to mm/sub-mm/THz astronomical receivers and fundamental physics experiments.
2. Develop novel ultra-compact parametric frequency converters to replace traditional superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers and Schottky local oscillator (LO) technologies, enabling the construction of large pixel-count systems for mm-wave heterodyne receivers such as the Atacama Large Millimetre/sub-mm Array (ALMA) and Event Horizon Telescopes (EHT).
3. Explore high critical temperature superconductors to extend the operation of these parametric devices into higher bath temperatures and frequencies in the supra-THz regime, potentially replacing hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers and quantum cascade lasers (QCLs).

Impact

The successful delivery of these outcomes marks a paradigm shift in mm/sub-mm/THz instrumentation, replacing all the core technologies used in this regime with a single integratable SPA technology. This will also have a significant impact on many other fields such as telecommunications, medical applications, and remote sensing, among others.