Dr Songyuan Zhao

Abstract:

We report the development of a reactive sputtering process for high Tc NbN films with high normal-state resistivity, tailored for kinetic inductance parametric amplifiers. The process includes precise control to ensure full nitridation of the target prior to deposition. Under optimised conditions, the resulting NbN thin films exhibit a critical temperature of 10.5K and a resistivity of ∼1000μΩcm. The high Tc of the NbN thin films suggests strong potential for application over the entire millimetre-wave frequency range from 24 to 300GHz, whereas the high resistivity suggests a reduced power requirement for the pump tone to achieve high gain. Resonator parametric amplifiers have been fabricated from these films using coplanar waveguide geometry. The devices were able to produce high gain exceeding 20dB at 25GHz, with artefact-free, reproducible amplification profiles in good agreement with theoretical models.

Abstract:

Superconducting resonator parametric amplifiers are potentially important components for a wide variety of fundamental physics experiments and utilitarian applications. We propose and realise an operating scheme that achieves amplification through the use of non-degenerate pumps, which addresses two key challenges in the design of parametric amplifiers: non-continuous gain across the amplification band and pump tone removal. We have experimentally demonstrated the non-degenerate pumping scheme using a half-wave resonator amplifier based on NbN thin-film, and measured a peak gain of 26 dB and 3-dB bandwidth of 0.5 MHz. The two non-degenerate pump tones were positioned ∼10 bandwidths above and below the frequency at which peak gain occurs. We have found the non-degenerate pumping scheme to be more stable compared to the usual degenerate pumping scheme in terms of gain drift over time, by a factor of 4. This scheme also retains the usual flexibility of NbN resonator parametric amplifiers in terms of reliable amplification in a ∼4 K environment, and is suitable for cross-harmonic amplification. The use of pump tones at different frequencies allows phase-sensitive amplification when the signal tone is degenerate with the idler tone. A gain of 23 dB and squeezing ratio of 6 dB were measured.

Abstract:

Superconducting quantum circuits have reached impressive performance, with individual qubits and operations working extremely well. This maturity was recognized by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded for demonstrating that genuinely quantum phenomena – such as energy quantization and tunnelling – can occur in macroscopic electrical circuits. Yet building large, reliable quantum processors remains challenging. The limitation is no longer a single flaw, but the combined effect of many small imperfections spread across the hardware. Subtle losses in materials, tiny variations in components, unwanted heat, and constraints imposed by wiring, packaging, and control electronics all accumulate as systems grow in size. This article explains how such device-level effects ultimately limit the performance of entire quantum processors, and why understanding this link is essential for turning today’s high-quality quantum devices into scalable and reliable quantum technologies.

Abstract:

Next generation tritium decay experiments to determine the absolute neutrino mass require high-precision measurements of β-decay electron energies close to the kinematic end point. To achieve this, the development of high phase-space density sources of atomic tritium is required, along with the implementation of methods to control the motion of these atoms to allow extended observation times. A promising approach to efficiently and accurately measure the kinetic energies of individual β-decay electrons generated in these dilute atomic gases, is to determine the frequency of the cyclotron radiation they emit in a precisely characterised magnetic field. This cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy technique can benefit from recent developments in quantum technologies. Absolute static-field magnetometry and electrometry, which is essential for the precise determination of the electron kinetic energies from the frequency of their emitted cyclotron radiation, can be performed using atoms in superpositions of circular Rydberg states. Quantum-limited microwave amplifiers will allow precise cyclotron frequency measurements to be made with maximal signal-to-noise ratios and minimal observation times. Exploiting the opportunities offered by quantum technologies in these key areas, represents the core activity of the Quantum Technologies for Neutrino Mass project. Its goal is to develop a new experimental apparatus that can enable a determination of the absolute neutrino mass with a sensitivity on the order of 10meV/c2.

Abstract:

We present a theoretical and experimental study of superconducting ring resonators as an initial step toward their implementation in superconducting electronics and quantum technologies, with promising applications including superconducting parametric amplifiers with pump-signal isolation, flux-controlled quantum circuits, ultra-sensitive measurements in quantum sensing, and THz instrumentations. These devices have the potentially valuable property of supporting two orthogonal electromagnetic modes that couple to a common Cooper pair, quasiparticle, and phonon system. We present here a comprehensive theoretical and experimental analysis of the superconducting ring resonator system. We have developed superconducting ring resonator models that describe the key features of microwave behaviour to first order, providing insights into how transmission line inhomogeneities give rise to frequency splitting and mode rotation. Furthermore, we constructed signal flow graphs for a four-port ring resonator to numerically validate the behaviour predicted by our theoretical analysis. Superconducting ring resonators were fabricated in both coplanar waveguide and microstrip geometries using Al and Nb thin films. Microwave characterisation of these devices demonstrates close agreement with theoretical predictions. Our study reveals that frequency splitting and mode rotation are prevalent in ring systems with coupled degenerate modes, and these phenomena become distinctly resolved in high quality factor superconducting ring resonators.