Traceable Validation of Calculable Quantum-Based RF Waveforms
We compare the calculated, quantum-based output of a radio-frequency Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer (RF-JAWS) with its measured output that is calibrated through the established NIST RF power traceability path, a necessary first step towards quantum-based RF metrology. An array of
1,500 Josephson junctions (JJs) is used to synthesize sinusoids from 50 MHz to 3 GHz, each with a nominal output power of -49.67 dBm and a demonstrated quantum-locking range (QLR) exceeding 1 mA. We perform a two-tier calibration of two-port vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements of the RF-JAWS waveforms with uncertainty analysis: (1) the VNA wave parameters are referenced to a NIST-calibrated coaxial power sensor, and (2) a cryogenic probe station, together with on-chip superconducting calibration standards, establishes an on-chip reference plane at the JJ-array. The calibrated measurement of the forward- and backward-propagating power is compared with the expected, calculated outputs, and, after accounting for high-frequency roll-off, we observe agreement within the expanded (k = 2) uncertainty limits for most frequencies. The data are generated here from the two figures presented in this work. Figure 1 validates the quantum-based generation of all waveforms synthesized in the paper using a dc-bias quantum-locking range. Figure 2 presents the main result of the paper: for all synthesized waveforms, the JAWS-calculated output is compared with the two-tier calibrated VNA measurements, with expanded uncertainties reported for all values.
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Fig.1: DC-Bias Quantum-Locking Ranges
CSV -
Fig.2: JAWS Calculation vs JAWS Measurement
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Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| bureauCode |
[ "006:55" ] |
| contactPoint |
{ "fn": "Jeremy Thomas", "hasEmail": "mailto:jeremy.thomas@nist.gov" } |
| description | We compare the calculated, quantum-based output of a radio-frequency Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer (RF-JAWS) with its measured output that is calibrated through the established NIST RF power traceability path, a necessary first step towards quantum-based RF metrology. An array of 1,500 Josephson junctions (JJs) is used to synthesize sinusoids from 50 MHz to 3 GHz, each with a nominal output power of -49.67 dBm and a demonstrated quantum-locking range (QLR) exceeding 1 mA. We perform a two-tier calibration of two-port vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements of the RF-JAWS waveforms with uncertainty analysis: (1) the VNA wave parameters are referenced to a NIST-calibrated coaxial power sensor, and (2) a cryogenic probe station, together with on-chip superconducting calibration standards, establishes an on-chip reference plane at the JJ-array. The calibrated measurement of the forward- and backward-propagating power is compared with the expected, calculated outputs, and, after accounting for high-frequency roll-off, we observe agreement within the expanded (k = 2) uncertainty limits for most frequencies. The data are generated here from the two figures presented in this work. Figure 1 validates the quantum-based generation of all waveforms synthesized in the paper using a dc-bias quantum-locking range. Figure 2 presents the main result of the paper: for all synthesized waveforms, the JAWS-calculated output is compared with the two-tier calibrated VNA measurements, with expanded uncertainties reported for all values. |
| distribution |
[ { "title": "Fig.1: DC-Bias Quantum-Locking Ranges", "mediaType": "text/csv", "description": "DC-bias QLRs for synthesized JAWS sinusoids. Colormap shows the average PSD of the raw b-waves over a 10 MHz span centered on the fundamental frequency f (y-axis) versus dc bias (x-axis, 0.5 mA step-size). Pulse shapes are set by the AWG, with settings optimized at low frequency and then applied across all frequencies. The PSD drop for f > 2.37 GHz reflects a 100-times longer delta-sigma pattern, not reduced voltage accuracy.", "downloadURL": "https://data.nist.gov/od/ds/mds2-4078/Fig1_data.csv" }, { "title": "Fig.2: JAWS Calculation vs JAWS Measurement", "mediaType": "text/csv", "description": "Measured |J_meas(f)| (red) and calculated |J_calc(f)| (blue), normalized to |J_calc(0)| = -49.67 plus or minus 0.05 dBm, with shaded k = 2 uncertainty.", "downloadURL": "https://data.nist.gov/od/ds/mds2-4078/Fig2_data.csv" }, { "title": "Readme", "mediaType": "text/plain", "description": "Readme for the navigation, organization, and content for the data in the figures included in the "Traceable Validation of Calculable Quantum-Based RF Waveforms" manuscript.", "downloadURL": "https://data.nist.gov/od/ds/mds2-4078/Readme.txt" } ] |
| identifier | ark:/88434/mds2-4078 |
| issued | 2026-03-17 |
| keyword |
[ "Josephson junctions", "digital-analog conversion", "microwave measurement", "superconducting microwave devices" ] |
| language |
[ "en" ] |
| license | https://www.nist.gov/open/license |
| modified | 2026-02-04 00:00:00 |
| programCode |
[ "006:045" ] |
| publisher |
{ "name": "National Institute of Standards and Technology", "@type": "org:Organization" } |
| theme |
[ "Advanced Communications", "Electronics:Superconducting electronics", "Metrology:Electrical/electromagnetic metrology" ] |
| title | Traceable Validation of Calculable Quantum-Based RF Waveforms |
