Modeling of Superconducting Components in Full-Wave Simulators

Abstract

Designing superconducting microwave planar components cannot be well performed without utilizing a full-wave simulator. However, well-known conventional simulators, i.e., Ansoft HFSS or CST microwave studio, cannot predict the electromagnetic behavior of superconducting circuits. Therefore, this paper proposes a simulation model through utilizing which one can evaluate superconducting microwave components in conventional simulators. The model works for a film thickness up to 5λ and can be used up to millimeter-wave frequencies. The proposed model replaces the superconducting film by a sheet with appropriate impedance. The value of the equivalent sheet impedance is determined subject to the current distribution within the film. Through the proposed simulation model, the characteristic impedance and phase constant of several superconducting microstrip transmission lines are obtained using Ansoft HFSS. The results are compared with those from theoretical formulas. The agreement between the results shows that one can obtain the behavior of superconducting microwave components by simulating the structure with the proposed model.