Wireless, RF & Smart Dust

The parametric amplifier is a crucial electronic device in cryogenic signal amplification, finding applications across various scientific and engineering domains, particularly in quantum computing. Unlike conventional amplifiers that rely on active components like transistors, parametric amplifiers utilize the properties of nonlinear passive devices to achieve signal amplification. Over the past decade, superconducting parametric amplifiers have become the primary system type in parametric amplification research. Leveraging Josephson Junction nonlinearity, these devices can amplify weak...

This project seeks to characterize and de-mystify mechanisms behind long-term drift in MEMS-based oscillators, including ones employing various sustaining amplifiers and referenced to resonators constructed in a variety of materials, including silicon, polysilicon, AlN, diamond, and ruthenium. A measurement apparatus that suppresses unwanted sources of drift, e.g., temperature, to better focus on resonator and oscillator long-term drift will be instrumental to success and will likely entail the use of double or triple ovens, as well as environment resistant circuit design.

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Recent MEMS process advancements from our group have enabled a class of low-temperature, thin-film ruthenium RF filters that can be processed directly on top of CMOS wafers. This work seeks to demonstrate the first low-IF receiver with fully-integrated MEMS-based RF channel-select filters, which permits low power applications in high-sensitivity, narrow-band software-defined communications and cognitive radio.

Project currently funded by: Member Fees

This project aims to explore and demonstrate a mostly mechanical receiver capable of listening signals within low-frequency and very-low-frequency range. The receiver is designed to consume zero power at standby and consume very litter power (nW) only when receiving valid bits.

Project currently funded by: Membership Fees