Perspective on traveling wave microwave parametric amplifiers

Abstract

Quantum-limited microwave parametric amplifiers are genuine key pillars for rising quantum technologies and, in general, for applications that rely on the successful readout of weak microwave signals by adding only the minimum amount of noise allowed by quantum mechanics. In this Perspective, after providing a brief overview on the different families of parametric microwave amplifiers, we focus on traveling wave parametric amplifiers, underlining the key achievements of the last few years and the present open challenges. We also discuss possible new research directions beyond amplification such as exploring these devices as a platform for multi-mode entanglement generation and for the development of single photon detectors.

Bimodal Approach for Noise Figures of Merit Evaluation in Quantum-Limited Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers

“…It was demonstrated that feeding the amplifier with bimodal Fock input states leads to a quantification for the noise estimators that is within the SQLs, while when exploiting bimodal coherent input states these limits can be exceeded. The results represent a key model to predict the behaviour of rf-SQUID based JTWPA [18], [19] and other Josephson-based metamaterials [23] for quantum computing (via quantum limited amplification of complex signals) [17], [26], [27] and for quantum information (via the generation of non-classical radiation [5]- [8], [28]) in non-ideal cryogenic environment [29].…”

“…These quantities depend both on the design parameters of the device and on the driving conditions (i.e., on the pump frequency ω p and on the amplitude of this tone, that can be quantified in terms of an intensity of current I p ). In this derivation, the ideality condition of the phase-preserving linear amplifier is guaranteed neglecting all the possible dissipation sources, such as the dielectric losses or the side-band generation [23]. All the numerical simulations given below are evaluated for the circuital parameters described in [21] for an amplifier operating in the three-wave mixing regime and pumped with a current intensity I p at frequency ω p = 12 GHz.…”

Decimation technique for open quantum systems: a case study with driven-dissipative bosonic chains

“…An interesting outlook of this work would be to apply these tools to more complex scenarios, such as fermionic models or arrays of parametric amplifiers [73][74][75][76].…”

Self phase-matched broadband amplification with a left-handed Josephson transmission line

“…A compelling alternative to standing-wave JPAs are Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers (J-TWPA) [see [14] and references therein] that incorporate Josephson nonlinearity in a waveguide or transmissionline geometry. Unlike the lumped-element JPA circuits, the distributed nonlinearity of J-TWPA involves no resonating structures and thus, in principle, realizes much larger gain-bandwidth products.…”