Analysis of different measurement set-ups for a programmable Josephson voltage standard
Progress Report
The project has started on 1st May 2001. Up to now the two programmable Josephson arrays, one of SINIS-type junctions and the other one of externally shunted SIS junctions, have been measured at BIPM, LNE, NPL, METAS, SP, and PTB. Prospectively, all partners will have measured the arrays until end of February 2002. It is planned to hold a meeting in March 2002 to discuss all results. Some additional measurements at designated institutes will be carried out for clarifying particular questions. The end of the project is scheduled for summer 2002.
Final Report 2003-02-11
The electrical characteristics of two different 1-V binary programmable Josephson arrays, an SINIS-type Josephson array and an externally shunted SIS-type Josephson array, were investigated at all metrology institutes. Various operational parameters were evaluated and compared using different Josephson Array Voltage Standard set-ups at microwave frequencies around 70 GHz. The results of the measurements show that both arrays have been working very well and the main differences were not imposed by the arrays themselves, but by the different measurement set-ups of the laboratories. A paper was presented at the CPEM 2002 conference, Ottawa, Canada, that summarizes most of these investigations [1].
After the CPEM conference BEV, Austria, joined the project. Both arrays were successfully measured. In addition several other institutes (LNE, BIPM, and NMi) performed tests with one of the Josephson arrays in order to further investigate measurement routines or to verify instruments.
The reports of the partners will be distributed to support/motivate future bilateral discussions. This would help all partners to further improve their set-ups or to investigate new components. Furthermore, to give all partners the possibility of testing equipment, both programmable Josephson arrays will still be available on request.
[1] R. Behr et al., IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., vol. 52 (2003), in press.