The threshold characteristics of mutually coupled SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices) have been analytically and numerically investigated. The mutually coupled SQUIDs investigated is composed of an rf-SQUID and a dc-SQUID. Here, the rf-SQUID is a flux quantum generator and the dc-SQUID is a flux detector. The linearization method substituting sin-1x by (π/2)x (1x1) is found valid when it is applied to the mutually coupled SQUIDs, because it is possible to obtain the superconducting regions analytically. By computer implementation of linearization method, we found this method is very effective and very quick compared to the ordinary methods. We report the internal flux on an rf-SQUID, the threshold of a dc-SQUID, and that of mutually coupled SQUIDs obtained by Lagrange multiplier formulation and linearization. The features of the threshold characteristics of the mutually coupled SQUIDs with various parameters are also reported. The discontinuous behavior of threshold of the mutually coupled SQUIDs are attractive for digital applications. We suggest three applications of the mutually coupled SQUIDs, that is, a logic gate for high-Tc superconductors (HTSs), a neuron device, and an A/D converter.

We present two types of ICF (INHIBIT Controlled by Fluxon) gates as the basic circuits of the phase-mode logic family, and fabricate an adder circuit. The experimental result demonstrates that the carry operation followed up to 99 GHz input pulses. The performance of Josephson devices is improved by the use of junctions with high current density (Jc). We may use the high-Jc junctions without external resistive shunt in the phase-mode logic circuits because of reduction of the junction hysteresis. One of the ways to overcome the large area occupancy for geometric inductance is to utilize the effective inductance of a Josephson junction itself. We investigate a circuit construction with high-Jc inductor junctions, intrinsically overdumped junctions and junction-type resistors for the compactness of circuit integration, and discuss various aspects of the circuit construction.

The designs and experiments for the carousel SQUID logic gate are pursued. The novel rf-magnetoron cathode is employed for the formation of tunnel barriers to obtain stable Josephson junctions for heat-cycles with small leak current. The sharp changes of a gate current by the applied control current are observed in the fabricated carousel SQUID gate.

We present a superconducting neural network which functions as an RS flip-flop. We employ a coupled-SQUID as a neuron, which is a combination of a single-junction SQUID and a double-junction SQUID. A resistor is used as a fixed synapse. The network consists of two neurons and two synapses. The operation of the network is simulated under the junction current density of 100 kA/cm2. The result shows that the network is operated as an RS flip-flop with clock speed capability up to 50 GHz.

We present analytical and numerical results on the flux-quantum transitions in a three-junction superconducting quantum interference device (3J-SQUID) controlled by two RF signals. The 3J-SQUID has two superconducting loops, and the RF signals are magnetically coupled to the loops. Flux-quantum transitions in the 3J-SQUID loops can be controlled by utilizing the phase difference of the two RF signals. Under proper conditions, we can obtain a situation where one flux quantum passes through the 3J-SQUID per one cycle of the RF signals without DC current biasing, which results in a zero-crossing step on the current-voltage characteristics. In this paper, we first explain the operation principle by using a quantum state diagram of a 3J-SQUID. Next, we numerically simulate RF-induced transitions of the quantum states. A zero-crossing step on the current-voltage characteristics is demonstrated. We also investigate dependence of zero-crossing steps upon parameters of the 3J-SQUID and RF signals.

C-axis junction-arrays, with a-b plane sizes of sub-microns to 10 microns, were patterned on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x single crystals with either a mesa or an overlap structure. We measured the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics with microwave irradiation at a few to 100 gigahertz. At a few gigahertz, often observed were chaotic properties. Under irradiation at 100 GHz, we successfully performed harmonic mixings between the 100 GHz signal and up to the 100th harmonic of a local oscillator at about 1 GHz. Given in this paper are discussions on the observation of individual Shapiro steps, and descriptions of the relevant results. Our experimental results show that intrinsic Josephson junctions in layered superconductors can be good candidates for high frequency applications.

In this paper, we review the progress in BiSrCaCuO-2212 Intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) by summarizing our recent results in fabrication and high frequency experiments. Using a double-side fabrication process, a well defined number of intrinsic Josephson junctions in a well defined geometry can be fabricated. The junctions in the stack are quite homogeneous, and the power distribution of external irradiation among the junctions is even. Shapiro steps are clearly observed up to 2.5 THz, and the general condition for the occurrence of Shapiro steps at frequency frf is that it should be much greater than the plasma frequency fpl. Under certain conditions the Shapiro steps are zero-crossing, making some applications possible, such as quantum voltage standard etc.

We investigate the basic properties of focused electron beam (FEB)-damaged Josephson junctions on silicon (Si) substrates for high-frequency device applications. YBa2Cu3O7-y (YBCO) Josephson junction arrays were also fabricated by FEB irradiation to confirm the junction uniformity and to investigate their applicability. The junctions exhibit resistively shunted junction (RSJ)-like current-voltage (I-V) curves and the microwave-induced Shapiro steps for all operation temperatures. Two-junction arrays show single-junction-like behavior with the Shapiro steps in an array up to 2 mV. Microwave-induced Shapiro steps correspond to the double voltages Vn=2nVJ, where VJ=f0h/2e in two-junction arrays. The microwave power dependence of I-V curves shows the steps corresponding to the RSJ model.

A new switching gate called a kinetic momentum quantum transition device is proposed. The device is composed of two SQUIDs; one is a guantum flux generator and the other is a flux detector. The two SQUIDs are magnetically coupled with each other. The principle of operation is based on the quantized effective flux generated by the SQUID with a small inductance (LI0φ0) and detected by the other SQUID. The device operations were demonstrated experimentally using the fabricated coupled SQUIDs having lead-alloy Josephson junctions. The experimental results were analysed quantitatively using the proposed model for devices. The input-output chracteristics of the device showed step-function-like nonlinearity resulting in a very high current gain. The input and output are well separated from each other. Because of the small necessary inductances, the device-size is one tenth smaller than usual SQUID gates.

Thermal oxidation and liftoff technique have been used to fabricate the niobium nm bridge on an edge junction. The bridges had an effective length of less than 50 nm and width of 2 µm. Experimental results of the threshold curves of the DC-SQUID at 4.2 K are in excellent agreement with calculations based on a sinusoidal current-phase relation. Very sharp microwave-induced steps were also observed, and the bridges were found to show Josephson effect in a wide range of temperature.

All-NbN edge junction nanobridges have been reproducibly fabricated. They had nearly ideal characteristics: sharply defined critical current, high resistance100Ω, sharp gap structure at about 4 mV, large IoRn products, and low excess current. The sharp LC resonance step at about 1.5 mV was observed in the nanobridge SQUID's. The noise equivalent power was NEP10-19 W/Hz in Josephson mixing at 101 GHz.

A Josephson computer device called a carousel SQUID is proposed which uses an interferometer capable to be used as both a memory cell and logic gate. The principle of the operation of carousel SQUIDs is the rotation of a fluxoid quantum in the device, which makes the device to have excellent performances as computer ones. The memory cell stores one fluxoid quantum and is non-destructive read-out one. For the logic gate, the current gain is much larger than unity and input signal is isolated from the logic gate.

A voltage mode logic device based on RF-Field-driven DC-SQUID (RFDS) using high-TC superconducting Josephson junctions has been proposed. RFDS produces large RF-induced steps, and the orders of steps are strongly selected by DC magnetic flux crossing the SQUID loop superposing with RF magnetic field. In this paper, we present the experimental results of RFDS fabricated by using YBCO grain boundary Josephson junctions. The results are evaluated with numerical simulations. The enhancement of RF-induced steps, the strong selection of step orders and the switching performance are demonstrated.

Thin-film YBCO Josephson junctions were successfully fabricated by a pulsed excimer laser ablation, and the mixing experiments in the microwave region (820 GHz) were carried out at the temperature of 77 K. The IF output maximum was obtained at the bias voltage midway between the zero and the first Shapiro steps for the fundamental mixing. For the 2nd harmocic mixing, the IF output maximum was obtained at a zero bias voltage, and the conversion efficiency was -14 dB at the microwave frequency of 18 GHz. These results strongly suggest that the fabricated thin-film Josephson junctions work well at the temperature of 77 K as detectors and mixers in the microwave regions (820 GHz).

The discrete Josephson junction transmission line which has N series Josephson junctions in each loop is discussed by computer simulation. It is found that a single quantum in this line can be stuffed in about one loop even if the inductance of each loop decreases to be negligibly small, i.e., the contribution of flux to a fluxoid is decreased. In this line the very small size fluxoid quanta with little flux can be employed as information bits. The resistive Josephson transmission lines whose loops have resistances in series are also discussed. In the resistive lines various operations are possible because of relaxation of the quantization conditions.