Toward terahertz heterodyne detection with superconducting Josephson junctions

M. Malnou, A. Luo, T. Wolf, Y. Wang, C. Feuillet-Palma, C. Ulysse, G. Faini, P. Febvre, M. Sirena, J. Lesueur and N. Bergeal

We report on the high-frequency mixing properties of ion irradiated YBa2Cu3O7 Josephson junctions. The frequency range, spanning above and below the characteristic frequencies fc of the junctions, permits a clear observation of the transition between two mixing regimes. The experimental conversion gain was found to be in good agreement with the prediction of the three-port model. Finally, we discuss the potential of the junctions to build a Josephson mixer operating in the terahertz frequency range.

Toward terahertz heterodyne detection with superconducting Josephson junctions