A general flux-Based Circuit Theory for Superconducting Josephson Junction Circuits

TL;DR

This paper introduces a flux-based circuit theory for superconducting Josephson junction circuits, enabling unified analysis of flux dynamics in these quantum devices, which complements traditional charge-based methods.

Contribution

It proposes a novel flux-based circuit framework with a magnetic-flux-generator concept, unifying Josephson and normal RLC circuits for better analysis and design.

Findings

Developed a general network equation for Josephson circuits

Created a magnetic-flux flow diagram to illustrate flux dynamics

Demonstrated the theory's complementarity to conventional methods

Abstract

Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), single flux-quantum (SFQ) logic circuits, and quantum Josephson junction circuits have been developed into a family of superconductor integrated circuit, and are widely applied for subtle magnetic-field measurements, energy-efficient computing, and quantum computing, respectively. They are Josephson junction networks composed of Josephson junctions and normal resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) components, working with the fluxoid-quantization principle and Josephson effects to achieve unique flux-modulated dynamics and characteristics; they react to the vector potential of magnetic fields rather than the electric potential. However, the conventional circuit diagrams and nodal analysis methods focus on the electric charges flowing though branches and nodes, ignoring dynamics of the magnetic fluxes flowing from loop to loop. This article introduces a general flux-based circuit theory to unify the analyses of Josephson junction circuits and normal RLC circuits. This theory presents a magnetic-flux-generator (MFG) concept to unify Josephson junctions and normal circuit elements, and abstract both Josephson junction circuits and normal RLC circuits as MFG network; it derives a general network equation to describe dynamics of Josephson junction circuits, and invents a kind of magnetic-flux flow (MFF) diagram to depict the working principles of magnetic-flux flows inside Josephson junction circuits. The flux-based theory is complementary to the conventional circuit theories in the design and analysis of superconductor integrated circuits.