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Dynamic properties of Josephson junctions are interesting due to the emission of high frequency radiation (up to THz range) from Josephson junctions, closely related to fluxon dynamics. A better understanding of this dynamics can help to improve the Josephson devices used for applications. Josephson junctions can also be of great use as T-shaped multiple Josephson junctions in Josephson electronic circuits. In general, T-junctions consist of two attached Josephson transmission lines: a main Josephson transmission line (MJTL) along the -axis, and an additional Josephson transmission line (AJTL) along the -axis. These junctions can use to create fluxons (solitons) in junctions without applied magnetic field, (called flux cloning phenomenon). This work is devoted to contributing to a clarification of the dynamic behaviour of solitons (fluxons) in 2D extended conventional T-shaped Josephson junctions (extended means an AJTL is larger than MJTL). A conventional T-junction is a MJTL along the x-axis which divides into two Josephson transmission lines along the x- and y-axes. In addition, we also attempt to elucidate further the concept of flux cloning in rotated T-junctions, which are 90 degrees anticlockwise rotation of conventional T-junction. In rotated Tjunction, a MJTL along the x-axis divide into two Josephson transmission lines along the y-axis. We find the first evidence of moving semifluxon and observe for the first time new phenomena of semifluxons and anti-semifluxons in both extended conventional and rotated T-junctions. We numerically study the electrodynamics behaviour of solitons in the standard Tshaped Josephson junction (conventional T-junction) in a magnetic field. Therefore, we describe theoretically how flux cloning circuits exist and give an opportunity for use as flux flow oscillators operating without applied magnetic field. The results that emerge give further support to the flux cloning mechanism.

L’élaboration d’expérience permettant de sonder la symétrie du gap supraconducteur à l’aide d’une mesure de la phase de ce gap supraconducteur est l’une des techniques les plus directes pour observer la symétrie ”d” des cuprates dopés au trous. Malheureusement, il existe très peu d’expériences de ce type qui ont été réussies pour sonder la symétrie du gap supraconducteur dans les cuprates dopés aux électrons. Effectivement, les expériences sondant la phase du gap supraconducteur demandent d’utiliser généralement des jonctions Josephson entre un cuprate et un supraconducteur conventionnel (Exemple : SQUID et jonctions Josephson en coin). Cependant, il est extrêmement difficile d’obtenir de telles jonctions Josephson avec les cuprates dopés aux électrons, car la croissance de ce matériau est extrêmement difficile et les propriétés physiques de ceux-ci sont très sensibles aux différentes étapes de fabrication que l’on doit effectuer pour obtenir une jonction Josephson. Cependant, de récents travaux effectués par notre groupe sur la purification des phases dans les couches minces de Pr[indice inférieur 2−x]Ce[indice inférieur x]CuO[indice inférieur 4], un cuprate dopé aux électrons, ainsi que sur la production de jonctions Josephson de qualité entre deux électrodes supraconductrices de Pr[indice inférieur 2−x]Ce[indice inférieur x]CuO[indice inférieur 4] ont revigoré l’intérêt de fabriquer une jonction Josephson de qualité entre Pr[indice inférieur 2−x]Ce[indice inférieur x]CuO[indice inférieur 4] et un supraconducteur conventionnel. Dans ce mémoire, on propose une méthode de fabrication de jonctions Josephson en rampe entre un cuprate dopé aux électrons (Pr[indice inférieur 1.85]Ce[indice inférieur 0.15]CuO[indice inférieur 4]) et un supraconducteur conventionnel (PbIn). Cette méthode de fabrication nous a permis de fabriquer des jonctions Josephson possédant une densité de courant critique de 44 A/cm[indice supérieur 2] et un produit I[indice inférieur c]R[indice inférieur n] valant 40 μV . On retrouve aussi, tel qu’attendu par la théorie, les oscillations du courant critique de ces jonctions en fonction du champ magnétique appliqué perpendiculairement sur celles-ci. Ces caractéristiques nous permettent de conclure que nous avons réussi à produire les meilleures jonctions Josephson de ce type (Re[indice inférieur 2−x]Ce[indice inférieur x]CuO[indice inférieur 4] / Au /supraconducteur métallique) répertoriées dans la littérature. Ainsi, d’après ces résultats il est maintenant possible de tenter l’expérience sondant la symétrie du gap supraconducteur dans le Pr[indice inférieur 1.85]Ce[indice inférieur 0.15]CuO[indice inférieur 4] à l’aide d’une jonction Josephson en coin.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by David Bazeley Tuckerman. / M.S.

Supraconductivité et ferromagnétisme sont deux états de la matière antagonistes. Néanmoins, il est possible, dans des nanostructures hybrides, de coupler leur paramètre d'ordre dans des jonctions Josephson ferromagnétiques où le flux magnétique produit par l'aimantation produit une différence de phase entre les supraconducteurs : la phase Aharonov-Bohm. C'est par l'effet Josephson AC qui transforme une tension continue en un courant alternatif que nous avons accédé à la dynamique de l'aimantation. Nous avons observé que lorsque la tension à travers la jonction est égale à la fréquence caractéristique des modes ferromagnétiques, il apparaît une résonance dans la courbe courant/tension. Nous avons expliqué cet effet par analogie avec la diffraction à travers une couche dont l'indice de réfraction dépend du temps, et nous avons établi une correspondance avec la mesure des résonances ferromagnétiques effectuées sur un échantillon de taille macroscopique. Ces expériences ouvrent des perspectives nouvelles d'étude des ondes de spin dans des systèmes de très petite taille. Nous nous sommes également intéressés au bruit et la relaxation de phase dans de telles jonctions que si considérées comme des sources de phase sont potentiellement utiles pour l'électronique quantique. Par des mesures d'échappement, nous avons montré que le bruit thermique est dominant au moins aux températures supérieures à 350mK. Nous avons également déterminé le temps de relaxation de la phase avec une expérience de type pompe sonde. A ce but, nous avons utilisé une transition de phase cinétique observée en régime non-stationnaire, lors que la fréquence d'excitation est comparable au temps de relaxation.

Superconducting circuits have recently become a major contender for the implementation of quantum computers owing to their compatibility with existing microchip fabrication technologies. Their utility stems largely from their ability to be coupled with resonant cavities for the purposes of trapping and relaying microwave radiation. Because of this feature, scientists are able to transmit quantum information from a variety of qubits. Though quantum-limited amplifiers exist, unfortunately there currently exists no microwave photon counter capable of single shot quantum detection. Hence, we use superconducting circuits with Josephson junctions to design a microwave photon detector based on a modified phase qubit that exhibits a bandwidth of 4GHz, and a detection fidelity of 98%. We use metastable barrier transition (driven by incident photons) to create an avalanche effect analogous to current photo-diodes. Linear coupling of the junction flux with the radiation permits photodetection from an arbitrary quantum source in the GHz range. We show the device to be robust to changes in drive frequency, temporal photon width, and resonator quality factor, and we optimize our device with respect to these parameters. We show the device to be stable over the necessary time scales, and yet sensitive enough to accurately measure photons on demand.

Superconducting circuits have recently become a major contender for the implementation of quantum computers owing to their compatibility with existing microchip fabrication technologies. Their utility stems largely from their ability to be coupled with resonant cavities for the purposes of trapping and relaying microwave radiation. Because of this feature, scientists are able to transmit quantum information from a variety of qubits. Though quantum-limited amplifiers exist, unfortunately there currently exists no microwave photon counter capable of single shot quantum detection. Hence, we use superconducting circuits with Josephson junctions to design a microwave photon detector based on a modified phase qubit that exhibits a bandwidth of 4GHz, and a detection fidelity of 98%. We use metastable barrier transition (driven by incident photons) to create an avalanche effect analogous to current photo-diodes. Linear coupling of the junction flux with the radiation permits photodetection from an arbitrary quantum source in the GHz range. We show the device to be robust to changes in drive frequency, temporal photon width, and resonator quality factor, and we optimize our device with respect to these parameters. We show the device to be stable over the necessary time scales, and yet sensitive enough to accurately measure photons on demand.

In this thesis, I will present the experimental results of the dynamics of superconducting single electron transistors (sSETs), under the influence of tunable dissipation. The sSET, consisting of two dc SQUIDs in series and the third gate electrode, is deposited onto a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure which contains a two dimensional electron gas plane 100nm beneath the substrate surface. The Josephson coupling energy, charging energy and dissipation related Hamiltonian can all be tuned in situ, while keeping others unchanged. We measured the switching current statistics and the transport properties, as a function of the dissipation and gate charge at different temperatures. If the sSET is in the classical regime where phase is a good quantum variable, we found that the switching current and corresponding Josephson energy decrease as dissipation increases. Our observation agrees qualitatively with the theoretical calculation of a single Josephson junction with dominant Josephson energy, in a frequency dependent dissipative environment where energy barrier decreases as dissipation increases in thermally activated escape regime. This dissipation dependence result can be understood as the consequence of a reduced quantum fluctuations in the charge numbers. Whereas in the charging regime, the switching current shows a 1e periodicity with respect to gate charge, indicating a pronounced charging effect. At a specific gate charge number, quantum fluctuations of the phase variable are compressed as dissipation increases, resulting in an enhanced switching current and Josephson energy. This result matches the theory of a sSET capacitively coupled to a dissipative environment qualitatively. The temperature dependence of the switching current histogram indicates the existence of both quantum and classical thermal phase diffusion. Moreover, quantum charge fluctuations are minimized at the degeneracy point, causing a sharp dip on the width of the switching current histogram. For a sSET with comparable Josephson energy and charging energy, quantum fluctuations of both phase and charge variables are significant. The influence of dissipation on the dynamics of the device is distinct in the classical and charging regimes. Dissipation compresses quantum phase fluctuations in the charging regime, whereas reduces the quantum charge fluctuations in the classical regime. The transition between these two regimes is found to be determined by the tunnel resistance of the SQUID. The competition between Josephson and charging energies, however, is not the intrinsic parameter of this transition. Our results imply that a detailed theoretical calculation of a sSET with comparable Josephson coupling energy and charging energy under the influence of dissipation is needed.

In this thesis, investigations into the suitability of three 'weak-link' models, designed for the simulation of superconducting cluster systems, are reported. The focus of the investigation is on both the accuracy of the transport properties produced by these models, and the time taken to produce their results. The thesis develops the theory behind a previous approach which was exclusively used to model percolation systems for coverages below the critical coverage. The modifications made allow the simulations to extend to system coverages above the critical coverage. An additional 'current-ramping' algorithm, to simulate the systematic increase or decrease of current forced through the system, is described and explored. The results for the three models are compared, and their suitability for future investigations is discussed.

In this thesis, I will present the experimental results of the dynamics of superconducting single electron transistors (sSETs), under the influence of tunable dissipation. The sSET, consisting of two dc SQUIDs in series and the third gate electrode, is deposited onto a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure which contains a two dimensional electron gas plane 100nm beneath the substrate surface. The Josephson coupling energy, charging energy and dissipation related Hamiltonian can all be tuned in situ, while keeping others unchanged. We measured the switching current statistics and the transport properties, as a function of the dissipation and gate charge at different temperatures. If the sSET is in the classical regime where phase is a good quantum variable, we found that the switching current and corresponding Josephson energy decrease as dissipation increases. Our observation agrees qualitatively with the theoretical calculation of a single Josephson junction with dominant Josephson energy, in a frequency dependent dissipative environment where energy barrier decreases as dissipation increases in thermally activated escape regime. This dissipation dependence result can be understood as the consequence of a reduced quantum fluctuations in the charge numbers. Whereas in the charging regime, the switching current shows a 1e periodicity with respect to gate charge, indicating a pronounced charging effect. At a specific gate charge number, quantum fluctuations of the phase variable are compressed as dissipation increases, resulting in an enhanced switching current and Josephson energy. This result matches the theory of a sSET capacitively coupled to a dissipative environment qualitatively. The temperature dependence of the switching current histogram indicates the existence of both quantum and classical thermal phase diffusion. Moreover, quantum charge fluctuations are minimized at the degeneracy point, causing a sharp dip on the width of the switching current histogram. For a sSET with comparable Josephson energy and charging energy, quantum fluctuations of both phase and charge variables are significant. The influence of dissipation on the dynamics of the device is distinct in the classical and charging regimes. Dissipation compresses quantum phase fluctuations in the charging regime, whereas reduces the quantum charge fluctuations in the classical regime. The transition between these two regimes is found to be determined by the tunnel resistance of the SQUID. The competition between Josephson and charging energies, however, is not the intrinsic parameter of this transition. Our results imply that a detailed theoretical calculation of a sSET with comparable Josephson coupling energy and charging energy under the influence of dissipation is needed.