Fast reversed DC measurements on thermal converters using a SINIS Josephson junction array

Abstract

An array of 7492 SINIS Josephson junctions was used to generate fast reversed dc (FRDC) voltages of approximately 1.1 V for the study of thermoelectric effects in planar multijunction thermal converters (PMJTCs). A bias current source for fast reversal with a frequency of up to 10 kHz has been designed. For the first time, results of Josephson measurements on two different PMJTCs excellently agree with the results obtained using a semiconductor FRDC source within 0.06 /spl mu/V/V up to 200 Hz. At higher frequencies, a systematic slope in the relative FRDC-DC voltage transfer difference versus the reversing frequency of about 10/sup -7//kHz has been observed, which could not be measured with the semiconductor source. This slope is probably caused by the rf-filters required in the cryoprobe.