Low-loss tunable metamaterials using superconducting circuits with Josephson junctions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates low-loss, tunable superconducting metamaterials using rf-SQUIDs with Josephson junctions, enabling adjustable resonance frequencies via external magnetic fields, with experimental validation.

Contribution

It introduces superconducting metamaterials with Josephson junctions as tunable LC-resonators, advancing the control of resonance frequencies in such structures.

Findings

Resonance frequency can be tuned by external magnetic field.

Superconducting metamaterials exhibit low loss.

Experimental results confirm tunability of rf-SQUIDs.

Abstract

We report on experiments with superconducting metamaterials containing Josephson junctions. In these structures, split-ring resonators used in conventional metamaterials are replaced by superconducting loops that are interrupted by Josephson junctions, so called rf-SQUIDs. Like the split-ring resonators, these elements can be seen as LC-resonators that couple to the magnetic field. The advantage of superconducting thin-film metamaterials is that, due to the tunable intrinsic inductance of the Josephson junction, the resonance frequency of the rf-SQUID can be changed by applying an external dc magnetic field. We present experimental results that demonstrate the tunability of the resonance frequency of these devices.