Low-noise S-band DC SQUID based amplifier

Abstract

A low-noise rf amplifier based on a dc SQUID (SQA) is tested in the frequency range 3.3-4.1 GHz. A new signal launching system for the SQA rf coupling has been developed and successfully implemented. The following parameters have been measured at 3.65 GHz using a band-pass filter at the input of a single-stage SQA: gain (11.0/spl plusmn/1.0) dB, 3 dB bandwidth of 300 MHz and noise temperature (4.0/spl plusmn/1.0)K. This figure corresponds to a flux noise S/sub /spl Phi///sup 1/2 /=0.6 /spl mu//spl Phi//sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2 / and an energy sensitivity /spl epsi//sub i//spl ap/75 h. The input saturation power, P/sub s/, (1 dB gain compression) is measured for different bandwidths of the input band-pass filter, A corresponding input signal saturation temperature (normalized for a 1 GHz bandwidth) T/sub SAT//sup 1GHZ/=P/sub SAT//k/sub B/ is estimated to be 11.5 K GHz at an SQA bias voltage 27 /spl mu/V (condition for minimum noise temperature). The dependencies of the SQA gain, noise temperature and saturation level on the operation point are studied. The reason for the SQA saturation is discussed.