Stimulated emission and amplification in Josephson junction arrays

TitleStimulated emission and amplification in Josephson junction arrays
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsBarbara, P., Cawthorne A. B., Shitov S. V., and Lobb C. J.
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume82
Pagination1963-1966
Abstract

We report measurements of mm-wavelength radiation from two-dimensional arrays of underdamped Josephson junctions. All of our samples emit coherently in a novel synchronized state, which is triggered by a resonance in the array structure. Measurements of the detected power as a function of the number N of active junctions show a threshold, suggesting population inversion. Above threshold, the power scales with N-2 up to an array size bigger than the free-space radiation wavelength. The highest measured conversion efficiency from de to ac power is about 17%. Our data are consistent with stimulated emission causing coherence and cannot be explained by existing classical coupling mechanisms.