Two-part current injection interferometer amplifiers and logic circuits

Abstract

Josephson junction interferometers having nonlinear switching or threshold characteristics are disclosed. The nonlinear threshold characteristic is achieved in a preferred manner by applying an injection current to the interferometer at a point on the interferometer which is different from where its gate current is normally applied. The resulting nonlinearity provides for high amplification. The nonlinear switching characteristic may also be achieved by applying an injection current to the same point on the interferometer where the gate current is normally applied. However, a portion of the thus-applied injection current is electromagnetically coupled to the interferometer inductance to achieve the desired nonlinear switching characteristic. Parameters such as the injection current, the gate current, physical point of application of the injection current to the interferometer, junction currents and the inductance of the interferometer may be changed to tailor the threshold characteristic to provide a desired nonlinearity. Logic circuits such as AND, OR and INHIBIT circuits in addition to the basic amplifier circuit are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.