Signal mixing device utilizing a superconducting strip line with superconducting weak links and two control lines

摘要

The present invention is a superconducting flux flow mixer which has two control lines. Preferably, the mixer comprises a grounded superconducting signal line wherein portions of the superconducting signal line are etched away to form superconducting weak links within the superconducting signal line, a local oscillator and RF control line disposed on either side of the superconducting weak links, and a substrate upon which the control lines and superconducting signal line are disposed. When cooled to a temperature close to the critical temperature of the superconducting weak links, the resistance of the weak links can be manipulated by a magnetic field created by current flowing through the local oscillator and RF control lines. By using two control lines, better control of frequency is attained while at the same time providing better stability and a decrease in size of prior art mixers.