EP1561277A1

EP1561277A1 - Device for reducing phase noise

Info

Publication number: EP1561277A1
Application number: EP03778343A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Denis-Gérard; c/o THALES Intellectual Pty. CRETE
Original assignee: Thales SA
Current assignee: Thales SA
Priority date: 2002-11-12
Filing date: 2003-11-07
Publication date: 2005-08-10
Also published as: US20060049891A1; JP2006506010A; FR2847078A1; FR2847078B1; WO2004045063A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for reducing the phase noise of a signal (Sin) emitted by a quasi-periodic source having a basic frequency f0. Said device is provided with a superconducting circuit comprising an active line for transmitting voltage pulses by transferring flux quanta F0. Said circuit is defined so as to be provided with a characteristic frequency fc such that 0.3 fc is smaller than or equal to the basic frequency f0 of the quasi-periodic signal (Sin) applied at the input while supplying a voltage pulse signal having the basic frequency f0 at the output.

Description

PHASE NOISE REDUCTION DEVICE

The present invention relates to a device for reducing phase noise in a signal from a quasi-periodic source.

It applies more particularly to logic circuits with superconductors, in particular to logic circuits in RSFQ technology (English acronym for Rapid Single Flux Quantum).

In general, logic systems use at least one clock signal for the sequencing and synchronization functions. Clock signals are usually generated by oscillators. These quasi-periodic signals are not perfectly pure, despite the integration of resonant filters in the oscillators. If we take the representation of the spectral density of a quasi-periodic signal generated by an oscillator, we thus observe a floor noise: it is the white noise of the spectrum, corresponding to a short-term phase noise of the quasi signal -periodic. The phase locked circuits usually used in digital systems (computers or other) do not make it possible to reduce this phase noise in the short term: their action has a stabilizing effect in the long term, to prevent frequency drifts.

In the following, phase noise means the noise corresponding to the noise floor or white noise of the signal frequency spectrum. An object of the invention is a device for reducing this phase noise. Such a device is particularly interesting in the field of fast digital electronics. It makes it possible in particular to reduce the jitter of the clock signal, which is particularly troublesome in high and very high frequency digital circuits. In fast digital electronic systems, a logical family has developed, using superconducting circuits. It is the logical family RSFQ (English acronym of "Rapid Single Flux Quantum"), based on the use of the quantification of the magnetic flux, and the quantum transfer of flux φ0 individualized. In this approach, the logical processing of information amounts to manipulating voltage pulses resulting from the passage of flux quanta in current loops. A basic elements of this superconducting logic family is the shunted Josephson junction, which allows the transfer or maintenance of an individualized quantum of flux, the passage of a quantum of flux in the junction resulting in the appearance of 'a voltage pulse across its terminals such that jVdt = h / 2e = φ0 = 2.07 10 ^"15 webers (h, Planc constant). With current technologies, the voltage pulse has an amplitude of the order of 2 millivolts on 1 picosecond.

Each junction is defined by a critical current le and a normal resistance Rn, depending on its geometry and the technology used. The propagation / transfer function is ensured by a bias current control of the appropriate junction, which makes it possible to increase or weaken the current passing through the junction, thus allowing the maintenance in the loop or the transfer of the quantum of flux to across the junction, in the next loop. RSFQ logic has resulted in many logic circuits such as analog / digital converters, random access memories, signal processing processors calculating fast Fourier transforms, which can operate at very high frequencies. The upper operating limit of RSFQ logic elements is given by their critical frequency, depending on their geometry and the technology used (tri-layer, planar ...). This characteristic frequency is given by the following equation: fc = lcRn / φ0 where le is the critical current of the junction, Rn, the normal resistance and φ0, the flux quantum, equal to 2.07 10 ^"15 webers. find an interesting summary of applications of RSFQ logic in the article by Konstantin K. Likharev "Progress and prospects of superconducting electronics", (Superconducting Science Technology, 3 - 1990 - pages 325-337).

Another active element of RSFQ logic is the Josephson transmission line. A Josephson transmission line is a line comprising Josephson junctions shunted in parallel, coupled together by superconductive inductors. Such a line allows the propagation of individualized flow quanta (Single Flux Quantum), and therefore serves as a medium for transporting logical information. A very short voltage pulse, of the order of 2 millivolts on 1 picosecond, which is applied at the input of such a line, propagates along this line by propagation of a quantum of flux φ0, also called fluxon at through permanent current loops. At the output, this voltage pulse is recovered. These Josephson transmission lines allow the transmission of logical pulses without distortion.

If two pulses are applied successively at the input, two fluxons are generated in the line and propagate along this line. These two fluxons are separated in the line by a distance representative of the time interval separating the two pulses applied at the input.

However, due to a repulsive interaction between the generated fluxons, if the distance d between the two fluxons is short enough for this repulsive interaction to have a significant force, a spatial redistribution takes place in the line, which results in output by a time interval separating the two pulses different from that observed at the input of the line. In other words, in the line, one impulse was accelerated and the other slowed down. This phenomenon is well explained in an article entitled "Fluxon interaction in an overdamped Josephson Transmission line" by VK Kaplunenko, (Applied Physic Letters 66 (24) 12 June 1995) with a digital illustration of this phenomenon observed experimentally on a Josephson transmission line. comprising 200 shunted Josephson junctions, coupled in parallel by a superconductive inductor and of characteristic frequency fc = 104 Ghz. Two voltage pulses are applied at the input of this line at 9.6 ps (picoseconds) apart, corresponding to fc ^'1 . Along the line, the time interval between the two propagating fluxons increases. At the output, two voltage pulses are obtained at 27 ps intervals. Due to the repulsion between the fluxes, one pulse was slowed down, the other accelerated, causing an increase in the time interval separating the two pulses. This phenomenon of modification is observed in practice only for a distance between the fluxons corresponding to a time interval less than a delay in saturation of the junction, evaluated at 3fc ^" \ ie of the order of 28.8 ps in l example: If the distance between the fluxons is too great, the constraint is not strong enough. The fluxons generated must therefore be sufficiently close, so that the constraint is strong. In the example, if two pulses are injected into the line at 30 picoseconds apart, this interval is unchanged at the output of the line.

A sequence of bits representing logical data can thus be modified in the Josephson transmission line, under the effect of the repulsive interaction between the fluxons, which is equivalent to a loss of logical information. In a logical system, this loss of information can have serious repercussions: gross loss of information, desynchronization (phase comparator) ... To avoid this interaction problem, the author of the article recommends dimensioning the line so that the temporal separation between two fluxons generated in the line is not less than 3fc ^"1 , or in the example, at 28.8 ps (saturation value). A suitable dimensioning is obtained in particular by playing on the critical current , the normal resistance and the value of the inductances in the definition of the circuit. We can then reduce in operational the effects of the interactions by playing on the bias current of the Josephson junctions.

In the invention, we are interested in this repulsive interaction effect between the fluxons in order to obtain an advantageous technical effect thereof, on the filtration of the white noise of a signal coming from a quasi-periodic source. The idea underlying the invention is to use this effect on a series of pulses of a clock signal from any quasi-periodic source, of fundamental frequency fO, to lower the level of white noise of this signal, compared to the level of the fundamental. Indeed, if we take the case of a clock signal of the voltage pulse type, the white noise level results in a temporal dispersion of the signal pulses, and consequently, in a dispersion of the spatial distance between the fluxons generated in the superconductive transmission line.

The interaction effect over the entire length of the line results in a redistribution of the fluxons in the confined space of the line, due to the statistical behavior of large numbers, around a smoothed value, corresponding to a mean value of the inter-flux distance. This spatial redistribution of fluxons has the direct effect of a temporal redistribution of the output pulses.

We have seen that the white noise of the quasi-periodic signal is reflected on the signal by a temporal dispersion of the pulses, and in the line of superconductive transmission, by a dispersion of the spatial distance between two successive fluxons.

Due to the periodic nature of the input signal, the fluxons are organized in the line according to a periodic network. In the Josephson transmission line, it is a one-dimensional periodic network, according to the direction of propagation of the flow quanta. After a certain number of pulses, which correspond to a transient delay, a redistribution of this network is established, with an inter-fluxon distance smoothed around an average value. Thus the phenomenon of repulsive interaction between the fluxons associated with the statistics of large numbers, leads to a homogeneous redistribution of the fluxons in the network, which results in output of the line by a reduction in the level of white noise of the signal almost periodic.

In general, according to the invention, by taking any physical system capable of generating particles having repulsive interactions between them for a distance between particles less than a saturation value of the system (characteristic frequency), such as electrons (quantonic circuits) flow quanta, vortexes, phase noise can be reduced by reorganizing the particle network in the physical system.

As characterized, the invention therefore relates to a device for reducing the phase noise of a signal from a quasi-periodic source of fundamental frequency fO. According to the invention, this device comprises a physical system of transmission of pulses by transfer of particles, said system being defined to have a characteristic frequency fc defining a range of operating frequency of the device with a low limit linked to said characteristic frequency, such that for the quasi-periodic signal applied at the input, said particles have a repulsive interaction between them, said system providing at output pulses at the fundamental frequency f0.

The invention also relates to a device for reducing the phase noise of a signal from a quasi-periodic source of fundamental frequency fO. According to the invention, it comprises a superconducting circuit with active line for transmitting voltage pulses by transfer of flux quanta φ0, said circuit being defined to have a characteristic frequency fc such that 0.3fc≤f0 where fO is the fundamental frequency of the quasi-periodic signal (Se) applied as input, and providing as output a pulse signal of voltage of fundamental frequency fO.

Phase noise reduction can be improved by defining a superconducting circuit with an active line for transmitting voltage pulses such as the flux quanta generated in the circuit under the effect of the application of the quasi-periodic signal s' organize according to a two-dimensional periodic network. Thus, the interactions between the quanta of flux operate between nearest neighbors according to the two dimensions of the network. The invention applies not only to the quanta of fluxes generated in a Josephson transmission line, but more generally to any superconducting circuit with active line for transmitting voltage pulses. In particular, it also applies to vortex flow transmission lines: Josephson long junction transmission line, Josephson vortex flow, slotted or microbridge line, Abrikosov vortex flow.

The phase reduction device can also be advantageously used in a frequency multiplier circuit.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given by way of non-limiting illustration of the invention and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 already described illustrates the spectral density A (Sin) of a signal from a quasi-periodic source; - Figure 2 shows an electrical diagram of a phase reduction device according to the invention based on a Josephson transmission line comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions;

- Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of such a line, using a technology of junctions on bi-crystal; FIG. 4a schematically represents a periodic network of fluxons generated by a pulse clock signal in the Josephson transmission line and

- Figures 4b and 4c illustrate the phenomenon of temporal redistribution of the voltage pulses in such a line; FIG. 5a represents another embodiment of a phase reduction device comprising two Josephson transmission lines arranged in parallel in the same surface plane and

FIG. 5b is an illustration of the periodic network of corresponding fluxons,

FIGS. 6a and 6b schematically illustrate two variants of the use of two Josephson transmission lines in parallel in a phase reduction device, in order to improve the efficiency of the correction,

FIG. 6c is a variant of the preceding figures with n = 3 Josephson transmission lines in parallel, with an illustration of the corresponding periodic network of fluxons,

FIG. 7 shows an example of the use of a device for reducing phase noise in a frequency doubling circuit,

FIGS. 8a and 8b represent another exemplary embodiment of a phase reduction device with a Josephson transmission line in a junction technology on a ramp,

- Figures 9a and 9b show two embodiments of a phase noise reduction device, with Josephson long junction transmission line, - Figures 10a and 10b show a phase noise reduction device with slotted line or microbridge, with vortex flow,

- Figure 11 is an illustration of the periodic network of vortices generated in such a line

Figure 1 shows the spectral density A (Sιn) of a Sin signal from a quasi-periodic source and applied as a clock signal in a logic system. In the invention, it is sought to reduce the phase noise to N2 / N1 signal ratio by at least a factor of 10, which is of the order of - 115 to -120 dBc for signals from conventional quasi-periodic sources. (oscillators) Such a reduction is particularly advantageous in the field of very high frequency electronics and in particular in systems based on RSFQ logic circuits, with high critical temperature superconductor, in which the thermal noise is low. fully of a signal whose short-term noise has been significantly reduced FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a phase noise reduction device according to the invention, comprising a superconductive circuit with voltage pulse transmission line, at the input of which the signal Sin to be processed is applied and which outputs a signal Sout, from which the phase noise has been reduced.

In this example, the transmission line is a Josephson transmission line, comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions JJi, JJ ₂ , ... JJ ₂ oo, represented according to their simplified electrical diagram. Josephson junctions are shunted, mounted in parallel, and coupled to each other by superconducting inductors Ls _{1 (} Ls ₂ , Ls ₃ , ... Ls _200. A superconductive inductance Ls ₀ is also provided at the input, between a signal electrode entrance A and the first junction Josephson JJ-.

The input signal is applied to the terminals of the line, between two input signal electrodes A and M. The output signal Sout is obtained at the line output, between two output signal electrodes, B and M '. The electrodes M and M 'are the ground electrodes of the line. The junctions are polarized in current Ip, lower than the critical current le of the junctions, so that a loop Bc of permanent current is established in each cell closed by a junction. The application of a pulse at the input of such a line increases the current of the junction above the critical current. The Josephson effect occurs: a quantum of flux crosses the current loop; a corresponding voltage pulse appears across the junction. The voltage pulse thus propagates in the line, without deformation. If a pulse train of a clock signal is applied, a corresponding train is recovered at the output. According to the invention, the characteristics of the line are chosen to obtain a determined characteristic frequency fc. This characteristic frequency fc defines a range of operating frequency of the device with a low limit linked to this characteristic frequency: For a quasi-periodic signal applied as an input whose fundamental frequency is included in the operating range thus defined, an interaction is obtained effective repellant, which reduces the white noise floor of this signal. More particularly, the characteristics of the line are chosen to obtain a characteristic frequency fc which checks 0.3fc≤f0. 0.3fc is the lower limit of the operating range of this device.

Thus, on average, the inter-flux distance is less than the line saturation value. The phenomenon of repulsive interaction between the flux quanta (fluxons) causes a spatial redistribution of the flux quanta (fluxons) along the line, around an inter-fluxon average value, by smoothing around an average value, corresponding to the average value of the time interval between two pulses. At the output, the signal has a considerably reduced standard deviation of the time intervals between the pulses. In this way, the short-term noise or phase noise of the input signal is reduced.

The characteristics of a Josephson transmission line are mainly the values of the inductances, a function of the line length and of the technology, in particular the mutual inductance Lm and of the characteristics of the junctions; critical current le, normal resistance Rn. In order not to complicate the drawing in FIG. 2 too much, these well-known characteristics of Josephson junctions are only shown for the first JJ * junction. In FIG. 3, a practical example of a phase reduction device according to the invention is given with a superconducting circuit of the Josephson transmission line type comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions, in a planar thin film technology d '' a high critical temperature superconductor (we will use the French acronym of this term, HTC), on a bi-crystal substrate.

Two substrates 1 and 2, typically SrTi0 ₃ substrates, or else MgO, or YSZ substrates, whose crystal axes have an angular deviation in the surface plane, are welded. A superconductive film 3, typically a film of a material of the form YBa ₂ Cu ₃ O _n , 6 <n <7, is deposited (epitaxied) on the surface plane of the bi-crystal, straddling the weld line of the bi-crystal substrate, so that a grain 4 joint develops along the weld, under the superconductive film, equivalent to an electrical barrier. The film is then engraved according to a scale pattern, each bar of the scale corresponding to a Josephson junction. In the example, the width w of a bar is of the order of 5 micrometers, the length I of a bar is of the order of 20 micrometers and the space h between two bars is of the same order (20 The film has a width of a few micrometers, for a thickness of a few tenths of a micron, (0.3 μm for example) The substrate has a thickness of a few hundred micrometers, typically 300 to 1000 μm

A current source not shown provides a bias current at each of the Josephson junctions, typically of the order of 100 microamps for the technology taken as an example. In the example, this bias current is applied between two polarization electrodes C and C in current formed on a portion 3 'of the superconductive film 3, shaped (etched) so as to distribute this current along the line, by means of branches of current supply provided in pairs bi, bT, bioo, bιoo \ arranged on either side of the ladder forming the series of junctions In the example, a current supply branch b- and its complementary branch bT on the ground line side polarize the two junctions JJ- and JJ _{2 by current} located on either side of these branches For a line comprising two hundred Josephson junctions, the current source is dimensioned to provide a bias current of the order of a few tens of milliamps, for example mple 20 mA, distributed along the line

The input and output signal electrodes A, M, B, M ', typically made of copper or gold, are formed at each end of the film, and on either side of the grain seal 4

For example, a Josephson transmission line is defined comprising two hundred junctions, approximately 2 millimeters long, with a critical current le of junction of 125 microamps and a normal resistance Rn of 2 ohms defining a characteristic frequency fc fc≈ lcRn / φ0 = 125 10 ⁶ x 2 / 2.07 10 ^{~ 15} webers = 116 gigaHertzs, in superconductive film technology (Niobium) (thin films 0.1 μm) at high critical temperature under 30 Kelvin, with a bias current of 100 microamperes ( <le) for each junction If we apply at the input of this line, a clock signal of fundamental frequency fO> fc / 3 of the order of 50 to 100 gigolettes and having very offset pulses over time (short-term noise), a Sout signal can be provided at output, the white noise to signal ratio being reduced by a factor of 10, i.e. of the order of -130, -140 dBc (instead of - 115, -120 dBc at the input).

FIG. 4a schematically represents the network structure of the fluxons generated in such a line, under the effect of a pulse voltage signal applied at the Sin input.

If the line is represented as a channel 5, the voltage pulses of the signal Sin are injected at one end of this channel, at a clock frequency f0. Fluxes flxi, flx ₂ , ... flx _m are generated in channel 5, which are spatially organized according to a one-dimensional network corresponding to the direction of propagation of the fluxons in the line.

Because a transmission line is used, that is to say a line comprising a large number of junctions so that the statistics of large numbers apply (as opposed to a superconductive logic circuit of the type comprising only a small number of junctions (such as a shift register), a spatial redistribution effect occurs by smoothing the inter-fluxon distance around an average value dO, which corresponds to an average value of the time interval between two pulses of the input signal. In other words, the standard deviation of the values of the time intervals between the pulses in the output signal is reduced. More precisely, and in relation to FIG. 4b, the phase noise of the signal Sin applied at the input is reflected in this signal by a dispersed time distribution. The fluxons generated under the effect of this signal are also spatially dispersed in the line, as shown schematically in Figure 4b. As we have chosen the characteristics of the line (f _c ) so that the distance between the fluxons generated by the input signal Sin is on average less than the saturation value of the line, there is repulsive interaction between the fluxons more close neighbors. In the figure, these repulsions are indicated by arrows. In the example shown in this figure, it is assumed that the saturation value corresponds to a time difference of 22 picoseconds. Thus, as soon as the inter-fluxon distance corresponds to a time difference less than this value, mutual repulsion produces its effects (flx flx ₂ , flx ₂ -flx ₃ , flx ₄ -flx5). If this distance is greater, there are no effects (flx ₃ -flx ₄ ). After a transient phase corresponding in practice to twenty pulses, there is an effect of spatial redistribution of the fluxons in the line around a smoothed value of the inter fluxon distance. In the example shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4c, this smoothed value corresponds to a time difference between two pulses of the output signal Sout equal to 20 picoseconds. The output signal thus has its voltage pulses which are distributed more homogeneously, corresponding to a reduction in the level of phase noise, compared to the signal level at the fundamental frequency f0. In practice, with a transmission line such as that shown in Figure 3, we have observed a reduction of a factor of 10 in the N2 / N1 ratio (Figure 1).

The spatial separation, therefore the interactions, depends on the ratio of the speed of propagation of the fluxons to the frequency of the signal. We can play on the speed of the fluxons by modifying the polarization current. It is therefore possible to adjust the bias current as a function of the frequency of the input signal if necessary.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate an alternative embodiment of a phase reduction device with a superconducting circuit with a Josephson transmission line. In this variant, the superconducting circuit comprises two Josephson transmission lines. A substrate 1 and a substrate 1 'are then welded on either side of a substrate 2, to form the tri-crystal substrate. A superconductive film is deposited on zones 3a and 3b, one above each weld, so as to develop a respective grain joint, 4a, 4b. In these figures, the branches of current supplies distributed along the line are wires, typically made of copper, corresponding contact pads 6 being provided on the films.

Such an embodiment makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the spatial redistribution in the lines, by adding another dimension to the phenomena of interaction between the fluxons. By placing the films on zones 3a and 3b spaced from each other by an interval such that the distance between a fluxon in one film and a fluxon in the other film is less than the saturation value, it is observed the same interaction phenomenon: in other words, for a superconducting circuit with two Josephson transmission lines, the fluxons generated in the circuit are organized according to a two-dimensional periodic network. Typically, for numerical examples of values line and frequency characteristics fO given above, an interval of a few microns must be provided.

For this effect to be effective, it is necessary to favor a stable configuration (in staggered rows) of the two-dimensional periodic network of fluxons brought back to the superconductive circuit, typically on a triangular base. Otherwise, the repulsion can have a random effect depending on the direction of propagation x of the line or the opposite direction. We are then in an unstable situation. If we refer to FIG. 5a where the two films forming the Josephson transmission lines are perfectly aligned in x and y, the desired network is obtained by dephasing by π the signal applied at the input of the second line. A two-dimensional periodic network with a triangular base is obtained as illustrated in FIG. 5b. The flux flx of a line then undergoes the interactions due to four fluxes: two fluxons flx- and flx ₂ on either side of this fluxon flx, on the same line, and two fluxons flx ₃ and flx on the other line, located on both sides the bisector 7 of this line passing through the fluxon flx.

The phase shift of π can be applied in different ways, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b:

In FIG. 6a, the phase shift of π is applied to the input signal Sin. It is then preferably provided that the signal from the quasi-periodic source 100 is applied to a circuit 101 to be duplicated at the output. An exemplary embodiment in RSFQ logic of this splitter circuit 101 is detailed in the figure, by way of a practical example. It provides two phase output signals. In Figure 6b, the phase shift of π is applied to the output signal

Supported from the first line, and injected into the second line. In this case the fluxons at the beginning of the first line benefit from the spatial redistribution already obtained at the output of this first line: there is a positive retroactive effect. An interconnection line 102 is then provided to bring the output signal of the first line to the input of the phase shifter of the second line. This line is typically produced using a technology of the coplanar, strip, microstrip type and with materials compatible with the technology of the Josephson transmission lines used, or may also be a Josephson transmission line. The two Josephson transmission lines may not be precisely aligned on the substrate, the interconnection line 102 can also introduce a delay such that the output signals Sout * and Sou ₂ are not perfectly out of phase with π. In this case the interactions between the lines may not be optimal. Advantageously, provision is made to be able to locally modify the bias current ip of one or more junctions, to locally adapt the speed of propagation of the fluxons. This correction is easily implemented due to the distribution of the current along the line, by branches (Figure 3) or wires (Figure 5a) of current leads. Thus, it is expected that the bias current ip of the junctions is preferably variable, adjustable by junction or groups of junctions.

It is also possible to provide more than two transmission lines in parallel in the surface plane of the substrate. In FIG. 6c, an example of a circuit with three Josephson transmission lines has been illustrated. To obtain a positive interaction effect between the lines, which favors the displacement of the fluxons in the direction of propagation x of the lines, a central line L is provided, receiving the input signal Sin as an input, and two lines Li ₂ and Li ₃ on both sides, receiving as input a phase shifted signal by π, which can be the input signal Sin as shown (case of FIG. 6a) or the output signal Souti of the first line (case of the Figure 6b). We always have an organization of fluxons according to a two-dimensional periodic network, but the number of lines in this network is increased. In this way, the fluxons of the central line L, are subjected to the interactions of their own line and to the interactions due to the other two lines, that is to say for each fluxon, up to six interactions due to the six nearest nearest fluxons, two by line.

By increasing the number of lines in parallel, we increase the number of interactions. In the three-line example (FIG. 6c), the central line L benefits from the interactions due to the two lines Li ₂ and Li ₃ located on either side, but the lines Li ₂ and Li ₃ each benefit only from the interactions due to the Lii line.

The choice of a larger number of lines will depend on the size of the device that the application can accept. Note that in the case of n parallel lines, each line can then be 045063

15

expected to be shorter, ie with fewer junctions, due to the retroactive effect of redistribution combined with the additional dimension of interactions in the two-dimensional network thus formed. The dimensions are evaluated so that the statistics of large numbers can be applied, to produce the smoothing effect of the desired interfluxon distance.

In general, in the case of n lines in parallel, the input signal is applied alternately on one line, on the following the phase-shifted input signal (by means of a phase-shifting circuit - FIG. 6a). For example, even rank lines receive the input signal (Se) and odd rank lines receive the phase shifted input signal. The device output signal is output from one of the lines.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the use of a phase noise reduction device in a frequency doubling circuit. In the example, the circuit comprises two lines in parallel, the first receiving the input signal Sj _n and the other the phase-shifted input signal. The first line outputs the Souti signal. The other line outputs the signal Sout ₂ .

The two lines are arranged so that the fluxons in the lines interact with each other, reducing phase noise in the short term. The two signals at output Souti and Sout ₂ thus obtained at output are applied as inputs to a logic circuit RSFQ of confluence (combiner), which provides at output a signal S- _2f o) of double frequency of the input signal Sin, with low phase noise.

Thus, a phase noise reduction device according to the invention can be advantageously used in a frequency doubling circuit, and more generally in a frequency multiplier circuit, by cascading circuits of this type, while maintaining a floor extremely low phase noise.

FIG. 8a represents another exemplary embodiment of a Josephson transmission line, which can be used in all the variant embodiments of a phase reduction device according to the invention which have just been described. Figure 8b can be used in a single line or multiple line structure, but then stacked vertically. In these two figures 8a and 8b, these are lines in ramp junction technology, which is a multilayer SNS technology, acronym for Superconductor-Normal Material or Insulator-Superconductor. The normal or insulating material is, for example, non-superconductive PrBaCuO, a material with a structure similar to YBaCuO, compatible with the mesh characteristics of the superconductor. A comb shape comprises a first superconductive film 9 (thin layer) deposited on a heterostructure (8) of normal or insulating material deposited on the superconductive base electrode in gray in the figures, on a substrate. The teeth of the comb have the shape of a decreasing ramp towards the substrate. A thin layer of insulator and a second superconductive film 10 in the form of a comb are deposited on the substrate, the end of the teeth of this comb coming over the end of the teeth of the film 9 as a superconductor of the first comb. The junctions JJ-, JJ ₂ , ... etc, are thus formed in the plane at the place where the layer 8 of normal or insulating material is thinned, between the two films 9 and 10 of superconductor. FIG. 8b is a variant of FIG. 8a in which the second film 10 of superconductor is "folded" over the first film 9, which allows a significant gain in surface area.

FIG. 9a represents another embodiment of a device for reducing phase noise, with a superconductive circuit with a line of transmission of voltage pulses. In this mode, the transmission line is made by a long Josephson junction. Such a junction is typically obtained in a three-layer SIS technology, preferably with a superconductor at low critical temperature: a thin layer 20 of normal (or insulating) material (for example Al ₂ 0 ₃ ), forming a barrier between two layers 21 and 22 of superconductor (for example Niobium). A bias current i lower than the critical current le of the Josephson long junction is applied between the two layers 21 and 22 of the superconductor. The application of pulses at the input of the line generates vortex flows (Josephson vortex) in the layer of normal material which, under the effect of the (continuous) polarization current of the line (Lorentz force), propagates towards the exit. The quantum of flux associated with each vortex is equal to φ0. The same repulsive interaction effects apply to these vortex flows generated under the effect of the clock signal Sin, which are organized in the line according to a one-dimensional periodic network, and which propagate according to the direction of propagation x of the line. In a typical embodiment, such a line will have a length of a hundred nanometers.

Several of these lines can be put in parallel to obtain the same advantageous effects seen previously, by stacking them vertically, which is feasible, but more delicate, as shown in FIG. 9b.

The current is preferably distributed along the line as shown in Figure 9b.

The intensity of the bias current can be adjusted according to the frequency of the input signal. Another embodiment of a phase noise reduction device according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, corresponding to a type II superconducting circuit, with an active line of transmission with vortex flow from Abrikosov. The principle of Abrikosov's vortex flows is succinctly as follows: in the presence of an increasing magnetic field, the superconductor passes into a mixed normal-superconductor state. Currents develop on the surface of the superconductor which tend to screen the magnetic field. The magnetic flux which enters the superconductor is found in the form of field lines grouped on the surface on a disk of a few tens of angstroms of radius. The flux contained in this small zone delimited by shielding currents of the magnetic field which circulate around it is equal to a quantum of flux φ0. These vortex flows are organized according to a periodic network with a triangular base on the surface, as shown in Figure 1 1. By injecting a suitably oriented direct current, this vortex flow network propagates in translation, in a direction orthogonal to the current (Lorentz force).

An advantage of such a transmission line is that the vortex flows are organized "naturally" according to a two-dimensional periodic network with a triangular base. By suitably biasing the device in current, the application of an electromagnetic signal as input generates a vortex flux network, which moves in lines L _v (FIG. 11) according to this network structure. At the output, a receiving device (any suitable load) receives the associated voltage pulses. In addition, if in the superconductive material used, for example NdBa ₂ Cu ₃ 0 ₇ , the male planes are arranged in parallel, this organization becomes natural: the lines L _v correspond to the twin planes. According to the invention, the active superconducting circuit comprises (figures

10a, 10b), a film (thin layer) of type II superconductor 13, such as YBa ₂ Cu ₃ 0 ₇ or NdBa ₂ Cu ₃ 0 ₇ deposited (epitaxied) on a substrate 12, for example, a substrate of SrTi0 ₃ . A slot 14 is made over the entire width of the film, leaving only a microbridge 15 of superconductive film between the two parts 13a and 13b of the film, on either side of the slot. This microbridge has a height less than or equal to the thickness of the film. In the example, this microbridge has a height e of the order of 0.1 micrometer, for a length L of microbridge, in the direction of the slit, less than a hundred micrometers and a width W, which is also the width of the slit, greater than one hundred micrometers.

Two polarization electrodes 16 and 17 in direct current i of a few milliamps are provided at each end of the film. Two input signal electrodes 18 and 19 are provided at one end of the slot, on each part 13a, 13b of the film on either side of the slot, for applying the alternating input signal Sin, such as it periodically imposes a local magnetic field Be greater than the critical field at the input of the microbridge, so as to generate vortices v at the period of this signal. The input signal can be a voltage pulse signal. It is also possible to apply an alternating signal of the sinusoidal type. In practice, the source of the clock signal (not shown) is adapted in impedance, relative to the impedance of the microbridge (a few tens of ohms).

Two output signal electrodes 20 and 21 are provided at the other end of the slot, on each part 13a, 13b of the film on either side of the slot, to collect as output the voltage pulses corresponding to the transmission in line of vortices (figure 11).

In practice, each voltage pulse (or each positive peak voltage of the alternating signal) causes the local magnetic field Be at the input of the microbridge to pass over the critical field of the superconducting film causing the nucleation of a collection of vortexes. Direct current i 045063

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applied orthogonally (Lorentz force) in the appropriate direction induces the circulation of the vortices.

The generation of the vortices is obtained by the modulation of the magnetic field by the clock signal applied at the input. The proper polarization of the circuit induces the propagation of the vortices in the desired direction, towards the Sout output of the device.

To further promote the movement of the vortices in the desired direction, provision can be made to place the device in a weak continuous magnetic field B, for example of the order of twenty milliteslas, oriented properly, so that the vortices are oriented in the same direction. sense, for example by placing a pair of Helmholtz coils on either side of the circuit.

Such a superconductive circuit can advantageously be used in a frequency doubling stage as indicated above, with another similar circuit associated with a phase shifting circuit, in a frequency multiplication device.

Thus, in this embodiment, the transmission line comprises a type II superconductive film in the mixed state, deposited on a crystalline substrate. The film is polarized by current at its ends and comprises a slit in the width direction, except at the place of a microbridge, the slit separating the film into two parts. The quasi-periodic signal is applied to one end of the slit, between the two parts of the film and the output signal is obtained at the other end of the slit, between the two parts of the film.

Advantageously, such a superconducting device is immersed in a continuous magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the surface plane of the slot.

The invention which has just been described thus uses the periodic structure of the network of the flux quantums generated (fluxons, vortex) and the property of repulsive interaction of these flux quantums (comparable to magnetic dipoles) to reduce the noise of phase of a signal from a quasi-periodic source. An advantageous use of this device according to the invention makes it possible to provide a multiple frequency signal without degradation of the phase noise.

The invention applies more particularly in the field of high and very high frequency, in fast electronics systems. In particular, such a device can be used in RSFQ logic circuits.

Claims

1. Device for reducing the phase noise of a signal (Sin) coming from an almost periodic source of fundamental frequency fO, characterized in that it comprises a physical system of transmission of pulses by transfer of particles, said system being defined to have a characteristic frequency fc defining a range of operating frequency of the device with a low limit linked to said characteristic frequency, such that for the quasi-periodic signal (Sin) applied as an input, said particles have a repulsive interaction between them, said system supplying pulses at the fundamental frequency fO at output.

2. A device for reducing the phase noise of a signal (Sin), coming from a quasi-periodic source of fundamental frequency fO according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a superconducting circuit with an active transmission line d '' voltage pulses by flux quantum transfer φO, said circuit being defined to have a characteristic frequency fc such that 0.3 fc is less than or equal to the fundamental frequency fO of the quasi-periodic signal (Sin) applied at input, and outputting a signal of voltage pulses of fundamental frequency fO.

3. A device for reducing phase noise, comprising at least two superconductive circuits according to claim 1 or 2, a phase shift circuit of π from the input or output of one of said circuits and a confluence circuit for producing a frequency doubling stage in a frequency multiplication circuit.

4. A phase noise reduction device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the superconducting circuit comprises a Josephson transmission line defined geometrically with said characteristic frequency.

5. A phase noise reduction device according to claim 4, characterized in that the Josephson transmission line is at Josephson long junction.

6. Phase noise reduction device according to claim

4, characterized in that said transmission line comprises a plurality of Josephson junctions shunted in parallel.

7. A phase noise reduction device according to claim 6, characterized in that each Josephson transmission line is of the junction line on bi-crystal type.

8. A phase noise reduction device according to claim 6, characterized in that each Josephson transmission line is of the junction line on ramp type.

9. A device for reducing phase noise according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the superconducting circuit comprises several Josephson transmission lines arranged in parallel.

10. Phase noise reduction device according to claim

9, characterized in that it comprises a phase shift circuit of π at the input of at least one transmission line, applying on said line, a phase shifted signal.

11. Phase noise reduction device according to claim

10, characterized in that said phase shift circuit receives the input signal (Se) from the device as an input.

12. Phase noise reduction device according to claim 10, characterized in that said phase shift circuit receives as input the output signal of a line.

13. A phase noise reduction device according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the superconducting circuit comprises n Josephson transmission lines of rank 1 to n in the same surface plane of a substrate, with n integer> 2, and in that one signal from the input signal, and the phase shifted input signal, is applied to the lines of even rank, and the other signal is applied to the lines of odd rank, the output signal being supplied in output of one of the n lines.

14. A phase noise reduction device according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 13, characterized in that it comprises current biasing means comprising a plurality of branches of current leads, for distributing this current along of each Josephson transmission line.

15. Device for reducing phase noise according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the intensity of the bias current as a function of the frequency of the input signal.

16. A device for reducing phase noise according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the superconducting circuit comprises a line of transmission of voltage pulses with vortex flow.

17. A phase noise reduction device according to claim

16, characterized in that said transmission line comprises a type II superconductive film in the mixed state, deposited on a crystalline substrate, said film being current polarized at its ends, and comprising a slit in the width direction, except at the place of a microbridge, said slit separating the film into two parts, and characterized in that the quasi-periodic signal is applied to one end of the slit, between the two parts of the film, and the output signal is obtained at the other end of the slot, between the two parts of the film.

18. A phase noise reduction device according to any one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that said superconductor device is immersed in a continuous magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the surface plane of the slot.

19. A phase noise reduction device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the superconducting circuit or circuits use a superconductor of the high critical temperature type.