Broadband parametric amplification with impedance engineering: Beyond the gain-bandwidth product

TL;DR

This paper introduces an impedance-engineered Josephson parametric amplifier that surpasses traditional gain-bandwidth limits, achieving a broad, flat gain profile with high bandwidth and near quantum-limited noise performance.

Contribution

The work demonstrates a novel impedance engineering technique using a $a9/2$ transformer to significantly enhance bandwidth beyond the gain-bandwidth product in Josephson parametric amplifiers.

Findings

Achieved 20 dB gain over 640 MHz bandwidth.

Demonstrated near quantum-limited noise performance.

Validated theoretical predictions with experimental results.

Abstract

We present an impedance engineered Josephson parametric amplifier capable of providing bandwidth beyond the traditional gain-bandwidth product. We achieve this by introducing a positive linear slope in the imaginary component of the input impedance seen by the Josephson oscillator using a $\lambda/2$ transformer. Our theoretical model predicts an extremely flat gain profile with a bandwidth enhancement proportional to the square root of amplitude gain. We experimentally demonstrate a nearly flat 20 dB gain over a 640 MHz band, along with a mean 1-dB compression point of -110 dBm and near quantum-limited noise. The results are in good agreement with our theoretical model.