Resonant escape in Josephson tunnel junctions under millimeter-wave irradiation

TL;DR

This study investigates how millimeter-wave radiation influences the switching behavior of Josephson junctions, revealing resonant escape phenomena that could enable higher-temperature operation of superconducting qubits at frequencies above 100 GHz.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of resonant escape in Josephson junctions under millimeter-wave irradiation and models the effect with a strong-driving framework, suggesting potential for higher-frequency qubit operation.

Findings

Double-peak switching current distributions observed at >100 GHz.

Resonant escape explained by strong-driving model with barrier suppression.

Indicates feasibility of phase qubits operating around 100 GHz.

Abstract

The microwave-driven dynamics of the superconducting phase difference across a Josephson junction is now widely employed in superconducting qubits and quantum circuits. With the typical energy level separation frequency of several GHz, cooling these quantum devices to the ground state requires temperatures below 100 mK. Pushing the operation frequency of superconducting qubits up may allow for operation of superconducting qubits at 1 K and even higher temperatures. Here we present measurements of the switching currents of niobium/aluminum-aluminum oxide/niobium Josephson junctions in the presence of millimeter-wave radiation at frequencies above 100 GHz. The observed switching current distributions display clear double-peak structures, which result from the resonant escape of the Josephson phase from a stationary state. We show that the data can be well explained by the strong-driving model including the irradiation-induced suppression of the potential barrier. While still being measured in the quasi-classical regime, our results point towards a feasibility of operating phase qubits around 100 GHz.