Josephson junction digital to analog converter for accurate AC waveform synthesis

摘要

A low noise accurate signal generator for a calibration system or a radar system includes a generator of a digital data stream having a predetermined frequency spectrum incorporated therein. A series connected array of Josephson junctions is coupled to and excited by the digital data stream to provide a stream of pulses with quantum mechanically accurate time integral. A low pass analog signal filter is coupled to the pulses of accurate time integral for extracting analog signals of the predetermined frequency spectrum. For radar applications, a low phase-noise local oscillator of a fixed RF frequency and the output of the filter are coupled to a signal mixer which outputs low phase-noise chirped RF signals for use in generating transmit pulses for the radar system whereby enhanced detection of targets in "clutter" can be obtained.