Josephson Junctions in A One Dimensional Ladder 

Douglas Park '05

Advisor:  Dr. Kenneth Segall

 

The Josephson junction (JJ) is an electrical circuit element which through quantum tunneling displays nonlinear dynamics. Because of a JJ’s electrical properties, they are easily coupled into large arrays and are also easily monitored and controlled. We are designing an experiment which uses an array of 24 JJ’s coupled together. We plan to use this array to study the interactions of two modes which this arrangement of the junctions creates. These two modes are breathers and traveling vortices. We specifically seek to study what happens when these two modes collide. To control and monitor this experiment we need three current sources, and 6 isolated voltage amplifiers. We have developed a control apparatus with these circuits so that this experiment can now take place.