Conference item
Design of a kinetic-inductance impedance-matched parametric amplifier using an inverted microstrip architecture
- Abstract:
-
Josephson-junction-based parametric amplifiers (JPAs) are key enabling technologies in superconducting quantum electronics, supporting applications ranging from dark-matter detection to quantum-computing readout. However, conventional JPAs are intrinsically narrowband, motivating the development of broadband architectures such as impedance-matched parametric amplifiers (IMPAs), which enhance bandwidth through the incorporation of auxiliary passive resonators.
In this work, we present the design and fabrication of a three-pole kinetic-inductance impedance-matched parametric amplifier (KIMPA) based on a niobium titanium nitride (NbTiN) nonlinear nanowire and implemented using an inverted microstrip architecture. The amplifier is synthesised using the multipole filter-design framework of Naaman and Aumentado and targets a 10% fractional bandwidth centred at 6 GHz with 20 dB gain. The device employs a multilayer architecture consisting of a 30 nm NbTiN wiring layer, a 150 nm amorphoussilicon dielectric layer, and a 200 nm niobium sky plane, enabling compact parallel-plate capacitors and improved fabrication robustness compared with conventional coplanar-waveguide implementations.
The design methodology is presented from the graph-based filter-synthesis model through circuit-level implementation and physical layout generation. Harmonic-balance simulations predict approximately 20 dB gain across a 6.0–6.4 GHz operating band, demonstrating the feasibility of broadband kinetic-inductance parametric amplification in an inverted microstrip platform. Fabricated devices have been completed and are currently being prepared for cryogenic characterisation.
- Publication status:
- Accepted
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
Actions
Authors
+ European Commission
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- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/00k4n6c32
- Grant:
- 101093934
- Programme:
- Horizon-Infra-2022-Tech-01 programme RADIOBLOCKS
+ Leverhulme Trust
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- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/012mzw131
- Grant:
- VP1-2024-022
+ European Research Council
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- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/0472cxd90
- Grant:
- 101169947
- 803862
+ Science and Technology Facilities Council
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- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/057g20z61
- Grant:
- ST/Y002210/1
- ST/Y004973/1
- Acceptance date:
- 2026-06-17
- Event title:
- International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026
- Event location:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Event website:
- https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/astronomical-telescopes-and-instrumentation
- Event start date:
- 2026-07-05
- Event end date:
- 2026-07-10
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
-
2436284
- Local pid:
-
pubs:2436284
- Deposit date:
-
2026-06-21
- ARK identifier:
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