Harmonic balance simulation of the influence of component uniformity and reliability on the performance of a Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier

• Published in: Chinese physics B 2024-03, Vol.33 (4), p.40401
• Main Authors: Zheng, Yuzhen, Xiong, Kanglin, Feng, Jiagui, Yang, Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: harmonic balance method; Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA); uniformity; yields
• ISSN: 1674-1056; 2058-3834
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/ad0624

A Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA), which is a quantum-limited amplifier with high gain and large bandwidth, is the core device of large-scale measurement and control systems for quantum computing. A typical JTWPA consists of thousands of Josephson junctions connected in series to form a transmission line and hundreds of shunt LC resonators periodically loaded along the line for phase matching. Because the variation of these capacitors and inductors can be detrimental to their high-frequency characteristics, the fabrication of a JTWPA typically necessitates precise processing equipment. To guide the fabrication process and further improve the design for manufacturability, it is necessary to understand how each electronic component affects the amplifier. In this paper, we use the harmonic balance method to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of nonuniformity and fabrication yield of the electronic components on the performance of a JTWPA. The results provide insightful and scientific guidance for device design and fabrication processes.