Nonlinear superconducting metamaterials

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Metamaterials are artificial and engineered structures that enable unique interactions of matter with electromagnetic waves. Using superconductors as a replacement for normal metals in metamaterials allows reducing losses by several orders of magnitude, shrinking the size of the meta-atoms and achieving a tunable frequency of operation. Moreover, superconducting meta-atoms offer strong nonlinearity and multiple dynamical states leading to new functions of metamaterials. We propose an experimental study of the nonlinear properties of superconducting metamaterials employing Josephson junctions. We will study large one- and two-dimensional arrays of frequency-tunable superconducting microwave resonators. We will explore recently discovered multi-stable dynamical states in a medium consisting of SQUID-based meta-atoms. In particular, we will design, fabricate and measure compact niobium-based Josephson junction resonators to explore their strong nonlinear effects and switching at microwave frequencies. Networks of such meta-atoms open up an opportunity, for the first time, to investigate parametric properties of a distributed Josephson medium rather than that of a single device. Using such an active parametric medium, we aim at demonstrating novel functionalities for travelling electromagnetic waves such as broadband wireless mixing and signal amplification.