Abstract
We describe a novel class of devices based on the nonlinearity of the kinetic inductance of a superconducting thin film. By placing a current-dependent inductance in a microwave resonator, small currents can be measured through their effect on the resonator’s frequency. By using a high-resistivity material for the film and nanowires as kinetic inductors, we can achieve a large coefficient of nonlinearity to improve device sensitivity. We demonstrate a current sensitivity of \(8{\text {pA/}}\sqrt{{\text {Hz}}}\), making this device useful for transition-edge sensor (TES) readout and other cutting-edge applications. An advantage of these devices is their natural ability to be multiplexed in the frequency domain, enabling large detector arrays for TES-based instruments. A traveling-wave version of the device, consisting of a thin-film microwave transmission line, is also sensitive to small currents as they change the phase length of the line due to their effect on its inductance. We demonstrate a current sensitivity of \(5{\text {pA/}}\sqrt{{\text {Hz}}}\) for this version of the device, making it also suitable for TES readout as well as other current-detection applications. It has the advantage of multi-GHz bandwidth and greater dynamic range, offering a different approach to the resonator version of the device.
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Acknowledgments
This work is supported by NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship Grant NNX12AM42H. Devices were fabricated at JPL.
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Kher, A., Day, P.K., Eom, B.H. et al. Kinetic Inductance Parametric Up-Converter. J Low Temp Phys 184, 480–485 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-015-1364-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-015-1364-0