A superconductor, when exposed to a spin-exchange field, can exhibit spatial modulation of its order parameter, commonly referred to as the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov state. Such a state can be induced by controlling the spin-splitting field in Josephson junction devices, allowing access to a wide range of the phase diagram. Here we demonstrate that a Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov state can be induced in Josephson junctions based on the two-dimensional dilute magnetic topological insulator (Hg,Mn)Te. We do this by observing the dependence of the critical current on the magnetic field and temperature. The substitution of Mn dopants induces an enhanced Zeeman effect, which can be controlled with high precision by using a small external magnetic field. We observe multiple re-entrant behaviours of the critical current as a response to an in-plane magnetic field, which we assign to transitions between ground states with a phase shifted by π. This will enable the study of the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov state in much more accessible experimental conditions.

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We experimentally study the free-space electromagnetic field emitted from a multimode rectangular waveguide equipped with a diagonal-horn antenna. Using the frequency range of 215-580 GHz, a photomixer is used to launch a free-space circularly polarized electromagnetic field, exciting multiple modes at the input of the rectangular waveguide via an input diagonal-horn antenna. A second photomixer is used, together with a silicon mirror Fresnel scatterer, to act as a polarization-sensitive coherent detector to characterize the emitted field. We find that the radiated field, excited by the fundamental waveguide mode, is characterized by a linear polarization. In addition, we find that the polarization of the radiated field rotates by 45 if selectively exciting higher-order modes in the waveguide. Despite the higher-order modes, the radiated field appears to maintain a predominant Gaussian beam character, since an unidirectional coupling to a detector was possible, whereas the unidirectionality is independent of the frequency. We discuss a possible application of this finding.

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We evaluate the microscopically relevant parameters for electrical transport of hybrid superconductor-semiconductor interfaces. In contrast to the commonly used geometrically constricted metallic systems, we focus on materials with dissimilar electronic properties like low-carrier density semiconductors combined with superconductors, without imposing geometric confinement. We find an intrinsic mode-selectivity, a directional momentum-filter, due to the differences in electronic band structure, which creates a separation of electron reservoirs each at the opposite sides of the semiconductor, while at the same time selecting modes propagating almost perpendicular to the interface. The electronic separation coexists with a transport current dominated by Andreev reflection and low elastic backscattering, both dependent on the gate-controllable electronic properties of the semiconductor.

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The idea that preformed Cooper pairs could exist in a superconductor at temperatures higher than its zero-resistance critical temperature (T_c) has been explored for unconventional, interfacial, and disordered superconductors, but direct experimental evidence is lacking. We used scanning tunneling noise spectroscopy to show that preformed Cooper pairs exist up to temperatures much higher than T_c in the disordered superconductor titanium nitride by observing an enhancement in the shot noise that is equivalent to a change of the effective charge from one to two electron charges. We further show that the spectroscopic gap fills up rather than closes with increasing temperature. Our results demonstrate the existence of a state above T_c that, much like an ordinary metal, has no (pseudo)gap but carries charge through paired electrons.

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We present an extensive set of data on nanowire-type superconducting single-photon detectors based on niobium-nitride (NbN) to establish the empirical correlation between performance and the normal-state resistance per square. We focus, in particular, on the bias current, compared to the expected depairing current, needed to achieve a near-unity detection efficiency for photon detection. The data are discussed within the context of a model in which the photon energy triggers the movement of vortices i.e. superconducting dissipation, followed by thermal runaway. Since the model is based on the non-equilibrium theory for conventional superconductors deviations may occur, because the efficient regime is found when NbN acts as a marginal superconductor in which long-range phase coherence is frustrated.

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We study experimentally the transmission of an electromagnetic waveguide in the frequency range from 160 to 300 GHz. Photo-mixing is used to excite and detect the fundamental TE₁₀ mode in a rectangular waveguide with two orders-of-magnitude lower impedance. The large impedance mismatch leads to a strong frequency dependence of the transmission, which we measure with a high-dynamic range of up to 80 dB and with high frequency-resolution. The modified transmission function is directly related to the information rate of the waveguide, which we estimate to be about 1 bit per photon. We suggest that the results are applicable to a Josephson junction employed as a single-photon source and coupled to a superconducting waveguide to achieve a simple on-demand narrow-bandwidth free-space number-state quantum channel.

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We are developing an ultra-wideband spectroscopic instrument, DESHIMA (DEep Spectroscopic HIgh-redshift MApper), based on the technologies of an on-chip filter bank and microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) to investigate dusty starburst galaxies in the distant universe at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. An on-site experiment of DESHIMA was performed using the ASTE 10-m telescope. We established a responsivity model that converts frequency responses of the MKIDs to line-of-sight brightness temperature. We estimated two parameters of the responsivity model using a set of skydip data taken under various precipitable water vapor (PWV 0.4–3.0 mm) conditions for each MKID. The line-of-sight brightness temperature of sky is estimated using an atmospheric transmission model and the PWVs. As a result, we obtain an average temperature calibration uncertainty of 1σ=4%, which is smaller than other photometric biases. In addition, the average forward efficiency of 0.88 in our responsivity model is consistent with the value expected from the geometrical support structure of the telescope. We also estimate line-of-sight PWVs of each skydip observation using the frequency response of MKIDs and confirm the consistency with PWVs reported by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array.@en

The integrated superconducting spectrometer (ISS) enables ultra-wideband, large field-of-view integral-field-spectrometer designs for mm-submm wave astronomy. DESHIMA 2.0 is a single-pixel ISS spectrometer for the ASTE 10-m telescope, designed to observe the 220-440 GHz band in a single shot, corresponding to a [CII] redshift range of z=3.3-7.6. The first-light experiment of DESHIMA, using a 332-377 GHz configuration has shown excellent consistency between the performance derived from on-sky measurements, lab-measurements and the design. Ongoing upgrades towards the octave-bandwidth full system include the development of a filterbank chip with ~350 channels and higher optical efficiency, a wideband quasioptical design, and observing methods for efficiently removing the atmosphere.@en

We trace the historical fate of experiment and theory of microwave-stimulated superconductivity as originally reported for constriction-type superconducting weak links. It is shown that the observed effect disappeared by improving weak links to obtain the desired Josephson properties. Separate experiments were carried out to evaluate the validity of the proposed theory of Eliash'berg for energy-gap-enhancement in superconducting films in a microwave field, without reaching a full quantitatively reliable measurement of the stimulated energy gap in a microwave field, but convincing enough to understand the earlier deviations from the Josephson-effect. Over the same time period microwave-stimulated superconductivity continued to be present in superconductor-normal metal-superconductor Josephson weak links. This experimental body of work was left unexplained for several decades and could only be understood properly after the microscopic theory of the proximity-effect had matured enough, including its non-equilibrium aspects. It implies that the increase in critical current in weak-link Josephson-junctions is due to an enhancement of the phase-coherence rather than to an enhancement of the energy-gap as proposed by Eliash'berg. The complex interplay between proximity-effect and the occupation of states continues to be, in a variety of ways, at the core of the ongoing research on hybrid Josephson-junctions. The subject of radiation-enhanced superconductivity has re-emerged in the study of the power-dependence of superconducting microwave resonators, but also in the light-induced emergence of superconductivity in complex materials.

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We address parametric amplifiers and kinetic inductance detectors, using concepts of the microscopic theory of superconductivity, and focusing on the interaction of microwave radiation with the superconducting condensate. This interaction was identified in recent experiments as the source of the apparent dissipation in microwave superconducting microresonators at low temperatures. Since the evaluation of the performance of practical devices based only on changes in kinetic inductance is not sufficiently informative about the underlying physical processes, we design an experiment with a tunnel measurement of a microwave-driven superconducting wire, in which the tunneling process is not affected by the microwaves. We conclude that such an experiment is feasible with current technology, but is unfortunately difficult to incorporate into standard superconducting resonators optimized for performance in applications. Nevertheless, given the limits of the commonly used phenomenological theories, such an experiment will provide the groundwork for further optimization of the performance.

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We study the electrodynamic impedance of percolating conductors with a predefined network topology using a scanning microwave impedance microscope at gigahertz frequencies. For a given percolation number we observe strong spatial variations across a sample that correlate with the connected regions (clusters) in the network when the resistivity is low such as in aluminum. For the more-resistive material (Nb,Ti)N, the impedance becomes dominated by the local structure of the percolating network (connectivity). The results can be qualitatively understood and reproduced with a network current-spreading model based on the pseudoinverse Laplacian of the underlying network graph.@en

In order to understand the emergence of superconductivity it is useful to study the reverse process and identify the various pathways that lead to its destruction. One way is to increase the amount of disorder, as this leads to an increase in Coulomb repulsion that overpowers the attractive interaction responsible for Cooper pair formation. A second pathway—applicable to uniformly disordered materials—is to utilize the competition between superconductivity and Anderson localization, as this leads to electronic granularity in which phase and amplitude fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter play a role. Finally, a third pathway is to construct an array of superconducting islands coupled by some form of proximity effect that leads from a superconducting state to a state with finite resistivity, which appears like a metallic groundstate. This Review Article summarizes recent progress in understanding of these different pathways, including experiments in low dimensional materials and application in superconducting quantum devices.

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Terahertz spectrometers with a wide instantaneous frequency coverage for passive remote sensing are enormously attractive for many terahertz applications, such as astronomy, atmospheric science, and security. Here we demonstrate a wide-band terahertz spectrometer based on a single superconducting chip. The chip consists of an antenna coupled to a transmission line filterbank, with a microwave kinetic inductance detector behind each filter. Using frequency division multiplexing, all detectors are read-out simultaneously, creating a wide-band spectrometer with an instantaneous bandwidth of 45 GHz centered around 350 GHz. The spectrometer has a spectral resolution of F/ΔF =380 and reaches photon-noise limited sensitivity. We discuss the chip design and fabrication, as well as the system integration and testing. We confirm full system operation by the detection of an emission line spectrum of methanol gas. The proposed concept allows for spectroscopic radiation detection over large bandwidths and resolutions up to F/ΔF ∼ 1000, all using a chip area of a few cm². This will allow the construction of medium resolution imaging spectrometers with unprecedented speed and sensitivity.

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We study, theoretically, the single-photon response of a strongly disordered thin superconducting strip in the flux flow state. We find that this resistive state, at a current I larger than the critical current Ic, jumps to the normal state by the absorption of a single optical photon. The absorbed photon creates a beltlike region with suppressed superconductivity and fast moving Josephson-like vortices across the strip. The formed Josephson-like link is not stable in such a superconductor and evolves into a normal domain which expands along the length of the superconducting strip, leading to the transition to the normal state.

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We have realized a microstrip based terahertz (THz) near field cantilever that enables quantitative measurements of the impedance of the probe tip at THz frequencies (0.3 THz). A key feature is the on-chip balanced hybrid coupler that serves as an interferometer for passive signal cancellation to increase the readout circuit sensitivity despite extreme impedance mismatch at the tip. We observe distinct changes in the reflection coefficient of the tip when brought into contact with different dielectric (Si, SrTiO₃) and metallic samples (Au). By comparing finite element simulations, we determine the sensitivity of our THz probe to be well below 0.25 fF. The cantilever further allows for topography imaging in a conventional atomic force microscope mode. Our THz cantilever removes several critical technology challenges and thus enables a shielded cantilever based THz near field microscope.

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Ultra-wideband, three-dimensional (3D) imaging spectrometry in the millimeter–submillimeter (mm–submm) band is an essential tool for uncovering the dust-enshrouded portion of the cosmic history of star formation and galaxy evolution^1–3. However, it is challenging to scale up conventional coherent heterodyne receivers⁴ or free-space diffraction techniques⁵ to sufficient bandwidths (≥1 octave) and numbers of spatial pixels^2,3 (>10²). Here, we present the design and astronomical spectra of an intrinsically scalable, integrated superconducting spectrometer⁶, which covers 332–377 GHz with a spectral resolution of F/ΔF ~ 380. It combines the multiplexing advantage of microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs)⁷ with planar superconducting filters for dispersing the signal in a single, small superconducting integrated circuit. We demonstrate the two key applications for an instrument of this type: as an efficient redshift machine and as a fast multi-line spectral mapper of extended areas. The line detection sensitivity is in excellent agreement with the instrument design and laboratory performance, reaching the atmospheric foreground photon noise limit on-sky. The design can be scaled to bandwidths in excess of an octave, spectral resolution up to a few thousand and frequencies up to ~1.1 THz. The miniature chip footprint of a few cm² allows for compact multi-pixel spectral imagers, which would enable spectroscopic direct imaging and large-volume spectroscopic surveys that are several orders of magnitude faster than what is currently possible^1–3.

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One of the hallmark experiments of quantum transport is the observation of the quantized resistance in a point contact in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. Being formed with split gate technology, these structures represent in an ideal manner equilibrium reservoirs which are connected only through a few electron mode channel. It has been a long standing goal to achieve similar experimental conditions also in superconductors. Here we demonstrate the formation of a superconducting quantum point contact (SQPC) with split gate technology in a two-dimensional superconductor, utilizing the unique gate tunability of the superfluid at the LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃ interface. When the constriction is tuned through the action of metallic split gates we identify three regimes of transport: First, SQPC for which the supercurrent is carried only by a few quantum transport channels. Second, superconducting island strongly coupled to the equilibrium reservoirs. Third, charge island with a discrete spectrum weakly coupled to the reservoirs.

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We report development and microwave characterization of rf SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) qubits, consisting of an aluminium-based Josephson junction embedded in a superconducting loop patterned from a thin film of TiN with high kinetic inductance. Here we demonstrate that the systems can offer small physical size, high anharmonicity, and small scatter of device parameters. The work constitutes a non-tunable prototype realization of an rf SQUID qubit built on the kinetic inductance of a superconducting nanowire, proposed in Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 027002 (2010). The hybrid devices can be utilized as tools to shed further light onto the origin of film dissipation and decoherence in phase-slip nanowire qubits, patterned entirely from disordered superconducting films.

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We demonstrate experimentally that single-photon detection can be achieved in micrometer-wide NbN bridges, with widths ranging from 0.53 to 5.15 μm and for photon wavelengths of 408 to 1550 nm. The microbridges are biased with a dc current close to the experimental critical current, which is estimated to be about 50% of the theoretically expected depairing current. These results offer an alternative to the standard superconducting single-photon detectors, based on nanometer-scale nanowires implemented in a long meandering structure. The results are consistent with improved theoretical modeling based on the theory of nonequilibrium superconductivity, including the vortex-assisted mechanism of initial dissipation.

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A directional superconducting parametric amplifier in the GHz frequency range is designed and analyzed, suitable for low-power read-out of microwave kinetic inductance detectors employed in astrophysics and when combined with a nonreciprocal device at its input also for circuit quantum electrodynamics. It consists of a one-wavelength-long nondegenerate Josephson parametric reflection amplifier circuit. The device has two Josephson-junction oscillators, connected via a tailored impedance to an on-chip passive circuit which directs the in- to the output port. The amplifier provides a gain of 20 dB over a bandwidth of 220 MHz on the signal as well as on the idler portion of the amplified input and the total photon shot noise referred to the input corresponds to maximally approximately 1.3 photons per second per Hertz of bandwidth. We predict a factor of 4 increase in dynamic range compared to conventional Josephson parametric amplifiers.

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